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Matthew 1:22, 23 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Matthew 1:22, 23 (NKJV) So all this was done 
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by 
the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, 
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, 
and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is 
translated, "God with us."  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   I think weve almost deprived Christmas 
of its original meaning by making it a little 
too beautiful. In a way, weve stripped the 
Christmas story of its real power. 
   Even as we see it portrayed in art, the 
Nativity scene is pretty. But it wasnt pretty. In 
fact, it was pretty bad. Jesus was laid in a 
manger, which also could have been a feeding trough 
for animals. Its hard to imagine laying a 
precious newborn in such a place. 
   But for me, that doesnt detract from 
the story of Christmas. In fact, it serves as a 
reminder of the great sacrifice God made to come to 
this earth. He made Himself small, born in the 
most humble and difficult circumstances. 
   Why? Because He loves us and longs for a 
relationship with us. Jesus was born so that we could be 
born again. He left His home in Heaven to make a 
home in our hearts. 
   He did not come to this earth so we would 
have an excuse to go into debt with all the 
shopping we do. He did not come so we could go to 
endless Christmas events and sing Christmas songs, 
although theres nothing wrong with that. 
   Jesus did not come to teach everyone how 
to be good or to love our neighbors, even 
though these are good things to do. Rather, He came 
to die an agonizing death and to ransom us from 
an eternal death sentence. 
   The shadow of the cross lay over the 
beauty of the first Christmas night. It was there 
from the very beginning. That is why red is the 
color of Christmas. It isnt because Santa wears 
red. Red is the color of the blood that Jesus 
shed for us on the cross. 
   What were really longing for is not 
Christmas but Christ, not presents, but His presence 
in our lives. [Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com re Philippians 
2:6"7] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE


http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20181225-0801.html 

EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF 
JESUS 

1st of 28: Divine Dining: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY 
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ 
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4 
4th of 28: Cared For: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds 
5th of 28: Saved: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI 
6th of 28: You Can Change: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo 
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc 
8th of 28 Our Holy Father: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY 
9th of 28 Gifts of Service: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA 
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo 
11th of 28 The Law of God: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI 
12th of 28 The Sabbath: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI 
13th of 28 The Church: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkFw2XsTW-w 
14th of 28 The Gift of Prophecy: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI 
15th of 28 Stewardship: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_lNLAataw 
16th of 28 Marriage and the Family: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybxvMQ0K7E 
Live ongoing series in progress.

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs