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The Bible declares, “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.”
Those words remind us that salvation belongs solely to God. No one else can redeem our souls—only Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
As we approach Christmas, it’s worth asking one of life’s most profound questions:
Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is this child whose birth split history in two? The answer is far more than a seasonal story—it determines our eternal destiny.
Matthew 1:18–25 records a miracle that forever changed the world. Mary, though betrothed to Joseph, conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. It was an event no one could have imagined, and yet it fulfilled every prophecy pointing to the coming of the Messiah.
“Before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” — Matthew 1:18
This wasn’t a symbolic miracle—it was literal. The angel told Mary that the child she carried would be called “the Son of God.” In Hebrew understanding, that phrase didn’t just signify a relationship—it described the very nature and essence of God Himself.
The virgin birth is proof of the incarnation: Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He is the eternal Creator who stepped into creation.
When Joseph wrestled with confusion and doubt, an angel appeared to him in a dream with words that changed everything:
“Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” — Matthew 1:20
In that moment, Joseph realized that the child was not born of man but of God.
John 1:14 echoes this truth:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.”
That’s the miracle of Christmas. God became touchable, approachable, and near.
He entered our broken world not as a distant deity, but as a Savior who would walk among us.
This is the meaning of Emmanuel—God with us.
Christmas is not just about gifts, lights, or gatherings. It’s about the moment when God Himself stepped into humanity to rescue it.
The angel’s next words to Joseph carry the heart of the gospel:
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21
The name Jesus literally means “God saves.” His name is His mission.
Only God can forgive sin, and only God could bear its penalty.
Every one of us has fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). The result of sin is death—separation from God. No good deed, ritual, or moral effort can bridge that gap. But Jesus, being both divine and human, was able to pay the eternal price once and for all.
As Hebrews 9:26 declares, “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
The manger must always be viewed in the shadow of the cross. **Christ was born to die—**to take our place, bear our punishment, and bring us peace with God.
Matthew’s account ties the Christmas story to Isaiah’s ancient prophecy:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,”
which means, God with us. — Matthew 1:23
Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah wrote:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given… and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus fulfilled every word of that prophecy. He is the Wonderful Counselor for the confused, the Mighty God for the weary, the Everlasting Father for the abandoned, and the Prince of Peace for every restless soul.
Every longing of the human heart—hope, forgiveness, purpose—is met in Him. And one day, He will return to rule and reign forever.
The birth of Christ is the story of divine humility.
The eternal Son of God stepped into time, wrapped Himself in flesh, and dwelt among the very people He came to save.
Jesus didn’t come to make us more religious; He came to make us righteous. He didn’t come to balance our good and bad deeds; He came to erase our debt of sin completely.
Our own righteousness will never be enough—“all our righteousness is like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). But through faith in Christ—born of a virgin, crucified for our sins, and raised again—we are made clean and whole.
That is the true meaning of Christmas: God with us, and God for us.
As Christmas draws near, take a quiet moment to reflect on this question:
Who is He in yonder stall?
He is Emmanuel—God with us.
He is Jesus—God saves.
He is the Savior—who came to redeem the world.
If you haven’t yet, place your faith in Him today.
Receive the greatest gift ever given—the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Christ.
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