 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" "All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the LORD; let
the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
"They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."
(Psalms 22:1, 7, 8, 18, NIV)
At least two Gospel writers substantiated the words of Jesus on the
cross; "46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,
saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, KJV) and " 34 And at the
ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34, KJV).
Looking back from the time of the crucifixion, over the lifetime of
Jesus, however, we see the birth of a baby boy; that baby boy was
Jesus. We pick up the account in the New Testament at Luke 2:
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree
from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of
Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no
room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of
the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying,
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14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which
was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke
2:1-19, KJV)
The birth of Jesus is an Historical Account that cannot be refuted. His
time of birth was recorded when Caesar Augustus ruled Rome and Cyrenius
was governor of Syria. These dates are verified in the history of Rome
by historians who were not even a part of the New Testament. The reason
for the family of Jesus being in Bethlehem was because of the decree
that was ordered by the Roman Caesar, Augustus. But more than that being
an historical fact, if we look back more than 686 years before Jesus was
born we see the prediction of the city in which He was born. " 2 But
thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler
in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
(Micah 5:2, KJV) Notice the exact town was named, not just Bethlehem,
but Bethlehem Ephratah. That distinguished that specific Bethlehem from
all the other towns with the same name of Bethlehem.
When tens of millions of people from all over the earth stop to
celebrate Christmas, to many it is nothing more than a celebration of
Winter. To others, the celebration of Christmas is a retail season of
higher corporate bottom lines; while many will see it as a time to give
and receive gifts.
For those who have placed their belief and faith in the work that Jesus
did on the cross to offer an eternal sacrifice of Himself so the
separation from God could be bridged and reconnected, it is a time of
celebration and remembrance that the greatest gift of all was presented
to the world: That gift was the shed blood of Jesus, a babe born in
Bethlehem Ephratah so long ago, Who grew up to willingly give Himself as
a sacrifice on the cross that was so vividly presented in a word picture
a thousand years before the shepherds actually worshiped Him. It is to
Him we direct our worship and give all praise! Merry Christmas!
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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