THE CHRISTMAS STORY

Gathered around with family and hot cocoa, we listen to the story of Christ’s birth read from Luke chapter two. This treasured tradition helps us remember the reason for Christmas. But have you ever wondered why the Christmas story varies throughout the gospels? We must begin by understanding that the four gospels, though inspired by the Holy Spirit, were written by individual men to different audiences with unique purposes. These writers all had a unique perspective on the events of Christ’s life and wrote to persuade the reader of their message.

Today, we will walk through the gospels and look at their significance. So, grab your Bible and follow along as we discover glorious truths about our Lord and Savior this Christmas!

Let’s start by looking at the gospel of Matthew. As a Jew, Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah and fulfillment of the prophecies throughout the Old Testament. Matthew begins with the genealogy of Christ, a glance into His royal ancestry, to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17). He is the Son of Abraham and the Son of David. Christ is the promised seed and better King who will reign forever. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, and His birth is the conclusion to the advent Israelites have been looking forward to for generations.

At last, Immanuel has arrived to set His people free. Immanuel means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The coming of Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises and covenants. The virgin-born Son of God has finally arrived to save His people. Matthew chose to include the story of the Magi, which once again points to Jesus’s Kingship. The Magi come in search of the newborn King of the Jews, and once they find Him, they worship Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). The wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh point to Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Every little detail is the fulfillment of God’s Word. God is faithful, and He keeps His word. The Messiah has arrived to save His people from their sins.

Next is Mark’s gospel account, which jumps right into His ministry instead of beginning with Christ’s birth (Mark 1:1). This gospel shows how Christ came to seek and serve the lost. Jesus Christ humbled Himself by coming to earth as the Servant to redeem sinners.

Moving along, we come to the gospel of Luke. Luke’s viewpoint is interesting because, unlike the other gospel writers, he was a Gentile. Luke wrote this book to show that Jesus came not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Luke begins with a detailed story of Zechariah’s, Elisabeth’s, and Mary’s part in Christ’s life (Luke 1). God uses ordinary people to bring about His extraordinary plan of redemption. God cares, and He is at work in our lives.

After Jesus’s birth, the shepherds were the first to hear about and see the newborn Savior (Luke 2:8-20). The shepherds were outcasts and considered the lowest, yet Christ came to redeem them. The angels proclaim the good news of great joy, for a Savior is born in a humble stable. From the beginning, Jesus was gentle and lowly (Matthew 11:29). He came for the outcasts. Later, we see that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus was born to die so that we might live. God’s sovereignty is at work in the darkest of situations to bring hope. From His birth to His life and the death He willingly died, Christ offers compassion and love to all people.

Finally, John starts in a completely different manner. While the other gospels focus on the earthly side of the nativity, John focuses on God’s viewpoint. Hidden in the beautiful prologue about the Word, Christ’s birth is revealed as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). John illustrates Christ’s life by focusing on His divinity and supremacy. Jesus is the Son of God and the only means to salvation. The world is full of darkness and sin, yet Christ’s light breaks through (John 1:9). We are lost and dead in our sins. But God in His great love and mercy sent His Son to become man, live the life we should have lived, to die the death we deserve to die, and to rise again in righteousness. Jesus Christ is the good news that we are blessed to proclaim to everyone. Go, tell it on the mountain; today is the Savior’s Day! This is the hope of Christmas.