LESSON 1, DECEMBER 14, HEBREWS 10:5

Some of the greatest verses about Jesus’ Birth, that’s our topic for the next few days. I trust these will be both devotionally enjoyable and spiritually nutritious for us all.

We begin with a clause in Hebrews 10:5. There the author, Paul I think, quotes one of the Psalms, Psalm 40:6 to be precise. Paul words the promise this way, indirectly quoting Jesus now. “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”

Look at that!

Jesus our Lord, in a Psalm written at least a thousand years before His Virgin Birth, talking about the Body God the Father would prepare for Him, for God the Son!

Wow!

Back to that Text, Psalm 40:6. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.”

Where does Paul inherit the authority to change the worlds like he did? To reshape Psalm 40:6, which talks about Jesus’ “ears,” into Hebrews 10:5, which talks about Jesus’ “body?”

The only possible answer to that question, acceptable answer, is that God the Holy Spirit, Who inspired and propelled Paul to write Hebrews 10 just as much as he inspired and propelled David to wrote Psalm 40, that Holy Spirit approved the change!

All this being fundamentally true, we can safely assume, more than that, we can absolutely know that Jesus looked forward to coming to earth two thousand years ago!

That our Lord pondered and anticipated wearing a human body!

That He longed to be the Saviour of men and women!

That He yearned to identity with us, to be “touched” with the feeling of our infirmities!

God, in a body!

That’s Who Jesus was.

That’s Who Jesus still is!

He’s in Heaven for sure. But after being given that body, after dying and being buried and raised from the grave, still in that same human body!

He’s coming back again too, still in that now glorified body!

No wonder He thought about it so much, His body!

He was placed in a manger, a feed trough for cattle or sheep or whatever. That little body was.

He learned to be a carpenter, in that young but no doubt strong body too.

He preached in that body!

He healed and helped and loved his fellow citizens as well.

He died, like I just said, in it. Was raised and ascended and seated at God’s Right Hand, at the Throne … still in that body.

Jesus again: “God the Father prepared Me a body!”

And some day, happily, every child of God will see that body! Will hug that body! Or at least fall down before its feet!

Jesus body!

He thought about it some, a lot really.

Let’s join Him!

Think about the body He was given … all Christmas Season long!

Thank You Jesus, for coming and living and dying for sinners to be saved!

                                                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, DECEMBER 15, 1st JOHN 4:9

I think it's a Christmas Verse, though some may not concur with my opinion. It talks about Jesus coming into this world.

"God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." First John 4:9

Notice Who initiated the First Christmas!

God did, God The Father!

He also "started" everything else about Jesus, including His Death for sinners on the Cross of Calvary! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That's about Jesus' vicarious Death, I'm sure, John 3:16.

God sent Jesus into the world that what-we-now-call first Christmas morning. Two thousand plus years ago in Bethlehem of Judea.

But the verb "sent" in our Text is interesting too. "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

The word is "apostello," Jesus an Apostle in reality!

This means "to deputize One to set things straight!" To arrange, to put in order, to fit out, to equip, those kinds of ideas.

Jesus came to earth to right the major wrong in society, sin!

But there's more.  "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

The English adverb and adjective describing Jesus, "only begotten," really are represented by a single word in Greek. "Monogenes," meaning "the only One ever born like Him!" One of a Kind! Perfectly unique! Absolutely Other! God's Masterpiece!

Again you will remember John 3:16 and its qualifiers for God's Precious Son, there too "only begotten."

"World" translates "kosmos," a derivative of "komizo," meaning "to tend, to care for, to provide for," a hint at God's love for humanity and a nod at the devil's orderly arrangement of wickedness in today's culture!

Either way, it looks to me like God loves everyone, the whole earth and all its inhabitants!

Oh by the way, that word "Son," specifically here used of Jesus, is spelled "huios" and means a child, genuine and loved, who has dignity and standing and his father's express approval! A child in whom his or her parents take great delight!

That's Jesus, all right!

"God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

Then comes the pronoun "that," which in effect introduces a new  clause in the sentence. It tells God's purpose in sending Jesus into the world!

"That we might live!" Really live, since the verb is a translation of "zao," indicating life with quality and depth and meaning! This is not mere existence! It's life abundantly! More abundantly!

But how do we experience that Life?

That eternal existence with God in a place of peace and joy, because He is there?

"Through Jesus!"

I'll underline it again, for emphasis. "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

The preposition is "dia," and when used with a genitive object, as here, it means "by means of!" Jesus is the Channel by which I have gained eternal life! He is the Source of such Life! He is the Pipe, so to speak, that brings the water of Life into my thirsty soul!

Yes, this is Christmas Truth!

God sent Jesus to that manger long ago, using the little virgin girl and her husband to be.

Jesus the "Saviour of the world," as John 4:42 describes Him! Words straight from the lips of that newly converted Samaritan woman, "the woman at the well" she is sometimes called.

And the Babe in the manger became the Man on the Cross, being very God in both epochs of His Time on earth!

And His Death, His shed Blood, when trusted and believed in and relied upon, brings to the repentant sinner Life, everlasting Life!

Praise God for the thought today! "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

Amen!

And to you all, a wonderful and spiritual and godly Christmas Season from the Bagwells!

                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, DECEMBER 16, GENESIS 3:15

I think today's Christmas Verse, if you will let me call it that, is the earliest prophecy concerning the coming Lord Jesus!

It's home is Genesis 3:15. God is speaking to the devil, to the serpent, in the Garden of Edem. After Eve and Adam had sinned. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

There's a Battle coming!

Between two people, then later between two Powers!

It's Satan versus the Woman, Eve!

Followed by a marathon, the "seed" of the devil versus the "seed" of the woman! The word merely means a future child, an offspring, an heir.

And this short little Miracle Verse even predicts the outcome of that war! That many thousands of years of conflict!

The devil and his crowd, the anti-Christ even, will lose the campaign!

And the future "seed" of the woman, a positive declaration of the first Coming of Jesus no doubt, will be the Victor!

It's illustrated as a "bruised heel" as compared to a "bruised head" situation!

There's no contest as to which is the more serious injury!

Jesus, on the Cross of Calvary of course, bruised and battered and robbed the Devil and all his cohorts, eternally! Our dear Lord crushed the serpent's head really!

Yes, to me anyway, this is a Christmas Verse.

Two thousand plus years ago that little "Seed" of the woman was born! Jesus Christ the Lord, the very Son of God! God come in human flesh!

And thirty-three or so years after the Virgin Birth, after the Incarnation, Jesus died for us sinners. Three days later to be raised from the Dead, from the Grave, out of that Tomb!

Christmas, it can really be a time to praise the Lord and worship His Holy Name! "And I the Lord will put enmity between thee, Satan,  and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Thank you Moses for this verse!

Jesus, the head Bruiser!

Hallelujah!

And Merry Christmas to you all!

In Jesus' Name!

                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, DECEMBER 17, MICAH 5:2

Today's Verse about Jesus is another miracle. A Prophecy that just cannot be refuted. A pre-description of Jesus written several hundred years before He was even born!

Micah 5:2 is our Text. "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."

Yes, the verse is addressed to a City!

Some day, from the little Village of Bethlehem, shall come a Person!

And He will be "Ruler" in Israel. The noun is "mashal," one who has "dominion" or "power."

His age?

His background?

Amazingly, He is eternal! "His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

Wow!

Only One Person Who has ever lived fulfills this criteria! Jesus, the darling Son of God!

His "goings forth" or the "place from which He sprang," have their origins in eternity past. Then the requirement is strengthened, He is "everlasting." Literally from all "days!"

There has never been a day when he was not alive!

He is eternal!

He, as God the Son, knows no point of creation.

He is timeless!

In fact, probably every "angel of the Lord" or "Lord God" appearance in the Old Testament, from the Garden of Eden onward, is simply a pre-incarnate revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Baby in the manger!

The eternal Son of God!

Born in a virtually unknown city, Bethlehem!

And described in detail, accurately so, seven hundred years before the Event occurred!

That's when we "date" Micah the Prophet. Dr. Scofield says 702 BC, in his study Bible notes.

This is astounding, a miracle indeed!

And a Christmas Verse for sure!

"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."

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth to die for our sins.

Amen.

                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, DECEMBER 18, GENESIS 49:10

Jesus, the coming Saviour, will be a Jew! So promised Moses thousands of years ago. Not only that, He will descend from the Tribe of Judah!

How do we know such things?

The Word of God tells us. In advance, via the wonderfully amazing miracle of Bible Prophecy.

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Genesis 49:10

These words were spoken by Jacob, near the end of his life. Truth revealed to Him by an omniscient God, future realities about the sons of Israel.

When the old Patriarch delineated his children, his sons particularly, Judah soon was mentioned. This one, one of twelve if you remember, was given special privilege!

He will father the ruling class. He will be the tribe which produces the kings and generals of the nation!

The noun "scepter" for example, is "shebet" in Hebrew and merely means a "rod or pole or stick," but actually indicates that symbol of authority and power which traditionally belongs to a monarch!

Truthfully, the future kings of Israel, of Judah specifically, the genuine ones at least, all flowed from the loins of Judah!

Mercy, what a promise!

The "lawgiver" is another synonym for the coming Messiah! This reminds me of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, His platform for the coming Kingdom!

For example Jesus' words, here quoted indirectly, "Moses said unto you ... but now I say unto you these better things, much better!"

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Genesis 49:10

And "Shiloh," spelled "shiyloh" in Hebrew, almost certainly means "the Peaceful One, the Restful One," and maybe even "the Prosperous One!"

This is the coming Son of God, Jesus, described twenty-five centuries before His Virgin Birth!

And this "gathering" of the people?

I think it nods toward the First Coming of Jesus, then His subsequent Death and Burial and Resurrection, then again His Second Coming to earth in victory and power for ever!

Really "gathering" is defined as "purging" and then as "cleansing" and finally as "obedience" by numerous scholars!

Yes, this is a Christmas Verse all right!

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

Jesus, a Jew!

Jesus, from the Tribe of Judah!

Jesus, the Coming King!

But this week we celebrate how He came to earth physically, via a great miracle of God! The Virgin Birth! The very Incarnation!

Hallelujah to His Name!

Jesus, Fulfiller of Old Testament Prophecies, all of them regarding the Messiah of Israel!

                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, DECEMBER 19, ISAIAH 7:14

This is one of my favorite Verses about Jesus, prophecies about His first coming to earth. I mean His birth and life two thousand years ago.

Written seven hundred years before the Event, Isaiah promises a miracle! "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

There are all sorts of objections raised to this Verse. By Biblical liberals and even some fair-minded expositors. They question the noun "virgin," its definition and contextual setting here. They post-date the Prophet himself, Isaiah, making this sentence more of a history lesson that a statement of some future Act of God.

But for Bother Bagwell, "virgin" here means "virgin," just like the Text says! The Hebrew noun is "almah," meaning "a young lady who has never sexually known a man." At least that was the common idea "almah" incorporated when our Bible was translated into English, back in 1611. Yet to be fair "almah" can at times, even in the King James Bible, mean "maid" or "damsel." See Exodus 2:8 or Psalm 68:25 for examples.

Still, the New Testament synonym Matthew uses for "almah," Matthew as guided by God the Holy Spirit, "parthenos," clearly means "a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man."

Period!

Jesus, the Darling baby in the Manger, was conceived of a Virgin named Mary. And the whole miracle was overseen and directed by Almighty God!

Just like Isaiah declared it would be twenty-seven hundred years ago!

Think of Him this Christmas that way, as God's Virgin Born Son sent to earth to die for our sins!

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Praise the Lord!

                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, DECEMBER 20, LUKE 1:38

She's really the "hero" of Christmas, as far as human beings are concerned. Or "heroine" I should say. I'm talking about the Virgin Mary. The Mother of the baby Jesus, technically the mother of His humanity. Certainly not of His Deity, He is eternal, everlasting, in His Godhead.

A most helpful verse to buttress this line of thought and to highlight Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem is found in Luke's Gospel. "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

These words were spoken to Gabriel, an angel whose name aptly means "Man of God!" He was the messenger of the good news, of the coming arrival of Jesus the Messiah.

Here's what Mary just said, in everyday language. "Let these things happen to me just like God has planned it! I will be a willing and obedient servant to my God!"

Wow!

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

When this godly young lady identified herself as a "handmaid" of Jehovah God, she used the Greek noun "doule." It means a "slave," just that, except in the feminine gender.

Beautiful Christianity!

"Be" as in "be it unto me" translates "ginomai," a verb hinting at "let this come to fruition, let it come to pass," but more precisely "let it be born!"

Let Jesus come into this word, through my body, just as God has deemed best! So feels Mary, so thinks this Jewish young lady.

"According to Thy Word," uses "rema" or "rhema" as its root, for the noun "word" I mean. This is not the whole spoken word of God, not all He said. This is not even technically a reference to all the Bible. But a direct statement of faith in what God just promised Mary, those most recent and exact words, about Jesus being born through Mary's womb!

Luke 1:35 style: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

And Mary says, "That's fine Lord!"

I agree.

Whatever the cost.

Soon as she said this, the angel left.

And Jesus was on the way!

Our Text again, Luke 1:38. ""And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

Now let's all set apart a bit of time and worship!

We have a lot of truths to ponder.

The great Verses of Christmas being among them!

                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, DECEMBER 21, JEREMIAH 31:22

The Lord has given us an amazing Book, the Holy Bible! Today's Verse, admittedly with a Christmas emphasis planned, is absolutely astounding!

Jeremiah long ago promised this. "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man." Jeremiah 31:22

The main clause for our consideration today is the final one in the Text. "The LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man."

Wow!

What this is saying in essence is that a lady, Jewish no doubt, will bear a child. But she will do so without the aid of a man, at all!

I think this is a hint of the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. And how He will be born, via a Virgin named Mary! Without Joseph her husband being a party to the conception! Oh yes, he may have helped birth the baby boy, being at the manger side in Bethlehem, granted! But He is not the Father to Baby Jesus.

Mary, the woman, indeed "compassed" any human man that day, what a Miracle!

The verb "compassed" translates "sabab" which just means "to encircle." To detour around something or someone! To reach a goal without having to use a certain normally-thought necessity!

Mary gave Birth to Jesus!

With absolutely no man ever touching her!

Then, you might ask, who is the true Father of Jesus?

God is!

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

"And the angel Gabriel answered and said unto Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:31

Yes, Jesus is God the Son!

Born of a woman, but not a man!

A woman did compass a man! Just like Jeremiah wrote.

 "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man." Jeremiah 31:22

As a result mankind's backslidings and sins and rebellions and iniquities and shortcomings can be healed forever!

Forgiven!

Because of Jesus!

LESSON 9, DECEMBER 22, ISAIAH 9:6

The Christmas connotations of this verse are quite obvious. Let's study it today. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

The "child," in Hebrew "yeled" in the masculine gender, is a little boy. This little fellow is "born," coming into earth by means of a godly mother. We Christians believe He was Virgin-Born!

But the "son," in Hebrew "ben," suggests a special Person! Notice He is "given," not "born." This surely hints at Jesus' Deity. That He is eternal. That as a Son He cannot be born because He is the everlasting God!

These two clauses have Christmas emphases.

Then comes, I think, the Second Advent of our Lord, His coming back again! After His Death and Burial and Resurrection!

That's when He will be adored to the fullest as Wonderful Counsellor!

And Mighty God!

And everlasting, right alongside His Father!

And especially during the Millennium with eternity future to follow, as the Prince of Peace!

Yes, this is Christmas to the core.

With a healthy dash of final victory over all the forces of evil added for clarit6y and celebration!

Let's memorize this Verse today.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

And rejoice in all Christmas Season long!

Maybe all year long!

Praise the Lord.

                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, DECEMBER 23, LUKE 2:8-12

The Christmas thought for today engulfs a whole paragraph, a beautiful one too. Luke 2:8-12 relates the Story. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

We're all familiar with these Shepherds, vaguely so anyway. These men were despised by the elite of their community. "Poor, dirty, common" men who can do nothing but watch sheep, tend flocks for a living.

But the God of Heaven thought them noteworthy!

His Message is to the common people anyway!

"Whosoever will" cries the Creator and Redeemer!

But it's to a particular theme that these angels spoke. Actually they mentioned three Tittles for the little Baby in question, Whose Birth both has in the past and now continues to shake the world.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." That's what they believed about Jesus, these angels!

Jesus is Saviour!

Jesus is Lord!

Jesus is Christ!

The noun Saviour is "soter," meaning "One Who delivers and preserves!" One Who "saves" actually! Jesus does this via His vicarious Death on the Cross, His Blood Atonement.

The noun Lord is spelled "kurios," derived from the little Greek word for "supremacy!" Jesus is then First Place in God's Eyes, in every area! He should be in our lives too.

And the noun Christ is "christos," a Greek rendering of a Hebrew idea. It means in both languages "anointed." Really "touched" of God, having received the outpouring of the Oil of the Holy Spirit! Approved of God!

Wow!

Angels, tell us again please. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

He's more than a baby born in an obscure city!

He is the Saviour and the Lord and the Christ!

O let's worship Him today!

                                                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, DECEMBER 24, MATTHEW 1:20

The Verse today, the short Text we're studying, emphasizes the Birth of our Lord Jesus. How that came to be, that unique Virgin Birth.

"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 1:20

An angel, Gabriel by name, came to Joseph. Maybe I had best give the whole context here, more of it anyway. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."

The Lord's Birth was amazing, a once-in-all-eternity miracle. The Holy Spirit of God, the Same Person Who wrote this verse for Matthew to transcribe, superintended over the whole process, Jesus coming to earth as both God and man.

The verb used is "conceived." The Author, the Father, is God Himself. And the willing vessel is Mary the Virgin.

"Joseph, That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." So announces the Bible, clearly and unashamedly!

Let's examine "gennao," the word that's precisely translated "is conceived." It actually means "to be born." And it is written as an aorist passive verb, a participle really. It nearly says that the Holy Spirit here "birthed" Jesus into Mary's body, which would have been an event nine months prior to the actual delivery itself! Now I am not teaching some new doctrine. I am just defining the word, the verb. This is a Miracle!

Goodness!

Another verb used of the Incarnation and distinctly Virginal aspect of this great epoch in Jesus life and ministry is found in Luke 1:35, still flowing from the lips of this same angel, Gabriel. But this time Mary is the listener. "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

"Shall overshadow" is "episkiazo" in Greek. It means, just as it appears, "to throw a shadow over a person!" Thus the Holy Spirit is definitely present at the conception of Jesus. Note also that Luke has Mary giving birth, "gennao" again.

We can't explain it.

No one understands it.

But Jesus is certainly God the Son, come to earth in a human body!

To save us from our sins!

He is a blend of Miracles, a whole cluster of them!

Yet He is human, so much so that He knows every feeling I have!

He’s the Redeemer!

Oh, what a Wonderful Saviour!

Worship and adore Him today.

                                                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, DECEMBER 25, LUKE 2:30

These words flowed from the mouth of a godly Jewish man. One who had a special relationship with God. His name was Simeon. And when he saw baby Jesus he said these words, addressing them directly to God above. "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke 2:30

Now Simeon said much more. Astounding things about Jesus the Lord really. But today, Christmas Day, we focus on this simple sentence. "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Jesus, the baby in the manger, is God's "salvation." Simeon saw what few others did. Maybe no one else apart from Mary and Joseph.

When he called Jesus "salvation," he used the Greek noun "soterion." It means "the One Who brings deliverance!"

Or preservation.

Or safety.

Or even redemption.

And this Christmas Day, 2010, we should all delight in this baby Jesus.

Who grew into manhood and lived a sinless life.

Who is in reality 100% God and 100% man too.

Who died on the Cross, in our stead.

Whose shed blood washes away sins!

Who is the Bringer of our salvation!

Simeon, you were right!

And by faith we agree.

Our eyes too have seen!

Are you, dear reader here today, saved?

"Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke 2:30

That's the greatest question ever asked.

Jesus, Salvation!

Amen.

                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13, DECEMBER 26, GALATIANS 5:4-5

The Verses are simple, yet so very profound too. They focus on the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was the human writer, and the Holy Spirit the real Author. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

Jesus, God's Son!

Jesus, "made" of a woman! The verb selected is "ginomai" and means "brought into existence." Mary the Virgin, in cooperation with God Almighty "birthed" that little body into the world! Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem!

Our King James Version tells us that Jesus was "made" of Mary! That's His little human body only. As far as His deity, His Godhead, He is eternally God, God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity!

But from our text we also learn that Jesus was "sent forth" from God the father. This verb is spelled "exapostello" and is beautiful! Jesus is, literally here, an Apostle, the Apostle! The root term here is "stello" and suggests "going on a journey to set things right!" To straighten some things that have become perverted! It also demands an air of authority!

Jesus is indeed God's Ambassador to earth!

Now then, why did Jesus come?

Virgin born as he was?

Two reasons are given. "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

To redeem us!

"Exagorazo" means "to buy back," a quote from the marketplace! A price was paid! To set us free from the clutches of sin.

Then to "adopt" us! "Huiothesia" actually means "being placed" in a family as a "child" of distinction!

Wow!

Sons of God!

Daughters of God!

That's why Jesus came!

That's why He died!

Think about these things this day after Christmas, 2010, this Sunday morning. What a Text of Scripture!

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

Thank you, Lord!

                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 14, DECEMBER 27, LUKE 1:35

One last lesson about Christmas. About our Saviour really, a Text taken from  Luke 1:35. In fact a single clause interests me this morning. There where Luke calls Jesus “that holy thing!” Those words are right out of the King James Bible too, “That Holy Thing!”

The whole Verse reads like this: “And the angel answered and said unto Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

It sounds almost irreverent, words most Christians would have never used of Jesus, “that holy thing!”

Let’s investigate. In Greek the phrase is “to hagion.” But what do those little words mean?

In a more basic form they are “ho hagios.” The first little word, an adjective, an article really, in English we say a “limiting” article, is “ho.” It simply means “the.” Jesus is not merely some holy thing! He is THE Holy thing! One of a certain Kind! I’d say there is none like Him! He is unique. He is not “a” holy thing, but “the” holy thing!

Next is the adjective, what’s sometimes called a substantive really. “Hagios,” meaning “holy” also has this implication. “Set apart, different!” Separated, sanctified, holy in that “clean” sense, completely untainted!

Some of today’s theologians have taken to calling Deity that “Wholly Other” Being! Different than any human or god or entity ever in existence!

Jesus is That, “Holy” and unique and One-of-a-Kind, in the most reverent sense.

So this Christmas Season, which now only faintly lingers in some minds I guess, very busy people indeed, let’s retain this thought. Jesus is That Holy Thing Which God the Father sent to earth from Heaven!

That Holy Thing Who was Virgin Born! By the way, and I looked carefully, the gender of “thing” is neuter! The Holy Spirit here did call Jesus a “Thing,” but with the utmost of respect assuredly.

That Holy Thing Who was sinless in all His life, over thirty-three years!

That Holy Thing Who died on the Cross to forgive us our iniquities and rebellions and sins and transgressions!

That Holy Thing Who was buried in the rock-hewn grave of Joseph of Arimathea.

That Holy Thing Who was raised from the Grave by the awesome Power of God, literally and physically brought back from the dead!

That Holy Thing Who ascended to Heaven and is now seated at the right Hand of God His Father! To pray for you and me who are saved by His Grace!

And That Holy thing Who is coming back again some day, to earth, to rule and reign victoriously!

That Holy Thing Who is our Lord and Saviour, if we have trusted Him and His shed Blood for salvation!

“And the angel answered and said unto Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Thank God for “That Holy Thing,” Jesus our precious Saviour today!

I would have never by myself called Him that!

But I like the Title very much now that we’ve considered it here today!

Blessed Jesus!

We adore Thee!

                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell