Today, December 24, 2020 … it is pouring rain here where we live. And cold, low 40’s I believe. I can scarcely ever remember snow at Christmas, living in the south all my life.

But today in Bethlehem (Israel) it is partly cloudy and currently in the 50’s, according to the weather people.

I wonder what the weather conditions were when Jesus was born! It was clear, apparently. The shepherds could see the angels. It was fairly warm, too. (The shepherds were outside in the fields, watching their flocks, even at night.) Almost certainly not in December!

We sing about dreaming of a “White Christmas,” but I looked and don’t see any sustained snowfall across the whole United States! Neither today nor tonight …

But does any of this really matter?

Here’s the great Fact about Christmas. Whatever the weather, God came to earth!

Jesus, God the Son, was virgin born!

And He lived sinlessly!

And died on the Cross to forgive repenting sinners!

Died and rose again!

Plus … He’s in Heaven right now praying for us.

I think He’s coming again too, maybe real soon!

No matter the weather!

Merry Christmas everyone …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Quoting Jesus Himself , in John 5:24.

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I just checked. There is no Christmas celebrated in North Korea. And in China, also communist, officially only 1% of the people are Christian … so Christmas is virtually non-existent there too.

My point, the more socialist a Country becomes … the less Christmas is valued. (In America it is already so commercialized that Jesus is “taboo” in many places.)

I’m just wondering as I sit at a computer this morning (December 23, 2020) what the future holds for this particular Holiday. I mean even its legality.

But this much is so … as a Believer in Jesus Christ (my personal Saviour) I can always love Him and thank Him for coming to earth … no matter the political environment!

I can rejoice in this great fact … “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:14

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Hebrews 3:3 essentially says that Jesus is greater than Moses. Our Lord “was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,” literally.

Then that whole (lengthy) paragraph of Hebrews discusses Moses and the people he led (Israel) … including their failure in the wilderness! Contrasted with Jesus and the people He leads (the Church) … exhorting them NOT TO FAIL in their earthly journey to Heaven!

Wow!

Now, let’s specifically consider Moses’ birth … miraculous to say the least! The dangers, the deliverances, the evident Hand of God!

But … the whole point of the Lesson … Jesus is better, greater! His Birth … more miraculous! The dangers more intense, the deliverances more graphic, the Hand of God more evident!

Tonight during our Bible Study video, our “Evening Meditation,” I will go into further detail about Moses … and JESUS!

I’d like to invite you to watch (or listen) to that particular Class.

Interesting!

Jesus is better!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The thought is new to me, but thoroughly Biblical. Discovered as I studied yesterday for last night’s recorded Bible Lesson!

“For verily he (Jesus) took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Hebrews 2:16

Why?

“To make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17

God’s Plan overlooked the fallen angels … and came straight to us lower beings … to us old sinners!

I discussed this Bible Fact in last night’s “Evening Meditation,” as I just said.

Plus that marvelous Text also mentions (for the first time in the New Testament) the Truth that Jesus has become our “High Priest!”

A Lesson well worth hearing … now on Facebook and YouTube under my name.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It’s always been a point of interest in my study of the Bible. The unique (and sometimes opaque) way the New Testament quotes the Old Testament. All the while knowing (fully assured) that every Verse in the Bible is inerrant (without mistake), divinely inspired of God.

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21

Well, tonight’s Evening Meditation (our upcoming Text being Hebrews 2:11-13) gives us a sterling example of such intertextuality.

There in Hebrews Paul in three short verses quotes the Old Testament three different times! In an easy-to-see fashion, at that. If you’re a Bible student also interested in the “workings” of the very Mind of the Holy Spirit, of Almighty God … this evening Lesson is for you!

I’ll say no more.

Yes I will, quoting Jesus … “COME AND SEE!”

Again and again Psalm 119 mentions loving God’s Law, God’s Word … I sure want to be numbered in that crowd!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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