BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Do you know anyone whose birthday falls toward the end of December? Those that I know of, and have heard about, seem to agree on one thing. They get cheated out of having a birthday. Their birthday is generally tied in with Christmas so it isn’t their own ‘special day.’ That special day that most of us can look forward to is over-shadowed by the birth of Jesus Christ. Think of the money this saves on sending out announcements. The new parents simply send out Christmas cards with a little note attached – P.S. we had a baby girl, her name is Jennifer, she weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces - okay, may not.

What about the greatest birth announcement of all time. The announcement of Christ’s birth really starts in the book of Genesis, but let’s fast-forward to Isaiah 9:6.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” What an announcement! A child is coming, a son will be given. And He will govern. In fact, Pilate asked Christ a rhetorical question, “You are a king, then!" said Pilate.“Even so, Lord Jesus, come!”

Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.’” John 18:37. So why isn’t Christ reigning on His throne? He will - check out Revelation 19:11-16. But for now, Christ told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36. Isaiah also tells us this child is more than a mere man. In fact, He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. This is God in the flesh coming to live among men. A few hundred years after Isaiah’s announcement came the fulfillment of this announcement as given to us by the angels of heaven. We read about what we call ‘the Christmas story’ in Luke 2:8-14. In verses 11 and 12 the shepherds were told, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” What a birth announcement!

But, do you know there’s another birth announcement we should all pay attention to. Christ made this announcement to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” That announcement by Isaiah and later by the angels was so very important because it meant that God was coming to earth in order to redeem men. This second announcement by Christ is ever so important because He said that in order for that redemption to take place a person had to be born again. Nicodemus was puzzled but Christ reemphasized this point in verses 5-7 of John 3. “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

This season I would say to you. Don’t get so caught-up in the commercialization of the season that you forget the greatest of all birth announcements. “God came to earth of redeem men.” Luke 19:10. Secondly, don’t miss out on this redemption by failing to be born-again. You must be born of the Spirit of God. That comes only from surrendering your life and heart to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you have never done that, make this the greatest Christmas of all. Heaven depends on it.