There are many images connected to the Christmas season - so many, in fact, that we are easily drawn away from the truly miraculous event that changed the world. The only reason that we can celebrate the birth of Christ at all is because God sovereignly orchestrated events that no man could have planned, and carried out. All of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, His life, death, and resurrection were fulfilments of prophetic word given beforehand by God.
Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah was given a Word from the LORD of a Servant sent from God to suffer and die, not from any sin of His own, but on our behalf:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:5-6
So astounding and important was this prophetic word to man regarding this Servant who would receive upon Himself the punishment of us all, that Isaiah opens his prophetic word by asking, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
It is still an important question today: Who will believe the prophet's report? The LORD has revealed His arm, His sovereign power: Will those to whom it has been revealed recognize it, and respond appropriately to it?
Witnessing the events surrounding the birth of Christ, were many who received the reports, and to whom the arm of the LORD was revealed:
The prophetic report brought by the angel Gabriel to Zachariah the priest who would become the father of John the Baptist, was met with disbelief by that man (Lk. 1:11-18). Because of this unbelief, Zachariah was struck dumb until after the birth of his son (v. 19-20). The child in his wife Elizabeth's womb, however, would recognize the Arm of the LORD in the womb of Mary, and would leap with joy while still in his mother's womb, causing Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. She prophesied regarding Mary and her Child:
"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." Lk. 1:45
The same angel Gabriel had appeared months before to the unmarried woman, Mary, and informed her that she would have a son by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"...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...For with God nothing shall be impossible.." Lk. 1:35 37
Mary, believing and accepting this report answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." v. 38
Months later, shepherds watching their sheep in the countryside outside of Bethlehem were in great fear as an angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord lit up the night around them. The angel reported to them the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. Then a multitude of angels appeared and began to praise God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." Lk. 1:8-14
Not only did the shepherds believe and hurry to go see this child, but after seeing Him, "...they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."
v. 17-18
When Jesus was brought to the temple eight days after His birth, two people there believed what was being revealed to them in the person of this child. One was Simeon, an old man to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed that the One for whom he had been waiting, the Savior of Israel, would come before Simeon's death. The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple on the day when the baby was brought, and Simeon recognized Him instantly: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Lk. 2:25-32
Simeon prophesied to Mary that the child would cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and would be a sign that many would speak against. Simeon had believed the report that the Holy Spirit had brought, and he recognized the Arm of the Lord that had been revealed to him that day. Simeon also understood that many would not believe the report, and would reject what the Lord was sovereignly revealing.
Another devout old woman, Anna, a prophetess, was in the temple that same moment, and also instantly recognized and gave thanks for what the Lord had done in the birth of this child. She also told all that had looked for the Lord's redemption (Lk. 2:36-38).
Even kings and sages from a great distance would hear of the birth of Christ, and react to the report in different ways. The birth of the savior was not an obscure event, although it took place in a humble stable. Isaiah again proclaimed:
"The LORD hath made bear his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." Isa. 52:10-11
From the beginning, the LORD has announced His promise of a Savior: "In the beginning God (Baresheit, The Son of God crushed, His hand upon a cross, Elohim aleph tav, or alpha omega in the Greek) created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1), confirmed in Jn. 1:1-5:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
The whole world has heard the report of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. The LORD has revealed His arm to each of us. There is a response required.
"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
