The Birth of King Jesus
December 25--27
Day #25
Title: The King Who Was Give... View MoreThe Birth of King Jesus
December 25--27
Day #25
Title: The King Who Was Given
Scripture Text: John 3:16
Theme: The Birth of Jesus as the ultimate expression of God’s love and the arrival of a different kind of Kingdom.
Introduction: The Christmas Verse in Disguise
When we think of the birth of King Jesus, we usually turn to the hills of Bethlehem, the carols of angels, or the quiet of a stable in Luke 2. But if you want to understand the why behind the what, you have to look at John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
While this verse is often associated with the cross, it is fundamentally a Christmas verse. It describes the greatest "gift-giving" moment in human history. Today, we look at the birth of Jesus not just as a historical event, but as the arrival of a King whose crown was made of humility and whose motivation was pure love.
1. The Motivation of the King: A Love Without Borders
The verse begins with: "For God so loved the world..."
In the ancient world, kings were expected to be served. They were distant, powerful, and often demanded the love and loyalty of their subjects under threat of force. But the King of Kings flipped the script.
The Scope: He didn't just love the "righteous" or the "worthy." He loved the world—in all its messiness, rebellion, and brokenness.
The Depth: The word "so" in this context doesn't just mean "very much"; it means "in this way." God loved the world in this specific way: by becoming part of it.
The takeaway: Jesus wasn’t born in a palace because He didn't come to be insulated from us; He was born in a manger because He came to be with us.
2. The Nature of the Gift: A King Who Was "Gave"
The text says: "...that he gave his one and only Son."
At Christmas, we celebrate the "arrival," but John uses the word "gave." This tells us two things about the birth of King Jesus:
It was Costly: To give a "one and only Son" implies a sacrifice. The shadow of the cross was already falling over the manger. The straw that cushioned His head would one day be replaced by the wood of a Roman cross.
It was Intentional: Jesus wasn't an afterthought. His birth wasn't a "Plan B." He was the promised King, the "Long-Expected Jesus," sent on a specific mission to rescue a people who could not rescue themselves.
3. The Accessibility of the King: The "Whoever" Invitation
Most kings have gatekeepers. To see a monarch, you need status, wealth, or a special invitation. But look at the requirement for this King: "...that whoever believes in him..."
The Shepherd and the Sage: At His birth, the first to see Him were outcasted shepherds and foreign Magi.
The Open Door: The word "whoever" is the most inclusive word in the Bible. It levels the playing field. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or how "un-royal" you feel.
To "believe" in this King isn't just to agree that He existed. It is to place your trust in His authority and His goodness. It is to say, "I want to be a citizen of Your Kingdom."
Conclusion: From Perishing to Living
The verse ends with a contrast: "...shall not perish but have eternal life."
Without the King, we are wandering. We are "perishing" in our own stress, our own failures, and our own mortality. But the birth of Jesus changed the trajectory of the human story. He didn't come to condemn the world, but to give it a heartbeat again.
This Christmas season, as we look at the Nativity, let’s remember that the baby in the manger is the King on the throne. He didn't come to take; He came to give. He didn't come to rule with an iron fist, but with a wounded hand.
The King has arrived. The gift has been given. The only question remains: Will you receive Him?
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The Birth of King Jesus
December 25--27
Day #26
Title: The Gift We Could Never Earn
Scripture: Romans 6:23
Theme: The Birth of the King as God’s Answer to Humanity’s Greatest Debt.
Introduction: The Season of Exchange
Christmas is a season defined by the exchange of gifts. We spend weeks searching for the "perfect" item for those we love—something that reflects their value to us. But often, our gift-giving is based on a "tit-for-tat" mentality: I give to you because you gave to me, or because you’ve "earned" my affection.
However, the scripture we are looking at today, Romans 6:23, strips away the ribbons and bows to show us the raw reality of the first Christmas. It presents a stark contrast between what we have earned and what God has freely given.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
1. The Wages: What We Earned
To understand the beauty of the manger, we must first understand the darkness of the debt. Paul uses the word "wages." A wage is something you are owed; it is the just compensation for work performed.
In our fallen state, the "work" of humanity has been rebellion and self-governance. The natural paycheck for a life separated from God is death—not just physically, but spiritually. This is why the world Jesus entered was so desperate. It was a world bankrupt, unable to pay off the mounting debt of its own soul.
If Christmas were about what we deserved, there would be no star, no angels, and no Savior.
2. The Gift: What God Provided
But the verse shifts with one of the most beautiful "buts" in all of Scripture: "...but the gift of God."
The Greek word used here for gift is charisma. It refers to a gift of grace—something bestowed that is completely unearned and undeserved. While we were clocking in shifts of rebellion, God was preparing a treasury of grace.
The birth of King Jesus was God’s "charity" in the truest sense of the word. He didn't look down and say, "They’ve done enough to merit a visit." He looked down and said, "They cannot save themselves; I will go to them." The baby in the manger is the physical manifestation of God’s refusal to give us what we earned.
3. The King: Christ Jesus Our Lord
Notice how the verse ends: "...in Christ Jesus our Lord." The "gift" isn't a philosophy, a religion, or a set of rules. The gift is a Person. * He is Christ: The Anointed One, the promised Messiah.
He is Jesus: The one who "saves His people from their sins."
He is Lord: The King who claims authority over our lives.
When the Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they weren't just giving birthday presents; they were acknowledging a Sovereign. This King was born in a stable to pay the "wages" of the world on a cross, so that we could receive His "gift" through a resurrection.
Conclusion: Will You Receive It?
A gift can be bought, wrapped, and placed under the tree, but it does the recipient no good until it is opened and accepted. This Christmas, you might feel like you are working hard to "earn" a good life, "earn" God’s favor, or "earn" your way out of your mistakes. But the message of the Gospel is that the King has already paid the bill. The wages have been handled; only the gift remains.
As we celebrate the birth of King Jesus, let us move past the "wages" of our own efforts and rest in the "eternal life" that was born in Bethlehem.
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The Birth of King Jesus
December 25--27
Day #27
The King’s Arrival: In the Fullness of Time"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." — Galatians 4:4–5 (NIV)1. The Perfect Timing of the KingThe text begins with a powerful phrase: "When the set time had fully come." Christmas was not an emergency backup plan; it was a scheduled appointment. Historians often point out that the world was uniquely prepared for a King:The Pax Romana: The Roman Peace allowed for safe travel across the empire.Roman Roads: A highway system was ready for the message of the King to spread.A Common Language: Greek allowed the Gospel to be understood by diverse cultures.The Lesson: If God was in control of the timing of the first Christmas, He is in control of the timing of your life today. He is never early, and He is never late.2. The Humble Nature of the KingPaul highlights two specific "births" for Jesus that seem almost contradictory for a King:"Born of a woman": This affirms His complete humanity. He didn’t just appear; He entered our world through the same messy, fragile process we all do. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, tired, and tempted."Born under the law": This refers to His Jewish heritage and His submission to God's standard. Unlike us, Jesus lived perfectly under the Law. He did what we couldn't do so that He could pay a debt He didn't owe.3. The Grand Purpose: Redemption and AdoptionWhy did the King come? Paul uses two legal terms to explain the "why":TermMeaning in the TextRedemptionTo buy someone out of slavery. Jesus "bought us back" from our "slavery" to sin and the impossible demands of the law.AdoptionThis is the "plus-one" of the Gospel. It’s not just that our debt is cleared (redemption); it’s that we are brought into the Family (adoption).The King didn't come just to be a moral example; He came to be a Rescuer. Because of His birth, we are no longer just "subjects" of a King or "slaves" to a code; we are sons and daughters of the Most High.Conclusion: From Slaves to HeirsThe birth of King Jesus is the moment God moved toward us so that we could move toward Him. He became like us (born of a woman) so that we could become like Him (children of God).This season, as we look at the manger, let's remember it was the first step toward the Cross. The King was born in a stable to ensure that we would have a place in His Father's house.Reflection Question: Do you view yourself as a servant trying to earn God's favor, or as a child who already has it because of what King Jesus did?
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End of December 25--27
Next will be December days 28, 29, 30.
