God has sent his son Jesus Christ to this world for the redemption of the whole creation. Before the birth of Christ on this earth God has declared this through his prophets. This is found in the Old Testament texts for today (Is. 32:1-20; Ps. 8:1-4, 19-29). Jesus Himself claimed that it is written about him in the Psalms and the books of the prophets and in the laws of the Jewish people (Lk 24:44; Jn. 5:39). The birth of Christ, His ministry, death, resurrection, ascension and the second coming – all are already prophesied. The birth of Christ is a unique and the greatest event of history. The incident of God coming down to intervene in human history. A God who is spirit and hot visible to naked eyes came in this world as a person in form. If world be good to meditate upon the divine purpose of the birth of Jesus Christ, He came to save sinners to preach the Good News of the inauguration of the kingdom of God and the message of deliverance. As saint John says, he came to destroy and put an and to the works of Satan. And finally Jesus came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

1.To save the sinners (Mic. 5:1-9)

Jesus came to save the sinners as prophesied to Jude, the smallest clan, Bethlehem Ephrata (Mic. 5:2). Micah prophesied during the time of B.C 742 – 687. He was a contemporary of Hosea, Amos and Isaiah. He prophesied the seriousness of the judgment that is to happen to them due to their sin, the sons of Samaria (Mic. 1:5-7) and Jude (19-16), who declares the final blessings the coming and rule of the Messiah. The angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph prior to the birth of Jesus as follows: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21). Paul records that ‘Christ has come to save the sinners’ (1 Timo. 1:15-17). All the synoptic gospels witness the words of Jesus, “I have come to call for repentance not the righteous but the sinners (Matt. 9:12, 13; Mk. 2:1; Lk. 5:31,32,19:10). The prime message of Jesus has “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Lk 19:10). The message of Christian is the message of the forgiveness of sin.

2.To preach the Kingdom of God (Ps. 89:1-4, 19-29)

The Old Testament depicts Christ as a king who does his ministry with an everlasting anointing. “” (Ps. 89:27-29). Jesus declared that he has come to preach the gospel (Lk 4:43; Mk. 1:38. The main content of the preaching of Jesus was kingdom of God. Jesus divided the history of the world into two, as the time of the law and the prophets up to John the Baptist and then the time of preaching of the gospel (Lk. 16:16). Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but it is justice and peace and the joy of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Kingdom of God is the sharing of justice, propriety, peace, truth, joy and care for others. If such a status will arrive, there will be no one in the society without food, water and clothing. That is why Jesus taught that you seek first the kingdom of God and all these will be there for your (Matt. 6:33). We should remember the words of Isaiah that He will not falter or be discourage till he establishes justice on earth. Jesus taught his disciples to pray always without ceasing “Let thy Kingdom come”. Thus, the message of Christmas has become the message of the kingdom of God.

3.Total deliverance (Rev. 21:1-5) 

In this text, though we find the reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ these verses imply the main message as a total deliverance that He gives to his people “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4). The reference that we find in Lk 4:18,19 which has been quoted by Jesus from Isaiah has became Jesus’ famous vision of the Nazareth Manifesto turned into the message of Christmas.

• The Lord has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor.
• To preach deliverance to the captives.
• To preach sight to the blind.
• Setting free the intimidated people.
• Preaching the year of message of the Lord.

When we put together there five messages the majority of them talk of the liberation is not only spiritual but also physical, social and moral. Thus the message of Christmas becomes the message of a total deliverance.

4.To topple down evil forces (Ps. 89:1-4, 19-21) 

As said earlier, when the kingdom of God is established the evil forces need to be toppled down. The constant fight of Jesus against to evil forces during his earthly ministry is seen in the words of John when he says ‘the son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil’ (1 Jn 3:8). All strictness and forms of oppression need to be demolished. Then only the work of the kingdom of God will start. Jesus said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28).

 5.The word became flesh and came to us with full of Grace (Jn. 1:1-14).

Christ is the word incarnate when commandments, religion and law came through Moses’ grace and truth came through Jesus Christ to the world. It was given as ‘grace upon grace’. It is the grace of ministry and committed servanthood. The selfless words Jesus, “the son of man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ranson for many is the message of Christmas.  “I am coming to do your will” (Heb 10:9). He appealed to God through these above words and took upon himself the horrible cross and demonstrated the selfless nature of God. Therefore, Peter preached that God has sent him that everyone should turn away from his….(Acts 3:26). The message of Christmas is the message of ministry and self denial.  

Prayer

Eternal God, Who has sent His only Son to the smallest of the towns in Judah, to bring peace to the whole world, grant us he grace to recognize Him, receive Him and believe in Him, as the Word, incarnated and lived among us full of grace and truth, so that we would become Your children, always living with you. Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.