{"id":8748,"date":"2022-12-20T09:47:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T14:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?p=8748"},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:42:36","slug":"when-i-think-of-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/when-i-think-of-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"When I Think of Christmas… (264)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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When I Think of Christmas...<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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By Steven J. Hogan<\/p>\n

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~ A Saturday Morning Post #264 ~

<\/em>What comes to your mind when you think of Christmas?<\/p>\n\n

I think of Christmas being about Jesus Christ, not food, family, Santa Claus, presents, vacations, and secular songs. That \u201cthe Word became flesh\u201d <\/em>means that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of man, an amazing, wonderful, most important miracle. John 1:14

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I think of a world that does not know Jesus, and does not understand the spiritual truth and relevance, the real meaning of Christmas, but instead uses this special season for physical and commercial purposes, for the fleshly desires of man instead of for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

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I think of how Jesus was like each of us, a little baby, 7 or 8 pounds or so, with arms and legs and fingers and toes – and He was dependent on His mother and father, but much more so, on His heavenly Father. Psalm 22:9-10, Luke 2:7

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I think of Jesus, and He was not like us, for He was God in the flesh. And not having a sin nature, He never sinned. As the \u201cHoly One\u201d<\/em>, He was perfect in all He thought, said, or did. Mark 1:24

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I think of Jesus existing in the \u201cform of God\u201d<\/em> since eternity past, but on Christmas He \u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/em>, was \u201cmade in the likeness of men\u201d<\/em>, an incredible miracle we call the incarnation. And that was just the beginning, for Jesus humbled Himself and became a \u201cbond-servant\u201d<\/em>, a slave, and in fact, the lowest of men, for He died in the worst way, as a criminal and on a cross. But it was for a reason, to save man from his sins and from eternal death, with the result that Jesus was \u201chighly exalted\u201d<\/em> and His Father was greatly glorified. Philippians 2:5-11

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I think of how Jesus was born to live with man, One we call Immanuel, \u201cGod with us\u201d. <\/em>He went from being a baby to a toddler to a young boy to a teenager to a young man to a man. For three years, Jesus ministered to people, He \u201cdwelt among us, and we saw His glory\u201d<\/em>. Then He died for us, rose again, and ascended into heaven to be with His Father. It won’t be long before Jesus comes back to earth, and then we will see Him and be with Him forever. Hallelujah! Matt. 1:23, John 1:14, John 14:1-3

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I think of God\u2019s character being clearly displayed at Jesus\u2019 birth and during His first coming – His love, power, holiness, goodness, wisdom, sovereignty, etc. Therefore, God was glorified and worshiped! Luke 2:9, 14, 20, 32

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I think of Jesus becoming a baby, becoming human flesh, and how it shows the great and marvelous love of God for each one of us. \u201cFor God so loved the world, that He gave us His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d<\/em> John 3:16

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I think of Jewish people in those days looking for a King, and they were correct in their understanding of Jesus being a King, and were excited about the prospect of Jesus being their King (Luke 19:38). But most did not recognize Jesus as their Savior, as the only One who could take away their sins. \u201cYou shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.\u201d <\/em>Matthew 1:21

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I think of Satan’s strong and continued opposition to Jesus’ birth, summarized in Rev. 12:1-5. Six different evil empires over the course of 2,000 years tried to wipe out Israel, but they were all unsuccessful. God\u2019s plans for the birth of Jesus were never thwarted, for Israel \u201cwas with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth\u2026 but she gave birth to a son, a male child.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 33:10-12

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I think of those God chose to be involved in Jesus\u2019 birth and early years on earth. There were the angels, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, and the Magi, and many others we don\u2019t even know about. All were blessed to be part of the most important birth on earth – but consider this, that those of us alive at this time are also blessed, for we are God\u2019s chosen servants in these last years leading up to Christ\u2019s 2nd<\/sup> coming. Mark 13:34, John 15:16

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I think of Christmas being about baby Jesus, but more than that, it led to His ministry years on earth, to His death, resurrection, and ascension, to shepherding the church – and at this time, to His return to rapture the church, judge the wicked, reign over the restored earth during the millennial kingdom, and over the new heavens and earth with His Father in the eternal kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Matt. 19:28

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I think how we are much, much closer to Christ\u2019s 2nd<\/sup> coming than His 1st<\/sup> coming. But keep both in mind, remembering that Christ\u2019s work to save souls at His 1st<\/sup> coming will result in their salvation being completed at His 2nd<\/sup> coming, at which time God will give all believers glorified bodies. Jesus was born to die, but was raised again to redeem sinful man, and \u201cwhen He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.\u201d<\/em> 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 40-42

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I think how God had all the details of His Son\u2019s birth planned out, the time, the place, Joseph and Mary and many others, the census, the Satanic opposition, etc. Nothing was left to chance, for it was all part of God\u2019s wise, holy, perfect, and glorious plan. Isaiah 46:9-11, Luke 2

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I think how God predicted specific aspects of His Son\u2019s birth long before it happened, for He wanted His people to be looking forward to His coming (Gen. 9:10, Deut. 18:15, Is. 7:14, Is. 9:6a, Mic. 5:2). So too, God has predicted many aspects of Christ\u2019s 2nd<\/sup> coming, for in these days, He wants all Christians to be looking forward to His return. Matt. 24:3-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 7:9-14

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I think how in these end-times, all true Christians rightfully and joyfully look back at Christ\u2019s first coming and see Jesus as a Savior, but sadly, most Christians are not expecting and looking forward to His second coming, to seeing and being with Jesus the King. Might we rightfully and joyfully sing – \u201cJoy to the World, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King… Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ… No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground… He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.” <\/em>From “Joy to the World”

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I think how the Son of God, as a baby and a servant, came humbly, quietly, and secretly to the little town of Bethlehem. And the Son of God will come again, as a man and a King, this time in the sky and in power and great glory, with the trumpet of God and the voice of the archangel, and \u201cevery eye will see Him\u201d <\/em>(Rev. 1:7). \u201cShe gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.\u201d<\/em> Rev. 12:5, Matt. 24:30-31, 1 Thess. 4:16

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I think how Jesus was born to be a Savior (Psalm 22), but also to be a Shepherd (Psalm 23), a King (Psalm 24), and a Judge (John 5:22, Acts 17:31).

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I think of how Christmas needs to be personal, and it is to me, for Jesus is my Savior, my Lord, my Shepherd, and my King. And I do love Him and rejoice in Him and trust Him and learn from Him and submit to Him and talk to Him and pray to Him and thank Him – and I cannot wait to see Him. “After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”<\/em> Job 19:26-27

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Think about Christmas and Jesus Christ, and what it really means, how it should greatly affect your life, the church, and the world. And think how it won\u2019t be long before Christ’s second coming, and all believers will forever be with Him in heaven and on earth (Rev. 21:1-7). \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men!\u201d<\/em> Luke 2:14

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P.S. Here are some Christmas posts from the past – “First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming”<\/a><\/em>. “The Christmas Story and Christ’s Second Coming”<\/a><\/em>, “Christmas is More than Baby Jesus”<\/a><\/em>, “The True Meaning of Christmas”<\/a><\/em>. May the Lord bless you and your family during this Christmas season, in the new year, and forever more. Psalm 23:6<\/p>\n\n

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