Every year we often say “I can’t believe it is already Christmas time again”. Here we are again with Christmas just around the corner.  Thinking about this time of the year brought forth a thought of when we have our children. With each birth we think that child is different from other babies, extra special. Once there was a baby born who truly was different from all other babies ever birthed. His name wasn’t chosen by His parents because God named Him. An angel appeared to His mother and announced that His name would be Jesus, meaning God is with us. Luke 1:26-38 He was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. The one child born to die for the sins of the world. 

Why is He different? If what was said above doesn’t explain then consider that His birth was pronounced centuries before He was born. Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Hosea 11:1. This prophecy was written by Hosea approximately 800 years before Christ was born. This verse looks backward and forward. Remember the Israelites were slaves in Egypt when God brought them out. Also remember that Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with the baby Jesus to avoid the slaughter by Herod. This verse can apply to both of those situations. However, it was referred to by Matthew in his writings Matthew 2:14-15. 

Jesus Christ was born where, how and to the lineage it was told that he would all those years earlier. He was born a King of all Kings and yet He wasn’t born into wealth or to a family of high notoriety. He was born in a stable among the animals because there were no room for them in the Inn. He was different in so many ways. His mother was human with a common name Mary. Jesus was born as God and as man. His life itself was different as well. This baby grew to be a man but if He never sinned then we know that he obeyed, loved, taught, helped others, gave and forgave. His life was different. Many children have to be taught those things as their sinful flesh urges them instead to sin. Not with our Savior. Yes we read that He faced temptation later and likely throughout life but He remained faithful to the purpose of why He was here. The plan of Himself, God the man, God The Father and God’s Holy Spirit. He performed miracles in His own power. He kept the commandments for us. He was radically different. 

His birth, His life and His death showed How different this baby was and how different this Man was and is. He was born, He lived and yes He gave His life for mankind. He was crucified, buried and on the third day He rose from the grave. He was hated by people then and is hated by people today. They hate Him because THEIR DEEDS were and are evil. Jesus Christ was/is light, He brings goodness and light and the people who hate Him love the darkness of this world too much. They sought to get rid of Him then and still today. Yet Jesus did not die because He had to. He died because He wanted to, He loved us. He entered this world seeking to save those that were lost. There was only one way to accomplish that and it was through His suffering and death on the cross. He made the willing choice to pay the ultimate sacrifice, the wages of sin which is death. Romans 6:23. His death was different. Men may die cringing, cursing, blaming and begging but our Lord Jesus Christ died as He had lived, loving, giving and forgiving. Luke 23:34. 

Thank God there is more to this story. The Christ we know today and celebrate this Christmas has arose and lives. Again proves how different this baby is that was born all those years ago. Babies are born every day, most grow to maturity but they all eventually die. How and why was Jesus different? Because He rose from the dead. Why He was and is different is because He was and is the one eternal God. The Bible teaches that Him being held by death was not possible. Acts 2:24. He had the power to rise from the grave and on the third day He did just that. He lives, our Lord and Savior lives today. The cradle, The cross and The tomb are all empty. Through His birth, death and resurrection if we believe in Him He promises that Because He lives we too shall live for all eternity. We must believe and make the choice to follow Him. John 3:16. Let us join together in prayer right now. “I come to you Lord Jesus and praise You for coming to earth as one of us but thank you for being different. I thank you for living, dying and rising as my Savior. As I celebrate your birth this Christmas please give me a renewed joy and understanding in having you as my ultimate Gift that keeps giving through life and beyond, a gift that keeps me living forever. I love you Jesus. Amen”.