December 18th, 2025
Christmas is right around the corner and in the midst of the holiday bustle, the birth of Jesus Christ is being celebrated. Even people who won’t step foot in a church this year will see imagery of an infant Jesus in a manger and hear songs about His birth. At the center of it all, this season is about Him!
We must remember that we are celebrating the greatest gift ever given. God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus (John 3:16)!
Romans 6:23 says,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
He was a gift rejected by many because He didn’t come the way they expected.
John 1:11 says,
“He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.”
They expected a military leader and a king who would deliver them from Roman oppression, but Jesus came in a surprising package.
Isaiah 53:2 says of the Messiah,
“For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.”
He came as a baby, not at all the way they thought He would, but He carried the hope and power of heaven to deliver them from death itself. From the moment He was born, there was life, hope, and peace for those who did come to Him—for those who recognized the beauty of His gift.
Jesus’ birth was announced by angels to the most unexpected group—shepherds keeping watch over their sheep.
Luke 2:10-20 says,
‘The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.’
When the shepherds heard the news, they had to see. From the moment Jesus was born, there was a call to come to Him. The shepherds were the first to hear it, but the same call echoed throughout His life and can still be heard today. Come and see.
Anyone who came to Jesus found life. In John 1:37-39, two disciples heard the call. It says,
‘The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.”’
In John 1:44-46, just a few verses later, one of those disciples issued the same call to Nathanael. It says,
‘Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”’
When Philip realized they had found the Christ, His response was immediately to share the news, just like the shepherds.
There is still a cry from heaven to every human being on earth to come and see. Look at some of the words of Jesus Himself.
John 6:35 says,
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 7:37 says,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”
John 12:32 says,
“I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Matthew 11:28-30 says,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Everywhere we go, people are heavy laden, carrying the burden of sin and their own lives – desperate for the same news the shepherds heard from the mouths of angels a little over two thousand years ago. The angels brought the gospel to those shepherds – good news of great joy. The news was in the form of a baby, gentle and lowly in heart, come to earth to seek and save that which was lost.
The only requirement for us to receive the most beautiful gift that has ever been given is to come. The sharing of the gospel is not a burden on us to demonstrate the power of God or to prove the gift that is Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus came and was lifted up on the cross. He died, was buried, and then rose from that grave with the roar of a lion, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is still saying “Come and see.” Our job, as believers, is simply to invite people to come and see. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is as beautiful now as He was the day He was born in Bethlehem and the day He rose in the power and authority of heaven, carrying the keys of death and hell.
If you’ve never known the gift of Jesus – life, salvation, hope, joy, peace, and strength, we encourage you to come and see. He’s the greatest gift the world has ever known, and He is for you!
We must remember that we are celebrating the greatest gift ever given. God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus (John 3:16)!
Romans 6:23 says,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
He was a gift rejected by many because He didn’t come the way they expected.
John 1:11 says,
“He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.”
They expected a military leader and a king who would deliver them from Roman oppression, but Jesus came in a surprising package.
Isaiah 53:2 says of the Messiah,
“For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.”
He came as a baby, not at all the way they thought He would, but He carried the hope and power of heaven to deliver them from death itself. From the moment He was born, there was life, hope, and peace for those who did come to Him—for those who recognized the beauty of His gift.
Jesus’ birth was announced by angels to the most unexpected group—shepherds keeping watch over their sheep.
Luke 2:10-20 says,
‘The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.’
When the shepherds heard the news, they had to see. From the moment Jesus was born, there was a call to come to Him. The shepherds were the first to hear it, but the same call echoed throughout His life and can still be heard today. Come and see.
Anyone who came to Jesus found life. In John 1:37-39, two disciples heard the call. It says,
‘The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.”’
In John 1:44-46, just a few verses later, one of those disciples issued the same call to Nathanael. It says,
‘Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”’
When Philip realized they had found the Christ, His response was immediately to share the news, just like the shepherds.
There is still a cry from heaven to every human being on earth to come and see. Look at some of the words of Jesus Himself.
John 6:35 says,
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 7:37 says,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”
John 12:32 says,
“I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Matthew 11:28-30 says,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Everywhere we go, people are heavy laden, carrying the burden of sin and their own lives – desperate for the same news the shepherds heard from the mouths of angels a little over two thousand years ago. The angels brought the gospel to those shepherds – good news of great joy. The news was in the form of a baby, gentle and lowly in heart, come to earth to seek and save that which was lost.
The only requirement for us to receive the most beautiful gift that has ever been given is to come. The sharing of the gospel is not a burden on us to demonstrate the power of God or to prove the gift that is Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus came and was lifted up on the cross. He died, was buried, and then rose from that grave with the roar of a lion, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is still saying “Come and see.” Our job, as believers, is simply to invite people to come and see. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is as beautiful now as He was the day He was born in Bethlehem and the day He rose in the power and authority of heaven, carrying the keys of death and hell.
If you’ve never known the gift of Jesus – life, salvation, hope, joy, peace, and strength, we encourage you to come and see. He’s the greatest gift the world has ever known, and He is for you!
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