Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year, but it’s also a very difficult season for many people. In all the hurry to hang the lights, trim the tree, and fill the stockings, the season knows how to draw out our deepest feelings of loneliness and sorrow.
If you’ll come aside with me for a few moments, my prayer is to point you to the Manger-King in such a way that your heart is filled with hope and peace as you’re reminded of Who this holy infant is. Come kneel beside the manger heavy-hearted, and hear the soul-lifting words of the Messiah.
“…the scroll of Isaiah was given to [Jesus]. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ …And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'” Luke 4:18-21
TO THE POOR:
You’ve knelt beside the baby, nothing in your hand to bring. A destitute beggar, needy, crouched, and cringing in the shadow of the manger, you have no way to commend yourself to God. In poverty of spirit, you’ve come simply to beg mercy from the Manger-King.
He has good news for you, for His word to the bankrupted sinner is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Restless soul, wicked and miserable, cry out to Jesus, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:9-14)
Regardless of where you’ve been and why you’re so poor, you will rise justified from this dusty stable floor.
“…has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” James 2:5
TO THE PRISONER:
The bars of our prison are our own making, for one is not a prisoner unless she has been chained there by some guilt of her own doing. We prisoners are sinners who have committed crimes and are awaiting our punishment in the dungeon of our guilt.
But in our bondage to sin, we cry for release at the foot of the lowly manger, for this Child has come to give release to captive souls. Kneeling before a sinless Savior, we receive freedom from and forgiveness for our sins.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
TO THE BLIND:
All we see is blackness and night. The eyes of our wicked heart are darkened, and there’s no glimmer of hope or fragment of light.
But the Messiah has wooed our stumbling, helpless feet to the edge of the stable. He draws us to Himself with cords of love and kindness. He is God, who commanded, “Let light shine out of darkness,” and He has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the gentle Messiah, Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
And though we dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, because of the tender mercy of our God, the Sunrise from on high has visited us. He gives light and guides our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)
Give glory to God with me, as our feeble hearts cry out, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2
TO THE OPPRESSED:
As you fall beneath your heavy load, laden with guilt and full of fears, the Savior calls to your weary heart. He does not call to you to bear up under the impossible load, but rather He releases the straps of your yoke, takes it from your desperate grasp, and breaks into shattering pieces the yoke that binds you.
The pain, abuse, grief, and troubles that you carry are ones that He will bear on His own shoulders. Your toil under sin and the law is fully accomplished in the life of this Manger-Child, and He calls to the weary laborer, “Come to Me.” He says to us who are heavy-laden, “I will give you rest.”
The crippling weight of the law and the crushing defeat of sin is toppled by His sinless perfection, and He offers us relief. He offers us joy. He offers us liberty.
“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.” Matthew 11:28-30
SALVATION HAS COME
Come kneel before the Manger-King, for at the manger, our souls are awash in the realization of the Glory of God. The promise and prophecy of God through the prophet Isaiah are realized.
Jesus declares, “TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING.” (Luke 4:21)
He is here. This is the year of the Lord’s favor, the year of our Jubilee. All debts canceled, all souls offered freedom.
The offer to our souls is for today. All you poor, you imprisoned, you blind, and you oppressed have met the Savior of your souls, and He offers to you good news, freedom, sight, and liberty.
Everything you’ve ever hoped for, and every longing of your heart is met here on the hay-strewn stable-floor. Kneel before the Manger-King, and let us receive and delight in the glory of His salvation.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:68)
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