Today we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ It is the glorious beginnings of the dawn of the redemption of mankind and the reconciliation of humanity to God. The birth of the Savior was part of the divine plan put forth in the preexistence for the salvation of all our souls, the plan the preparation the execution of which is incomprehensible to the human mind. Nothing was mere chance, and we can see the purpose, designs, and wisdom of God in the events that unfolded.
All these wonderful things began on the night in the spring time when baby Jesus was born. The Father sent his Holy Son in the meridian of time because of his great love for us all. Jesus Christ the Creator, Redeemer, and Savior of the world condescended to come from his high station at the Father’s right hand to take on life as one of us. Prophets centuries before had foretold his coming.
124 years before his birth, King Benjamin prophesies of his coming mission (see Mos 3: 5-11). He was born in line of King David, the Israelites much loved king, in the City of Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. A new star was to appear to signal His Coming. He was born of a virgin.
In the fields watching their flocks; lowly shepherds beheld a marvelous sight. An Angel of God appeared to them saying “Fear Not” You can imagine how scared they must have been to see this glorious being. He continued, “For behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” And he gave them a sign whereby they would know the baby. “You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.” Oh the humility and Grace of God, to announce this momentous event to lowly shepherds and to send HIs son to such humble surroundings that the lowest and most humble of us can feel to approach him.” 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 good will towards men.”
Read Talmadge Jesus the Christ pg. 88, last paragraph.
And the Shepherds went with haste and for the sweet baby, then went all around and told people what they had seen and heard.
We also read of Simon and Anna in the temple and of the visits by the wise men from the east who bolding went to King Herod and declared, “Where is he that is born the King of the Jews for we have seen the star in the East and are come to worship Him.” They found the baby Jesus and “fell down and worshipped Him.”
Jesus Christ is many things to us. He has many names. He is our advocate with the Father. He stands up in our behalf and pleads our case. He has our backs. He is the creator of the Earth and is the word spoken of in John 1: 1-5, 14. He is our Teacher and exemplar who has marked the path and led the way and shows us how to gain eternal life. He is the break of life and the living waters whereby all who eat of it shall never hunger of thirst. We take the sacrament each week in remembrance of this. He is the good shepherd and the door of the sheepfold in John 10: 7, 9-11, 14-15, 17-18. He is the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. But most of all he is our Savior and redeemer who has fulfilled the atonement, suffered for all the sins of mankind and made us right with God again. He has enabled us to return to God, our Heavenly Father. He has broken the banks of death that we can stand in resurrected, whole, and complete bodies before His judgment bar (see Mosiah 15:8-9). Through every good thing he said or did, He gave recognition and praise to His Father.
Christ means the “Anointed” or “Messiah”.
He justifies me.
Friend
Confidant
Understands exactly how I feel
Saves me from hell
Saves me from death
By his grace he gives me strength
Has paid the price for my sins
Covers my weakness with power
Has given me all I have
Created beauty for me to see
Brings to pass the bodily resurrection whereby every think will become whole, fresh, clean and perfect
See loved ones again
He will come again in power, not as a child in humble surroundings but with might and majesty. I hope I am here to see it.
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