ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries

by Shawn Brasseaux

“For unto us [the nation Israel] a child is born, unto us [Israel] a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth [from this present time onward] even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6,7 KJV).

Nearly everyone in the world is familiar with the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over two millennia ago. Nevertheless, only a small percentage of people, the genuine believers, understand the true meaning of His birth. The little Baby Jesus was not just some “common infant.” The Man we know as Jesus is the bodily, visible manifestation of the invisible Godhead (Colossians 2:8-10; Hebrews 1:1-4)! In fact, Jesus Christ is the LORD God of the Old Testament, the Creator God of Genesis 1:1 (John 1:1-4,14; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:2)!

Just imagine: the magnificent, transcendent Creator God placed Himself into the body of a small fetus! While in the womb, Jesus’ tiny embryo was still God incarnate! It was the Almighty God who nursed from Mary, who was born in a lowly stable, and who cried as a little Baby! He was confined to a small mortal body, but He merely had to process the thought of the universe’s collapse, and it would have obeyed Him!

Originally, Jesus came to Israel to present Himself as their Messiah-King (Micah 5:2; Luke 1:30-35). For three years, the Lord Jesus Christ ministered throughout Israel, performing multitudes of miracles, proving to Israel that He was their promised Redeemer. In unbelief, they rejected Him, demanding His crucifixion instead. God was not the least bit surprised because Christ’s crucifixion was in the Old Testament, in His mind since eternity past (Isaiah chapter 53; Psalm chapter 22; Acts 2:22-24). All of His life, Jesus knew of the pain He would feel as nails were forced into His wrists. He knew beforehand how the crowds of people would gather to mock Him as He suffocated on the cross!

Today, for the most part, these Scriptural truths have long been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of commercial Christmas and some silly fictional old man in a red suit. Santa Claus is not the Savior, not the Creator God, and not the LORD of the Old Testament. Neither is the Lord God and His vicarious death on the cross fiction like Santa is!

While there certainly is no peace in the Middle East tonight, the Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago (although not around Christmastime, obviously). One day, after the seven-year Tribulation, Acts 1:6-11 says that same Jesus who resurrected and ascended into heaven “will in like manner” return to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) to set up that glorious kingdom that has been promised now for 4,000 years (since Abraham)! This earthly Kingdom promised in Isaiah—as well as other portions of the Old Testament—has not come… yet!

The Prince of Peace will return, but He will no longer be the humble Jesus of Nazareth. He will return, bringing vengeance and wrath on those who trample His Word and reject Him as Saviour (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Then, He will establish that awesome earthly kingdom, breaking the awful curse on creation, binding the devil, and reigning in that earthly kingdom forever and ever and ever and ever….

MERRY CHRISTMAS from arC Ministries!