DECEMBER 2024
When December comes around, we are reminded daily that Christmas is around the
corner. In the southern hemisphere everything that can shut down, has closing
functions and does shut down.
Amid the noise and business it is a challenge for the believer in Jesus to focus on the
meaning of the birth of Messiah, our Saviour. So let us focus for a while on the child in
the manger. What does the Bible say – WHO IS HE?
He is Immanuel – God with us (Is. 7:14). God came to us, conceived by the Spirit of
God in a virgin girl, born in inhospitable conditions. On The night of his birth, an angel
made this announcement to shepherds close by: I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord. (Luk. 2:10,11)
John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was
the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness (of the world), but the darkness has
not understood it.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him. 14 The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have
seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of
grace and truth.
He is the Jesus, the Saviour – announced to Adam and Eve and the enemy of God and
man (Gen. 3:15) and throughout the Old Testament scriptures, the Lamb slain before
the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:19, 20) to take away the sin of all people and
reconcile us to God for ever.
His birth was inconspicuous and his life that of a servant. But he will return to rule the
world from the throne of David in Jerusalem for a thousand years as the King of kings
and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14). At the end of the age He will sit as judge over all men to
execute final justice – grace and redemption to those who appropriated his sacrifice on
the cross, and wrath to those who rejected him.
Is. 9 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be
no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and
upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
May God help us to see and testify like John, the Baptist, when Jesus came to him at
the river Jordan. John 1:29 … John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
There is a Redeemer,
Jesus God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God,
Messiah, Holy One.
Thank You, O my Father
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til
Your work on earth is done.
Jesus, my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God,
Messiah, O for sinners slain.
Thank You, O my Father
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til
Your work on earth is done.
When I stand in glory
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve My King forever,
In that holy place.
Thank You, O my Father
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til
Your work on earth is done.
Elzeth Malherbe