the prophecy of CHRIST

christmas is a week away...i can't believe it! the year has just flown by. people have said that as you get older time seems to move faster. over the last month i have a caught a couple of shows regarding CHRIST and the bible. by far one of strangest to me was a group individuals talking about the actual birth of JESUS. i love history, i love it.

there are 333 prophecies of JESUS CHRIST in the hebrew bible. isaiah chapter 9 is the prophecy of "to us a child is born." there has been a debate regarding the actual day of CHRIST'S birth for centuries because of what they say are inconsistencies in the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john. i have heard some scholars say that it actually happend in the spring and not the winter. that the actual date was a pagan holiday and the catholic church changed it to a christian holiday.

most recently i have heard that HE wasn't even born in a manger, because of mary and joseph's social class. scientists, researchers, and archaeologists all seem to have a hard time believing that JESUS was not just a man, but the SON OF GOD because they can't find the physical evidence to prove it. one of my favorite things that GOD does is every once in a while he gives man something tangible to hold to from the bible. it's almost like HE is saying to us "see I told you it was true."

in the bigger picture though does the physical evidence even matter to christians; no. we know through our faith that we were given a beautiful, loving gift the day HE was born. we know that GOD gave us something to save us from ourselves. we know scripture is the living, breathing word of GOD always.

over the last week my 5 year old and i have had a continual debate about who was born on christmas. he thinks it was santa and i keep telling him, no it was JESUS. a couple of years ago we decided to have a birthday cake on christmas day for JESUS as a tradition in our family. yesterday, i told him that we had to make a birthday cake for JESUS on christmas - PRAISE THE LORD, he finally said "JESUS was born on CHRISTMAS?" the failure on my part is that i should have been saying all a long that, that is what christmas day is all about, not santa. i did explain however that JESUS likes to give us gifts on that day so we can rejoice in HIS birth and that HE will always give him beautiful gifts if he just believes!

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 Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness 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.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. isaiah 9:6-7