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She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7, ESV).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1, ESV).
Merry Christmas, and thank you for allowing me to “Interrupt” your Christmas morning.
So, I’ll be brief.
Sometime today, consider reading the two Christmas stories in the New Testament about the birth of Jesus. One is Luke 2:1-21, and the other is John 1:1-18.
Yes, two stories.
Luke, a historian and doctor, focused on the events of the birth in Bethlehem. The description includes swaddling cloths, no room, angels, and shepherds.
Simply amazing.
The Christmas story in Luke is what people saw at the birth of Christ.
John, an aged apostle, when writing his account of the birth of Jesus, is more philosophical. Whereas the story in Luke is what people saw, the story in John is what those in heaven saw.
Let’s remember that the angels in heaven were just as interested as the Jews on earth in knowing the eternal plan for the Messiah. As 1 Peter 1:12 says, “Even angels long to look into these things” (NIV).
Astounding! Those on earth and those in heaven both marveled at the birth of God’s Son.
Luke described Bethlehem and Jerusalem in chapter two of his Gospel. When John wrote his Gospel about 90 A.D., the temple had been destroyed, and both Jerusalem and Bethlehem no longer existed. The entire area had been devastated by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Luke wrote for the Gentiles.
I, a bonafide Gentile, will give the Apostle Luke a huge hug when I see him in heaven. As a pastor, His Christmas story has provided me sermon material for my decades of Christmas Eve messages and substance for future hope.
John combined heaven and earth — the Word became flesh (John 1:14).
I will also give the Apostle John a big hug in heaven because His account of the Christmas story has challenged and encouraged my understanding of true humility!
Again, God becoming flesh.
Hopefully, today, before you open presents with your family, take a few moments and read both stories.
Because of the Two Christmas Stories, we know that we will be able to hug one another in eternity as well!