- araratchurch
- Dec 21, 2025
- 3 min read
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12 NKJV
Obviously, when we read stories from the Bible, we are not given all the minutia of the events. Basically, we are told what we need to know to be able to form a context and a description of the event(s) for an accurate picture.
Additionally, we see that many major events described in the word of God, have been prophesied at an earlier point in the Bible. As such, important events can be recognized and given due attention. Indeed, the prophetic word gives “signposts” letting us know where we are, and what we are seeing. As well, meaning is superimposed by pairing the prophetic word with its fulfillment.
In our opening scripture, we see that the angel—having told the shepherds the good news of Christ being born—gives them two signs indicating that they have found the One Who is Christ the Lord:
First, the child will be swaddled in strips of cloth. Secondly, He will be lying in a manger.
Now, although swaddling was a common practice in those days (as is still today in some cultures), being accompanied with the fact that the newborn would be lying in a manger—a feeding trough for animals—would remove all doubt that they had truly found the Christ Child.
Now, why is this important? You see, what the shepherds probably had to do in order to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, is left to the imagination. We see the announcement by the heavenly host; and the next “scene,” finds them in the presence of the Holy Family.
Bear in mind, as discussed earlier, Bethlehem was overrun with people because of the census. Indeed, so many people were there that there was no place for Mary and Joseph to stay. Therefore, they were relegated to a “barn” of sorts (most likely, a shallow cave).
So, the shepherds went and found Jesus. What we are not told in the narrative is that they probably didn’t go straight and find Him. Chances are that they went to any number of places throughout the city, before coming upon the stable in which the Christ Child was born.
Friend, our personal seeking for a savior can feel like a daunting task. In the confusion of our circumstances, many “voices” may offer relief. But, make no mistake, there is only One Savior.
Indeed, God has given us sure signs that Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah. Yes, He fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.
Think of it, the testimony of the shepherds after having seen the Lord, was certainly reinforced by the fact that the angel had told them where He would be and in what state He would be found.
Indeed, God the Father shepherded every detail concerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Those of us who recognize Jesus as being the Savior sent from God, do not hold a baseless belief. God’s word enumerates the clear signs that would accompany every aspect of His life.
Yes, starting with His birth, the prophetic signs concerning the Messiah, point a big arrow at that precious baby boy, found in that manager in Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago.
For today, let us meditate on the sure signs the word of God has given us concerning the identity of our Lord. Additionally, consider the myriad signs pointing to the time of the Lord’s return, manifesting all around us today.
Oh, what a wonderful assurance we have that the baby boy sleeping in that manger on that Holy night in Bethlehem, was, indeed, the Savior, Christ the Lord.
As well, prophetic signs inform us that Jesus will soon return—not as a helpless infant—but as a conquering King! Do you believe? Are you looking for Him?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 19, 2025
- 3 min read
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
God, in His limitless mercy and love, made good on the promise to send a Messiah to His people.
But here’s the problem, it seems that the religious leaders, were afraid of losing their arrangement with Rome if they allowed Jesus to continue doing mighty works. And, they certainly couldn’t allow themselves to recognize Who He really was.
“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.””
John 11:45-50 ESV
Ironically, the “name and nation” they were afraid of losing, was given to them by the Lord. He chose them out, and kept them, against all odds, time and time again. Rome was not their source. God was (and still is).
God’s people somehow forgot that they needed the Lord to deliver them out as He had so many times before. In fact, it was always their disobedience that led to their persecution by other nations. They desperately needed a savior; They desperately needed their Savior.
Several years ago the Lord spoke to me—calling me by name—saying, “You have to know you need a Savior to have One.” Now, the fact is, as long as I can remember, I had thought of the Lord as being my Savior; I didn’t know any other way of thinking. But the problem was, I was somehow still trying to prove my worth to the Lord. And, God sees that as pride.
Now, on the surface, I would never have thought that I was being prideful. But I was inadvertently trying to prove that I didn’t need a Savior, treating my salvation as a reward for being a good girl.
Oh, I don’t know how we develop such convoluted ways of thinking and doing; but the Lord cut through all that mess, opening my eyes to the fact that I was helpless to save myself. As well, there was nothing I could do about that helplessness, nothing I need do, except to accept the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. Only in doing so, could I find freedom from my sinful nature.
Oddly enough, as I come to more and more see my need for a Savior, I am more and more able to relax into His arms. Yes, when I admit my weakness, He shows His strength on my behalf.
For today, let us meditate on whether or not we are somehow trying to prove our worth to God, trying to cover, or offer excuses, for our weaknesses.
Additionally, if you are feeling like a naughty toddler sitting with a bowl of spaghetti on top of your head, now fearing the glaring eye of your mother, understand that the Lord is the One Who came to clean you up, and He won’t even fuss about what you’ve done!
Again, we need a Savior and we have One! Now, that’s the best news ever!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
On that glorious night in Bethlehem, the news to the shepherds that the Savior has been born, begins with some of the most needed words anyone will ever hear: “Do not be afraid.”
We are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ. Every day we see the fulfilling of prophecies concerning how this time would be characterized:
““And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.””
Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
Fear churns in the hearts of men as we see our way of life collapsing under the weight of lawlessness, and worse, the scourge of faithlessness. Yes, the angel’s instruction to those shepherds, also speaks to our troubled souls.
Beyond this announcement by the angel on that Holy Night, the instruction to not fear, is ubiquitous in the Old Testament, as well as from those speaking after, as recorded throughout the New Testament. Indeed, our Lord gives this same blessed assurance:
““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.””
John 14:1-3 NKJV
Even in the face of death itself, the Lord spoke that there was no need to fear.
“While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.””
Mark 5:35-36 NKJV
“Only believe?” What are we to believe? What belief could we have that would automatically dispel fear?
Consider, what did the angel offer as the reason not to fear? The “good tidings of great joy . . . to all people.” Friend, we need a Savior and we have one!
As well, we also have the promise that these times of great fear will be abruptly ended for us when the Lord says, “Come up here!” And—in the meantime—the Lord can bring peace in our inner being, now!
For today, let us mediate on the fact that an important part of preparing for the celebration of the Lord‘s birth and His Second Coming, is to remind ourselves that although it looks as though things are spinning out of control, they’re actually propelling us toward the ultimate rescue mission!
Again, the Lord has promised to sustain us even in the midst of trouble. But make no mistake, just as the darkness was abruptly illuminated by a heavenly host on that Holy Night, just so, Christ’s Glorious Appearing will soon pierce through the darkness of this present world.
Now, that’s good news! Therefore, do not fear!
Peace to you!
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!