The star appeared in the east and led the wise men to Bethlehem, where the baby was born in a manger. It was such an awesome sight, just to behold the baby in swaddling cloth. His lullaby was a cocktail of music made by the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep and goats. The angels on their part broke out in melodious songs of praise to the mighty God as the shepherds watched. It was all coming together. This was not just an ordinary baby. No wonder the wise men brought three gifts.
Each year, we celebrate the birth of that baby with great pomp that is almost tangible. Spectacular lights adorn our streets and houses. Exquisite decorations announce the season. Beautifully wrapped gifts make their way into our hands. The music for the season rings through the airwaves. You just cannot but enter the celebratory mood. Oh! How we look forward to the celebrations each year.
A few days after the celebrations, the lights are turned off, the decorations are parked up and the unwrapped gifts are put to use. All of a sudden, our streets look bare again. The stories of the season gone by bring smiles to our faces as we eagerly await the arrival of the next Christmas season.
The baby grew in stature and in favour with God and man. He learned the family trade; carpentry. He was eventually known as the carpenter’s son. With time, He dropped that tag and became known as the Great Teacher, the Mighty Healer, and the Miracle Worker. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, because God was with Him.
He called twelve ordinary men to work with Him in His ministry. Among them were fishermen, a dreaded tax collector, a perennial doubter, and ‘Sons of Thunder’. When he was through with them, they became world changers. Despite their lack of formal education, they spoke with great wisdom that made men wonder at them.
At the fullness of time, he was betrayed by one of His own and nailed to the cross between two criminals. They stretched Him wide, He hung His head, and for me, He died. As He hung on the cross, He knew that I was going to be born and that sin was going to be my nature. He paid for all my sins as He went down to the grave. He rose up as the King of Kings and made me a new creature. Now, I’m free to lift my hands in righteousness, having dominion over sin, sickness, and all forms of failure. Yes, it’s indeed true! Sin shall no longer have dominion over me because Jesus died for me.
As you prepare for each Christmas season, setting up the exquisite lights with all shapes and sizes of Christmas trees, remember that it’s not just about baby Jesus. It’s about our God who loved the wicked world so much that He sent His only begotten son to die so that you will not perish helplessly, but have everlasting life. A life of dominion over sin, having the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Almighty El-Shaddai, the ‘I am that I am’, and the Sovereign God as your father. What a great life we have now because the earth was blessed with a baby that was not just a baby.
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