ICS Daily Devotions
Find the Promise of Christmas in Bethlehem
Before the fall of man, Adam and Eve enjoyed uninterrupted fellowship with God and were given everything that they need in life. All that God had created were for them to enjoy and possess except for the fruit of the tree that was located at the center of the garden which was forbidden to be eaten lest they die.
Genesis 3:14-21 So the LORD God said to the serpent (devil): “…And I will put enmity. Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”…Then to Adam He said, “…Cursed is the ground for your sake; …” Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
In order for a tunic to be made of skin, an innocent animal had to be sacrificed and therefore, blood was shed for the sin of man so that they can be clothed from their shame. Sin can only be covered by blood.
After their sin, their bodies became mortal and started to decay and was subject to sickness and disease and started to have the desire to do wrong. The land was cursed. This is the physical death. Spiritually they also experienced separation from God and was destined to eternal death (cast into hell forever). Because of this spiritual separation from God, man started to be led by their senses instead of God and Satan started to tempt and blind their minds so that they will live a life away from God.
Everyone did what is right in their own eyes without any regards to their conscience or God leading to all kinds of evil and chaos. Therefore, God had to send the law, the 10 commandments to remind them that God is a holy, just and righteous God. But because of man’s sin nature, they were a slave to sin and could not obey the 10 commandments. Throughout the Bible, there is a promise of a Messiah who will come and rescue them from this misery. This is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the “seed of the woman” and who will “crush his (Satan’s) head.”
This is Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem, and here are some of the promise and job scope of the Saviour!
Luke 4:18-20 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me. To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
John 1:29 [ Jesus the Lamb of God] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Sermon Series: Christmas
