The Magic Of ChristmasSample

"Born a Zero"

It’s finally here . . . Christmas Day! There’s a special magic about this most special of days, isn’t there? Why is that? Is it because of all the presents, decorations, meals, and gatherings of friends and families? Yes, but there is so much more . . .

It’s because today, around the world, we celebrate the birth of a Savior!

According to Isaiah 9:6–7, one would assume the prophet was predicting the birth of an earthly king, complete with fanfare, parades, and feasts! But God had different plans. Jesus, the Messiah, would not be born with the celebration of a hero. He would be born a zero. He was not born of wealth, power, or privilege. He was not even born indoors, but in a barn, surrounded by livestock, to an unwed teenager. He was not born like a king.

Isaiah 53:2–3: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

Not a hero. A total zero. But that was the brilliance of God’s ultimate gift to us: our Savior’s true beauty, strength, and purpose would be made evident through his teaching, compassion, love, and, ultimately, his sacrifice.

Christ came to and existed on earth through the lowliest of means in order to experience our own joys, pains, passions, and sorrows firsthand. It put him on a level playing field with each of us.

So, today, we celebrate the birth of a King—but not any king. The King of Kings, who can truly understand our greatest joys and deepest pains. Something tells me that today, you are experiencing one of those emotions.

Today might be filled with joy. Or today might be the toughest day of the year. But in the eyes of your heavenly Father, you are not a zero and never will be. You are a precious, loved, and cherished child of God, and you were created in his image. YOU are a gift in his eyes, and I pray you find comfort in that truth.

May the peace of Christ be with you today, and Merry Christmas!

Reid Greven
Media

If you've enjoyed this plan, watch dozens of other free Bible study videos from Andy Stanley and other North Point pastors at http://anthology.study.