As we celebrate the holiday of Christmas this year, I wanted to write about a few things I have been thinking about pertaining to Jesus and the story of Christmas.

When Jesus was born, some may have known who he was in terms of God’s son and the Messiah. Others were probably not aware of such fulfillments. 2,000 years later in history we know exactly who he was and what he came to accomplish. The baby Jesus meant many things and here are a few things his birth signifies. 

In Isaiah 61, there is a prophecy about Jesus that later Jesus reads in the synagogue about himself. In Luke 4, Jesus stands up to read from Isaiah. This is what he reads: 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,

    that the blind will see,

that the oppressed will be set free,

    and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. 

He then says that this Scripture was fulfilled that day, in himself. This prophecy speaks of many things. Jesus brings us good news, that he has come to set us free. He releases the captives, those bound in chains because of sin and death. He releases us from them. The blind those spiritually and physically he did open. This joyous prophecy was spoken for a time when joy would come to those who hear the good news. Isaiah prophesied of Jesus and all of these things came true when Jesus was born. 

Though just a baby he would grow up and die for the sins of all people and be resurrected. Jesus’ birth is more than just a birth. It was a birth that signified love that would lead to death. That death ended in a risen Savior who would lead to life everlasting and give it to those who believe in Him. The story of Christmas is not just about Jesus’ birth. It is also about everything that took place after he was born and the life we share in Him.