I was going to send out a simple “Merry Christmas” since this goes out on Christmas Eve, but I decided I had to share some thoughts about Jesus that have meant a lot to me during this season. I hope they will bless you.

This following verse plays through my mind at Christmas.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9 NIV).

In light of this Scripture, let’s remember who Jesus was before the first Christmas, what He gave up,  who Jesus is now, and the glorious future promised to all who receive Him.

Jesus, before the First Christmas—Was Rich

Hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth Isaiah saw Him in His glory (Jn. 12:41). This is how Isaiah describes what he saw.

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and lofty throne. The bottom of his robe filled the temple. Angels were standing above him. Each had six wings: With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They called to each other and said,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory.’

Their voices shook the foundations of the doorposts, and the temple filled with smoke (Isaiah 1:1-4 GW).”

Jesus, at the First Christmas—for Your Sake Became Poor

The same Jesus that Isaiah saw “made himself nothing” and came to earth as a baby that first Christmas and later died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11).

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