The Christmas story

December 25 is the annual day chosen to celebrate the greatest story ever told. The greatest story ever written. The greatest love story ever lived.

God’s Story
God is referred to by a number of names in the Bible. And each name has significance. El Elyon, Yahweh, El Roi, El Shaddai, Elohim, Abba,Yahweh Yireh, Jehovah Rapha,Yahweh Nissi, Yahweh Shalom—names that tell the gospel of God.

Yahweh is the most commonly used name for God in the Old Testament and occurs about 6,500 times. The name Yahweh comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to be” or “to exist.” God has always existed. God has no beginning and no ending. God is eternal, timeless, and immortal.

The story begins in Genesis, but let’s fast-forward from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The Bible is the gospel of God and the salvation story for humanity.

Mary’s Ovaries
One egg from thousands inside of Mary’s ovaries. A God-created unique egg. Chosen to become a human being. A celestial embryo. Fertilized by the Alpha and Omega. Embedded in an earthly female. God the fetus. Nestled in Mary’s uterus. Nourished by the umbilical cord of human life. God the baby. Born through the birth canal. And feed with mother’s milk. God in diapers. God the toddler. God the adolescent. God the young adult. God the human being. God smelled odors, tasted food, and wore clothes. God in flesh. Divinity married humanity. Jesus the Christ was born.

God stepped into the very skeleton of humankind. Blood rushed through veins and heart pulsated; lungs inhaled and exhaled; stomach acid digested food and the intestines expelled the excrement. Liver, pancreas, gallbladder. Brain, central nervous system, spinal cord. Thoughts. Emotions. Behaviors. The person of Jesus.

Eternal Egg
Mary’s earthly egg and God’s celestial seed. Combined to save humanity. Miracle virgin birth. Divine conception. A fetus, a baby, a person. Jesus the Christ in a uterus. Mary, the mother of God. Mary, the mother of Jesus. God in the person of Jesus who breathed on planet Earth. God was born on earth to live among the people.

God came down from Heaven to visit Earth and live among us. God jumped into human skin to be with us, to know us, to be us. Bethlehem’s baby is our Savior.

Jesus’ Birthday Party
Invitations are mailed every year in the form of Christmas cards. Cake is baked and decorated. Ice cream is in the freezer. Balloons hang from the ceiling. Jesus, it’s your birthday celebration. On that starry night, God gifted us with his Son. Gifted us with salvation. What gift can we give to you, Lord Jesus?

Names for Jesus
Immanuel, Lamb of God, Messiah, Good Shepherd, Light of the World, Great High Priest, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings, Redeemer, Risen Lord, The Word.

In the English translation we say “Jesus,” while others say “Yeshua,” a name prevalent in Hebrew and Aramaic languages. Yeshua means “to save, deliver, salvation.” The name Jesus means Savior and is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament, according to some Bible scholars.

Unwrapping God’s Gift
Precious package. Perfect parcel. Prized present. Carried in a pregnant peasant. Fragile infant with a mission. Wrapped in a blanket. God as a baby with a plan. The gift of salvation is under your Christmas tree. The gift of eternal life is in your stocking. Unwrap God’s gift.

God’s Plan
The mysterious Spirit in the sky, who always was, always is, and always will be—visited the globe. The Creator dropped in on the creation. God became like us. And walked in our shoes and lived in our skin. God cried our tears and tasted the salty residue. God experienced humanity.

For thirty-three years, the son of God—the son of man loved, learned, and laughed. Jesus befriended us, hugged us, and accepted us. God became empathy and felt our joy and sorrow; happiness and sadness, calmness and anger; confidence and fearfulness.

God stepped into our shoes. God became like us so we could became like God. Praise Yahweh. Praise Yeshua.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas! Season’s Greetings!

Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in U.S. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.