Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem - He lived, and today He lives again, and watches over us as Mary once watched over Him. Where once He was cradled as a helpless babe in a lowly manger, now He reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in courts of eternal glory.

He was once then tender and fragile, helpless, as susceptible to death and injury as any other baby, but now He is all-powerful and all-wise, the author and finisher of our faith.

He was born the Daystar, the light and life of the world. Where this world was dark and cruel on the night He came, He will make it glorious and perfect.

He came a babe, but He was God - sent to a world that had forgotten God, and through Him, all of us may be one with God.

Like every other baby ever born, His memory was veiled and his innocence [was] sweet. He descended from a heavenly throne, and never stopped that plunging descent until He was raised upon the Cross. But now, the Savior stands above us all with hands outstretched inviting us to be one with Him where He is. He was comprehended by none, but now He comprehends and loves us all.

Be assured that as angels announced with heart and voice His coming once, they will do so again. Shepherds were His witnesses then, and they still are. He came once a suffering servant; He will come again, this time a conquering King.

At His birth, Jesus was adored by few, hated by some, and ignored by most, but no one can ignore Him now. He is our Savior and our Redeemer, meriting our worship and our universal adoration.

He was born a subject of Rome, a slave as it were to Caesar’s whim, but He rose the King to conquer all, even death and hell.

Mary His mother loved Him, and from Bethlehem to Calvary she never left Him. Today, some of the best parents in the history of this world are here, and He never leaves them – if only we understood how concerned about such matters He really is. I want you to know, parents, our faith in Him is never unappreciated. Our prayers are never ignored.

Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes when He was born, but now those swaddling clothes of the commoner are the resplendent white robes of eternal glory, and He will give them to us.

At His first coming, only Mary and Joseph saw to His comfort and care. The world more or less turned a cold heart. But we have His promise—when He comes again, His heart will be turned to those who have waited long for Him. They will come forth, His loving kindness burning in their heart’s memory forever.

As Joseph and Mary took Him to Egypt and saved him from Herod’s hate and man’s envy, so too the Lord will take us out of Egypt, the world, to another world where hate and envy ne’er annoy.

He was born to a stable and raised to mansions of glory. On that first Christmas night, no one understood the Babe of Bethlehem, and so no one made room for Him. But now I declare to you, His heart, broad as the heavens, swells wide as eternity. There is, thank God, room for us all.

He was born to us, but He is the Savior of worlds without number. He was born Mary’s Son; He rose Mary’s King!

My dear friends, on that first Christmas, Jesus came to us as a child. This Christmas, I hope you come to Him the same way.

Merry Christmas.