“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 ESV

Yes, the Christmas holiday is technically over, but I have one more song. . . I can’t help myself.

Click here to listen: Bethlehem Morning

I like listening to “Bethlehem Morning” once the hustle and bustle of Christmas celebrations are over, because it reminds me that the implications of Christmas aren’t over.

By any means.

The angel’s proclamation, “For unto you is born this day” in Luke 2 echos the prophecy proclaimed in Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

The angel calls Jesus a Savior, and Christ the Lord. Isaiah calls Jesus the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

Those names don’t describe someone who is celebrated one month out of the year.

Nope, those names describe the One who came to redeem us.

According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, “redeem” means to “compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something” and to “gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment.”

And because of that redemption, we can have:

Hope – remembering while looking forward

and

Joy – anticipation in celebrating Easter

“Bethlehem morning is more than just a memory, for this child that was born then has come to set us free.”

How will you use the hope and joy of Christmas to point you towards the victory of Easter?

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 ESV