The Online Program of KPPI (Praise and Divine Healing Service) was held on Thursday, December 17, 2020. It was a live-streaming program that could be watched through Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The Word of God was delivered by Rev. Jacob Sumbayak, taken from Luke 2:1-7.

The Word Became Human

At that time, the territory of Israel was under Roman rule. So, when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, everyone in all the territories under his rule had to return to their own town to register. In every Roman territory, there was a governor. At that time Quirinius was governor of Syria territory.

Verses 4 and 5, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Joseph, the father of Jesus, went from Nazareth in Galilee to the city of David called Bethlehem in Judea because it was where Joseph came from. This was the city where David and his descendants lived.

Mary and Joseph’s journey from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to the city of Bethlehem in Judea was about 80 miles or 129 kilometers which took around 4 – 5 days. The journey was quite difficult because Maria was pregnant and was about to give birth.

Verses 6 and 7, While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them except the stable. The manger was a place for feeding the sheep. It was almost like a crib, therefore they put the baby Jesus in the manger.

How amazing what God had worked because indeed the prophecy in Micah 5: 1 said that in Bethlehem a King, a Messiah would be born. Micah prophesied around 700 years before Jesus was born. The prophecy that was 700 years earlier was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. We have discussed previously that there must be a sign for the birth of the Messiah. He had to be a descendant of David, He had to be born of a virgin, and He had to be born in Bethlehem, the City of David.

It was truly amazing what God had worked. God even used Caesar Augustus who did not know who Jesus was, by issuing a decree to take a census that brought Joseph left Nazareth to Bethlehem, his home town. Therefore Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem. This was exactly what God had promised, that a Savior would come and He would be born in Bethlehem.

God worked precisely and accurately, and amazingly exactly as prophesied. It is only because He is God that all these could happen. The birth of Jesus was perfectly planned by our Lord God.

What did the angel say when Jesus was born? Even though He was born in a manger and not in a palace, the angels came, and rejoice and told the shepherds in the fields.

Luke 2: 10-11 (NIV),  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 

The Messiah truly came from heaven. The angels sang praises to God in the sky because the baby who was born was the Savior, Christ, or the Messiah, and God Himself. God came to the world and became human because only He could save the world by atoning for human sins.

John 1:14 (NIV)  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The One who was born is God Himself. Therefore, Jesus is often called the Son of God because He is God who was born into the world as a human, but being very humble He often called Himself the Son of Man.

Jesus, the Eternal God, was willing to Become Man to Redeem Sin

We can also see who Jesus is from the words of John the Baptist in the next verse, John 1:15 (NIV), John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”

John the Baptist knew that He had existed before he was born, meaning that Jesus is God Himself who is eternal, who had existed even before John the Baptist existed.

Why did He have to come into the world to become human? Because no one can pay his debt of sin while he himself sinned. Therefore, God came into the world in the form of a human, whose name is Jesus. He lived just like us, had flesh, and was often tempted, but the difference was that He never sinned (John 8: 46a). He lived in holiness until His death, so that Jesus could become a sin offering, just like a lamb that was sacrificed without blemish, which was sacrificed to atone for sin.

If God had designed the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem in such a way, how great He had loved us. He desires that all of us will be saved and redeemed from all sins. All the punishments we have to endure were laid upon the sinless Jesus so that we may be saved.

Will you believe in Jesus? He was born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem so we can celebrate Christmas today. Because the Word was willing to become human, leaving the glorious heaven. His love for us made Him willing to come down to earth as a human, and died on the cross to pay for our sins.

Come to Him so that this Christmas becomes truly meaningful. When we see and enjoy the Christmas ornaments, we will remember how much God loves us.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Brothers and sisters, everyone who believes in Him will not perish. Maybe you are tired of trying to do good deeds to be saved but you always failed. It is because we are sinners. But He came and incarnated into a human, His name is Jesus, and those who believe in Him will not perish because their sins are forgiven.

Jesus’ Stripes Healed You

For those who believe, Jesus also came to heal us. He healed the sick in the past and today He still can heal you. Because  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8). He is the living God, so believe in Him.

Isaiah 53: 5 (NKJV), “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

What does this verse mean? Jesus was tortured before He was crucified on the cross so that we might be saved. He was flogged so many times that His body was covered by stripes. But the Word of God says that by His stripes we are healed. If you believe in Him, now ask for your healing, then you will receive healing. [YF/EM]