Vital signs- Saturday, December 3rd, 2023

As an old man lies on his deathbed, he calls his sons together one final time. Jacob, the father of the new nation of Israel, blesses each of them. It is here in Jacob’s words to Judah that Christmas shows up. He tells his son that one of his descendants will be a king. But this will be no ordinary king. He won’t just rule a country or a region. All people will bow the knee to this king. All nations will obey this king. This king will be none other than King Jesus himself. Israel thinks that Jesus is coming to establish and restore a political nation, but Jesus comes with all authority to bring salvation to all people. Christmas doesn’t come for one nationality, culture, or language. The good news of Christmas is that a just and righteous King is coming into the world to set up a Kingdom that is not of this world, and it is for all nations, cultures, and languages. Don’t be fooled. Jesus will come as an insignificant baby in a tiny town in a small country. But He will reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and His salvation will be for the ends of the earth. This is the promise of Christmas in the Old Testament.

"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭49‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Reflection Question: Why do you think such a powerful King was born in such an insignificant way?

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