As we come to the close of another year, I would like to invite you for a moment to consider the most amazing gift of Jesus Christ. While we do not know exactly when He was born, the important thing is that we know for certain He was born, and that He came to this Earth on a very special mission.

Foretold by prophecy and announced by a heavenly being more than 2,000 years ago, we read in Matthew 1:21—“And she [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Oh, what a wonderful gift from heaven itself—God Himself—“Emmanuel,” came to dwell with us—to live, and teach, and heal, and die—to save us from our sins and to restore us to His likeness! 

Praise God He lives and is coming back soon—this time to take us to live with Him forever. Oh, what a day that will be—all made possible by the One who willingly humbled Himself, was born in a manger and died on a cross to save you and me. 

Let us pause for a moment as we consider the profound words of the angel, recorded in Luke, chapter 2: 

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (vss. 10-14)

May the joy of His birth, the peace of His presence, and the hope of His soon return fill your heart with the Gift of His immeasurable love.

Maranatha!

Ted N.C. Wilson
President 
Seventh-day Adventist World Church