“About the Son He [God the Father] says, ‘Your throne O God will last forever…’”
(Hebrews 1:8)

The foundation for Christmas was laid many centuries ago as described in the book of Exodus. “Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14)

This is what Jesus meant when He spoke in reference to Himself declaring, “…truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was − I AM.” (John 8:58)

This meant that Jesus was claiming to be both preexistent with His Father Jehovah and eternally I AM like His Father! No one in human history ever made such a claim. This is what Jesus was explaining in (John 17:5) “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

Because Jesus’ birth was prophesized by highly respected prophets like Isaiah, countless devout Hebrew believers were looking for His arrival. Isaiah wrote about this promising, “…the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) The Bible later explains that the name Immanuel means “…God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

When God’s angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, the message later became clear for all the world to understand. Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)

Later, on the night when baby Jesus was born, God fulfilled His promise to Mary. The Bible records,

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘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!’” (Luke 2:8-14)

The eternal I AM – was sent to us to live a sinless life and become our Savior, “…and we beheld His glory…” (John 1:14) Christmas day and salvation only exist because of the Christ child’s divinity!