The Message of Christmas

By Eugene Peterson

More than two thousand years ago, the people of God were looking and longing for a Savior, but they didn’t expect Jesus. His miraculous birth unfolded in a stunning paradox: While humanity routinely overlooked him, the entire cosmos celebrated his arrival. Today, believers worldwide cherish his life, death, and resurrection, and they eagerly anticipate his return.

Drawn from The Message, Eugene H. Peterson’s fresh, personal Scripture translation, The Message of Christmas draws together startling ancient prophecies and rich biographical accounts, leading you to an intimate and life-impacting rendezvous with the
one who is the very Message of Christmas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Release date: Sep 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781641586948

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The story of Jesus’ birth has an immense progeny. Our planet fairly teems with stories and songs, paintings and drama that got their start from this story. The reproductive energies show no sign of tapering off. Writers and singers and artists, to say nothing of countless children and parents and grandparents all over the world, continue to find fresh and novel ways of keeping this story going.

But even more impressive are the lives that continue to get a fresh start—a new birth—in the story of this birth. Day after day, men and women who feel more dead than alive, in the hearing or singing or seeing of this story, rediscover the utter and unspeakable and beautiful preciousness of life. The story of Jesus’ birth gets reproduced in these human lives still, over and over and over again.

The birth of Jesus is a birth with a message. It takes the entire Bible to bring the complete message, but this birth is the core of it: In Jesus, God is here to give us life, real life.

The Message of Christmas

A SAVIOR FORETOLD

A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH

JEREMIAH 23:5-6

Time’s coming—G

OD

’s Decree—

"when I’ll establish a truly righteous David-Branch,

A ruler who knows how to rule justly.

He’ll make sure of justice and keep people united.

In his time Judah will be secure again

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name they’ll give him:

‘G

OD

-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.’"

A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US

ISAIAH 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light.

For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—

light! sunbursts of light!

You repopulated the nation,

you expanded its joy.

Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!

Festival joy!

The joy of a great celebration,

sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.

The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—

all their whips and cudgels and curses—

Is gone, done away with, a deliverance

as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.

The boots of all those invading troops,

along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,

Will be piled in a heap and burned,

a fire that will burn for days!

For a child has been born—for us!

the gift of a son—for us!

He’ll take over

the running of the world.

His names will be: Amazing Counselor,

Strong God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of Wholeness.

His ruling authority will grow,

and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

He’ll rule from the historic David throne

over that promised kingdom.

He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing

and keep it going

With fair dealing and right living,

Reviews for The Message of Christmas

[beverlylynnt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rather than being a full length book, this is more like a message or a sermon. It is divided into two sections: the first being called "The Message of Christmas." The second section is about the "Gifts of Christmas." Most of the book is exact Scripture pertaining to the prophesies that foretold Christ's birth and all the circumstances surrounding the event. The second half focuses on the gifts involved in Christmas, what it means to celebrate Christmas fully, which means to have a personal relationship with God Himself. I love having a source for the Scriptures throughout the Bible at a moment's notice on hand. There are selections from the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Luke, Matthew, John, Philippians, Colossians, and Revelation. From the section on gifts, we learn how Christmas applies to more than just a head knowledge of celebrating a holiday. Again, this part is filled with Scripture from 1 John, 1 Corinthians, Habakkuk, Philippians, 1 Peter, Matthew, Hebrews, and James. That's because gifts are the application of the knowledge we have of what Christmas is: a gift from God to His beloved ones. That's us. This book is available in pamphlet form from TheMessageofChristmas.com where you can obtain a single copy or a pack of 20 pamphlets to share. At the end of this ebook, you are even given a link to download the entire Bible. This book has one purpose in mind. It is to help the reader understand that Christmas is much more than just a few days off from work to celebrate a big dinner with family and friends. It is the outpouring of love that is expressed to all humankind in the gift of salvation through the man/God person of Jesus Christ. Christmas can be much more than just a day marked on your calendar. It could be the beginning of the rest of your life.