This week Bro. Leo continues his series on Christmas by looking at a Rabbi’s (Jesus) view of Christmas.  In this study Bro. Leo uses some quotes from a book called “The Book of Mysteries” by Jonathan Chan to illustrate the Biblical fact that the only path of salvation originates in Christmas.  I do not have a copy of the book in front of me, so I will not attempt any of the quotes.  I will simply say that if religion and or men have told you there are certain steps “you” must take in order to “obtain” your salvation the Rabbi”s (Jesus’) words in the Bible say the opposite.

In John 3:3 Jesus tells Nicodemus the only way a man can see heaven is to be born again.  Then Jesus tells him that no man can ascend up to heaven except the man that came down from heaven (John 3:13).  From these two verses we are given the fact that salvation does not originate on earth it originates in heaven and it can not be obtained (we can not “born” ourselves), salvation is received.  In John 6:47 Jesus tells the only way to receive salvation, which is to put our total trust and commitment in Him.  In verse 47 the word translated “believeth” originates from the Greek word “pistis” which means to place complete reliance upon Christ for salvation.

John 1:11-12 further describes salvation in the Christmas story (salvation originating in heaven and descending to us on earth) by comparing lost folks to saved folks and the reason for both.  The lost folks reject Jesus, the saved folks received Jesus.

In “The Book of Mysteries” by Jonathan Chan the author states that salvation is simply the Emmanuel solution, the Hebrew definition being “God with us”.  Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Please take a few minutes to listen to this study.  The quotes from “The Book of Mysteries” by Jonathan Chan do an excellent job of illustrating the Rabbi’s view of Christmas.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.