About this episode
Here’s something surprising: the story of Christmas relates to a time before Christ’s birth. Pastor Greg Laurie explains just how and leaves us with a stronger appreciation for the holiday. Listen in! Notes This story of redemption, the Christmas story, started a long time ago in a garden—and it began with a tree. The tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil. “The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise. So she ate some of the fruit.” —Genesis 3:6 The Lord gives the first Christmas verse, not Isaiah 9:6 or Micah 5:2 but Genesis 3:15 where God speaks directly to Satan. God the Father was effectively saying, “Satan, there is coming One who will crush you.” Jesus would be born to die so that we might live. The shadow of the cross lay over the beauty of that first Christmas night. The Pharaoh tried to exterminate the Jews, starting with the Hebrew baby boys. The wicked Haman tried to have the Jews wiped off the face of the earth. King Herod, hearing that One was born “The King of the Jews,” tried to kill Jesus. Nothing will stop Christ from coming again! Jesus being God, pre-existed, and He, along with the Holy Spirit and the Father, are co-equal and co-eternal. From our perspective on Earth: Unto us, a child is born. From Heaven’s perspective: Unto us, a Son is given. Jesus is in the Old Testament, concealed, and in the New Testament, revealed. A Theophany is an appearance of God. A Christophany is an appearance of Christ before Bethlehem. Note: It was not an angel of the Lord but the angel of the Lord. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and staff they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4 A shepherd has two tools: a rod and a staff. Read: Genesis 32:24–30 Never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God. Something changed in the heart of Jacob. He went from wanting to win to worshipping, from fighting to surrendering, from wrestling to nestling. Jesus has always been there, and He will always be there in the future. Even when we sometimes forget about Him, He never for a moment forgets us. Scripture Referenced Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 43:2 --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org . This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.