Oh, people heard about it. They heard the news. Some were excited and some did not care. Some heard it when they were little and some when they were old, but most people heard the news.
Those who cared thought about it, talked about it, and even began to prepare themselves for that day. The preparation was not going shopping, running errands, making a list of things to do, house cleaning, catching up on laundry, sewing, or any of those things.
Those who cared spoke to their family who lived in their home, to their extended family of aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren. They even spoke to friends and neighbors and to strangers they would meet. The news was a real big thing, it was important! It was too valuable to keep to themselves, it must be shared.
The news was so very important that it began to change people. They thought differently, acted differently, began to be more gentle, kind and caring toward others. They began to love their family and even their neighbor more. The change even reached to the person passing by on the road and to the stranger visiting their city. It even made those who care different inside. It gave them a new perspective, a whole new way of thinking, of being, of living. And they were glad for the change the news brought to their lives.
The people who cared showed compassion for their neighbor and gave them food for hunger, clothes for warmth, help for repairs, encouragement for struggles and comfort for sorrows. The heaviness in the air began to turn away, hope began to spring inside, laughter began to come out again, and smiles showed upon their faces. Those who cared kept telling others and lived out the changes it brought inside of them, and they were happy.
The people who did not care lived just like they had before. The inside of them was the same, their actions, words and thinking stayed the same and sometimes it became even worse. They struggled with despair, grief and sorrow, with broken relationships and empty promises. The journey of each day was heavy, harsh, bleak and full of sorrow and turmoil.
But those who cared had the hardness of their hearts melted by the news. Each day began with prospects to serve, to reach out and tell the news again and again, to share what had happened to them. Their hearts were filled with light and life, with rest and peace, with hope and joy, love and compassion and they were happy.
I must tell you the news — the good, the great, the wonderful news.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning "God with us").
Matthew 1:21 And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Mark 16:16 (ESV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 1:12 But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 11:25-27 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Luke 1:33 And he (Jesus) shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Do you believe?
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:27-30
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:10-12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9
We affirm that repentance for past and present sins requires a confession before God, that faith in Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection to remove those sins involves a crying out for mercy and a calling on the Lord along with a faithful trust in Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:12-13
Go to: The Christmas Story or The Christmas Message
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The New Testament is the most verified and reliable book of the ancient world. Archeology and the Bible shows many validated people, cities and places. The New Testament shows the fulfilment of many Old Testament prophecies & Messianic Prophecies and includes prophecies spoken by Jesus Christ himself that were fulfilled during his ministry, false arrest, trials and subsequent crucifixtion. Matthew Cites Old Testament shows Old Testament verses are fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
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