Dec. 1

Jesus Himself claimed to be the theme and subject of every part of the Scriptures.

"Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39)

"For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me." (John 5:46)

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:27)

Dec. 2

Jesus Christ was involved in the creation of the heavens and earth in eternity past. He is one member or person of the triune God, called "the Word" by John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

"And now, O Father, glorify Me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was." (John 17:5)

Dec. 3

Jesus existed in Old Testament times as Lord God.

"And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden." (Gen. 3:8)

He functioned as the Lord who provides (Gen. 22:13-14), the Lord who heals (Ex. 15:26), the Lord our banner (Ex. 17:8-15), the Lord our peace (Jud. 6:23-24), the Lord my shepherd (Psalm 23), the Lord our righteousness (Jer. 23:6), and the Lord is present (Ezek. 48:35). These were some of His functions from creation to His incarnation.

Dec. 4

Jesus affirmed His deity on many occasions. As deity (God the Son), He had a plan and purpose all along. Part of that plan was His function as High Priest.

"I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on Me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46)

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." (Heb. 4:14)

Dec. 5

Was Jesus a Liar, a Lunatic, or the Lord? He claimed to be God:

"And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answer you nothing? What is it that these people witness against you? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said, What need do we have of further witnesses?" (Mark 14: 60-63)

C.S. Lewis once summarized: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse."

Dec. 6

Jesus was born of a virgin, as seen in an OT prophesy and its NT fulfillment.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

"She was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph ... kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matt. 1:18,24,25)

The Greek word "parthenos" in both the Septuagint (OT) and the NT verse above means a pure virgin, denoting that the Messiah would be born of a virgin.

Dec. 7

It was on the wintry night of the 25th of December, that shepherds watched the flocks destined for sacrificial services, in the very place consecrated by tradition as that where the Messiah was to be first revealed. Heaven and earth seemed to mingle, as an Angel announced:

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10)

"And she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)

A multitude of heaven's host stood forth to hymn the good tidings he had brought. What they sang told in the language of praise the character, the meaning, the result, of what had just taken place.

On that slender thread, the feeble throb of an Infant-life, the salvation of the world would hang.

Dec. 8

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40)

How did Jesus grow and become filled with wisdom? Did it drop down on Him from heaven without effort? No. He had to learn and study the Word daily, so that by the age of 12 He had quite a doctrinal framework in His soul:

"And it came to pass after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." (Luke 2 46-47)

Even at an early age, Jesus was "about His Father's business," which was learning from the teachers in the temple, studying on His own, and asking questions.

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

All Christians, without exception, should be following His example. If wisdom, stature and favour required effort on Jesus' part, it only makes sense that it requires the same on our part.

Dec. 9

When Jesus became an adult, His public ministry began.

"And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness." (Matt. 9:35)

He often taught in parables and allegories, as prophesied in Psalms 78:2 "I will open My mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old." He fulfilled this in Matt. 13:34 - "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables."

He also performed miracles, such as feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two small fishes.

"When they were filled, He said to His disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered together, and filled 12 baskets with the fragments of the 5 barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten." (John 6:12-13)

All 5,000 people were full and there were still leftovers!

Dec. 10

Jesus healed believers both directly and indirectly:

"Many sought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment, and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." (Matt. 14:36)

Some knew who He was, others did not:

"He said unto them: But who do you say I am? And Simon Peter answered and said: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said to him: You are blessed, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." (Matt. 15-17)

Some followed Him, but the religious leaders did not:

"Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widow's houses, and for a pretence make long prayer, therefore you shall receive the greater damnation." (Matt. 23:14) "You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. 23:33)

Dec. 11

Jesus was and still is a "Stone of Stumbling" to the Jews:

Prophesy: "The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Corner Stone." (Psalms 118:22)

Fulfillment: "The Stone which the builders rejected, This became the very Corner Stone." (1 Peter 2:7)

Jesus became and still is "Light" to the Gentiles:

Prophesy: "And nations will come to Your Light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising." (Isaiah 60:3)

Fulfillment: Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, "I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

Dec. 12

Contrary to what some believe, Jesus did not come to give us more rules to live by. He came to impart to us all that He is.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

Part of this grace and truth was the removal of Adam's original sin as well as the personal sins of His sheep:

"The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Grace is the means (being born from above) and faith is the instrument (believing His message) in salvation:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God ... Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:3,16)

Dec. 13

Some people think they don't need to believe in Jesus Christ, or that they can wait until the last minute, or that a loving God would never send them to eternal torment. But the Bible says otherwise.

"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)

If you refuse to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, it may be that God is not your Father - instead, Satan is your father, and you will share his miserable destiny in the lake of fire.

"You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the Truth, you believe Me not." (John 8:44-45)

Dec. 14

Most unbelievers think God will throw out His net and in the end will pull all men to Himself. This is a universalist heresy, contradicting a host of Scriptures:

"For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them, even so shall the Son quicken whom He will." (John 5:21)

"And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him by my Father." (John 6:65)

The choice of who will believe and who will not believe is bound up in the sovereign will of God.

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. You are of your father the devil." (John 8:42-44a)

Dec. 15

If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the issue is not whether you are one of God's elect. The issue for you is to believe on the uniquely born Son of God.

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

If you believe in Jesus Christ, you will have everlasting life:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He who believes on Me has everlasting life. I am that Bread of Life." (John 6:47-48)

When you believe in Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. If you do not believe in Him, your sins are not forgiven:

"I said, therefore , unto you, that you shall die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Dec. 16

As proof of His Deity, Jesus cast out devils from demon possessed individuals. On some occasions, even the demons acknowledged Him as the Son of God:

"And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, who had devils a long time, and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but among tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him with a loud voice, saying, What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of God, most High? I beseech You, torment me not.

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion, because many devils had entered into him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go into the deep lake. And there was a herd of many swine feeding on a mountain, and they begged Him that he would allow them to enter into them. And He allowed them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep cliff into the lake and were choked.

And when the people came out to see what was done, and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the devils were departed, he was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Those who saw it happen, told them by what means he who was possessed of the devils was healed." (Luke 8:27-28,30-33,35-36)

Dec. 17

As another proof of his Deity, Jesus raised the dead:

"Now when He came close to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And He came and touched the dead son, and they who carried him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto you, arise! And he who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And they delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on everyone, and they glorified God." (Luke 7:12-16)

"An in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto many who were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard: how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me." (Luke 7:21-23)

Dec.18

Jesus spoke to (indifferent) believers with negative volition:

"The sower sows the Word. And these are they by the way side, where the Word is sown, but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts." (Mark 4:14-15)

He spoke to keen, but clueless, emotional believers:

"And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it with gladness, but have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterwards, when afflication or persecution arises for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended." (Mark 4:16-17)

He spoke to (worldly) believers in the cosmic system:

"And these are they which are sown among thorns, such as hear the Word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)

He spoke to receptive hearers who were maturing spiritually:

"And these are they which are sown on good ground, such as hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." (Mark 4:20)

Dec. 19

Many Jewish believers thought their Messiah had come to usher in an earthly kingdom, where everyone would be in agreement with his neighbor and peace would rule. They misunderstood God's plan. Truth often causes divisions.

"Suppose you that I have come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No, but rather division. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (Luke 12:51-53)

There will be disagreements, therefore, between believers and unbelievers in your own family; there will also be disagreements between believers in your family, between those who are growing in grace and knowledge, and those who are in apostasy or reversionism.

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword ... And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Matt. 10:34,36)

Dec. 20

There are cults today that masquerade as Christian organizations, but deny the Deity (Divinity) of Christ. However, when asked by the Jews if He was the Messiah, Jesus left no doubts about His claim to be God:

"Jesus walked into the temple on Solomon's Porch. Then came the Jews about Him, and said unto Him, How long will you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:23-24)

He already had! They just refused to believe Him. The reason they didn't believe Him on prior occasions was that they were not His sheep, they did not have ears to hear:

"Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you believe not, because you are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, Who gave them to Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:25-30)

Jesus just told these doubting Jews that they were not His sheep; they were not among the elect which the Father had given to Him in eternity past. If they were, they would believe He was the Christ, co-equal in Deity with the Father, and they would have eternal life. They would also be eternally secure, because nothing (human or otherwise) could take them out of His Father's care.

Did the Jews finally acknowledge that Jesus was calling Himself the Messiah, possessing Divinity with His Father? You bet they did; they heard His claims loud and clear. Did they believe His claims? No, because they were not His sheep. Instead, "the Jews took up stones again to stone Him." (John 10:31)

Why were they going to stone Him? It was their answer to His claim that He was God:

"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shown you from My Father; for which of those works are you going to stone Me? The Jews answered Him, saying, We are not going to stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, being a man, make yourself God." (John 10:31-33)

Jesus Christ claimed to be God, one with the Father. Those who believe His claim is true are His sheep, and will have eternal life; all those who don't believe His claim are not His sheep, and will suffer eternal punishment with Satan and his fallen angels.

Dec. 21

Jesus also predicted many things that would happen in the future, including the conditions of the world at the time of His second coming:

"As it was in the day of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." (Luke 17:26-27,30)

Jesus warns us that His 2nd coming will be sudden, without warning, and that those living in the nation Israel should be watchful (Church Age believers are already in heaven):

"For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt. 24:27,31)

Dec. 22

Jesus spoke predictions about the distant future, such as the great tribulation which was to come upon the earth before His return. Since this seven-year tribulation period has the nation Israel as its center, it is also called Jacob's Trouble:

"For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord shortens those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He has chosen, He has shortened those days." (Mark 13:19-20)

Jesus also spoke predictions about the near future, such as His impending betrayal by Judas:

"And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you who eats with Me shall betray Me. It is one of the twelve that dips his bread with Me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written of Him - but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had never been born." (Mark 14:18, 20-21)

Dec. 23

Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples, who had Him arrested by Roman soldiers, accompanied by Jewish spiritual leaders:

"And while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. They came and laid hands on Jesus and took him prisoner." (Matt. 26:47,50)

The high priests held their mock trial, in which they accused Jesus of many crimes.

"Then they did spit in His face, and beat Him, and others slapped Him with the palms of their hands." (Matt. 26:67)

Jesus had no defenders, because they were all hiding in their homes afraid. Even Peter, who was hanging outside the palace, denied knowing Him three times:

"A damsal came unto Peter, saying, You were with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I don't know what you're talking about." (Matt. 26: 69-70) The second time he was addressed as being Jesus' friend, he replied, "I do not know the man." (Matt. 26:72) And the third time, "He began to curse and to swear, saying, I do not know the man." (Matt. 26:74)

Dec. 24

Jesus was given a series of trials. At the end of each trial, people in the crowd screamed, Crucify Him! Not wanting to start a riot, Pilate, the final judge, allowed the people to have their way.

"And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium. And they clothed Him with purple, and pleated a crown of thorns, and beat it down upon His head. And began to mockingly salute Him, 'Hail, King of the Jews'. And they stuck Him on the head with a reed staff, and spit on Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him. And after putting His own clothes back on Him, they led Him out to be crucified." (Mark 15:16-20)

They marched Jesus through the city, carrying His cross on His back, to the hill where He was to be crucified.

"And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also wailed and lamented over Him." (Luke 23:27)

Dec. 25

"They crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." (John 19:18-19)

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." (Luke 23:34)

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:34)

"And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the middle. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit, and having said this, He gave up the spirit." (Luke 23:46)

And He was buried in a sepulchre provided by a man named Joseph from Arimathea.

Dec. 26

Three days later, when Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre to annoint Jesus' body with oil and spices, He was gone. An angel in white garments stood by His burial place and said:

"Be not frightened. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold the place where they had laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He has gone before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him, as He said unto you." (Luke 16:6-7)

The bodily resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples and other believers on many occasions.

"And Jesus said unto them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me, and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:38-39)

Dec. 27

Many of His followers were amazed that He had risen from the dead. They obviously had not understood the prophesies concerning His death, burial and resurrection:

"And Jesus said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me." (Luke 24:44)

Jesus then reminded them of what He had told them before He was crucified. He explained to them how many prophesies in the OT predicted these very events:

"And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:46-48)

Dec. 28

One of Jesus' disciples did not believe He was resurrected from the dead:

"But Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus first came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he replied to them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:24-25)

About a week later, Jesus returned, and this time Thomas was present:

"Then Jesus said to Thomas, Reach here with your finger, and behold My hands; and reach here with your hand, and thrust it into My side; and stop being faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered unto Him and said, My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet they believed." (John 20:27-29)

Many people today are like Thomas, wanting a visible, physical presence of the Lord before they will believe. But Jesus has ascended to heaven and will not return until the rapture of the Church. So rather than wait for His physical return:

"Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that by your believing you might have life through His name." (John 20:31)

Dec. 29

Christ's resurrection was predicted and fulfilled as planned. God the Father would not abandon His Son.

Prophesy: "For You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, neither will You allow Your Holy One to see the pit." (Psalm 16:10)

Fulfillment: "He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay." (Acts 2:31)

Christ's ascension was likewise predicted and fulfilled. After His resurrection, He was not to stay on earth. He ascended to heaven to be with the Father.

Prophesy: "You have ascended on high." (Psalm 68:18)

Fulfillment: "He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9)

Dec. 30

Jesus Christ is currently seated at the right hand of the Father. This was predicted and later fulfilled:

"The Lord (Father) says to my Lord (Son): Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." (Psalm 110:1) "When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3)

Jesus Christ will return to the atmosphere and will snatch His believers from the earth into heaven (rapture):

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Cor. 15:51-52)

This "translation of the saints" is done in an orderly fashion:

"The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

Dec. 31

Believer's works will be judged by Jesus Christ for rewards:

"If any man's work continues to exist which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:14-15)

Unbelievers will be judged later at the Great White Throne:

"And He shall set the sheep (believers) on His right hand, but the goats (unbelievers) on His left. Then shall the King say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall He say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." (Matt. 25:33-34,41,46)

Although it has been 2,000 years since His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus Christ will return to separate His sheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers. His return can be at any moment. Are you prepared?

"He Who testifies these things says: 'Surely, I come quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)