Jesus: Born this Day

 

“In him we have redemption through his blood... making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:7a, 9-10 ESV)

This Christmas Season I’ve enjoyed a book called Proclaiming the Christmas Gospel, reading through a bit of history and ancient theology in celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ “in the fullness of time.” When Leo the Great preached a Christmas message on Ephesians 1 (and also Galatians 4), he said, 

“Our Savior, dearly beloved, was born this day. Let us rejoice. There cannot rightly be any room for sorrow in a place where life has been born.”

 

Of course, for Leo, “this day” was more than four hundred years after Jesus' birth, so it wasn’t literally “this day.” However, there’s still something for us to think about in worshiping a Savior born “this day.” It’s like that familiar line from O come All Ye Faithful, “ Yeah, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning…”

We rightfully celebrate Christ’s birth over two thousand years in the past with a praise for the present. “This happy morning,” indeed. It’s our calendar-- but God’s time. Jesus was born that day, He’s celebrated this day, and that means there’s no room for sorrow in our own day.

If you ask most people when Jesus was born, they’ll say “December 25th.” That date’s been celebrated since around the third century. But scholars speculate on the specific day. If asked, I might be inclined to say “this day,” or “this happy morning.” That’d generate some good conversation. 

Regardless of historical studies and calendar questions, one thing we can say for sure is that Jesus was born at just the right time. Galatians 4:4 describes it as “when the fullness of time had come.” Ephesians 7:10 says it was all part of God’s “plan for the fullness of time.”

I suppose the short of it is this: Whether it’s Jesus’ birth, death, or resurrection we’re talking about--he’s always at the right time. When did I receive Jesus as my Savior? At just the right time. Do you need to receive him as Savior? Well, now is the right time. Leo concluded his message of Jesus, “born this day” with this:

“We share together a single reason for joy. Our Lord, finding no one free of guilt, has come to liberate all.”

And when did Jesus do this? In the fullness of time. At the right time. That day. And for some who’ve yet to receive him, maybe this day.