CHRISTMAS – THE BIRTH OF JESUS AND THE INTENTIONALITY OF GOD
From the Teaching Ministry of Dr Joel Dabbas
Introduction
When we think of Christmas, many of us often associate it with family gatherings, gifts, food, and celebrations. But beyond all of this, Christmas is the moment when eternity touched time. It is the day that God made a deliberate, intentional move towards humanity. The birth of Jesus Christ is not just a historic event; it is the revelation of the heart of God – His intentionality. Christmas is God saying, "I have a plan. I have a purpose, and I will go to any length to fulfill it."
Scriptural Foundation of God's Intentionality
The Bible offers clear definitions of God's intentionality:
Purposeful Planning:
Isaiah 46:10 declares, "Declaring the end from the beginning..." This verse reveals that God does not react to circumstances; He orchestrates them. His plan is both eternal and deliberate, and He speaks the end from the very start. There is nothing random about His actions; everything has been planned out in the blueprint of eternity.
Deliberate Action:
Ephesians 1:11 tells us that "we have obtained an inheritance... according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will." This verse unveils the precision of God's will. He is not haphazard in His dealings with creation. Every action, every step is meticulously aligned with His divine purpose.
Unwavering Focus:
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you... thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." God's thoughts are not scattered; He has a clear, focused intention for each of us. His purpose is good, and it leads to the fulfillment of His promises.
How Christmas Demonstrated God's Intentionality
Now, let’s look at the birth of Jesus. It was not a spontaneous event, but a deliberate act of God’s love and power.
I. God is Intentional with Man
Psalm 8:4 asks, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" Why would an infinite, holy God choose to pay attention to such fragile, fallen beings? The truth is, He made a deliberate choice to engage with us. In Genesis 3:15, God promises a Savior after the fall of man, and throughout the Scriptures, we see His intentional pursuit of humanity. He formed us with purpose, and even when we sinned, He sought after us. Psalm 139:13-16 reminds us that our lives are intricately woven by His hands. God is not a distant observer but a hands-on Creator, involved in every detail of our existence.
II. God is Intentional About Relationship
In Genesis 3:8-9, after Adam and Eve sinned, God didn’t wait for them to come to Him. He sought them out, calling, "Where are you?" This is the heart of God’s relational nature. He is intentional about reaching out, drawing us into fellowship with Him. The birth of Jesus Christ in John 1:14 is the ultimate expression of this. Jesus became "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." He came to dwell among us, not as an abstract idea, but as a real person with whom we could have a relationship.
III. God is Intentional About Love
John 3:16 reveals that God’s love for humanity is not abstract or passive. His love is purposeful and sacrificial: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son..." God didn’t love us just in words, He acted. The birth of Jesus is a manifestation of His love—He gave His Son, and Jesus came into the world with a clear mission: to die for the sins of mankind. God’s love is not just an emotion; it is a willful, action-oriented love that pursues the best for us, even at great cost.
IV. God is Intentional About Salvation
God’s plan of salvation didn’t happen by chance. It was deliberate, chosen before the foundation of the world. Acts 4:12 says, "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Jesus’ birth was not just about a child born in a manger. It was about God bringing His plan of salvation to fruition. As Ephesians 1:4-5 points out, God predestined this plan, choosing us before the foundation of the world to be saved by the sacrifice of Christ.
V. God is Intentional About Breaking Bondage
Jesus came to break the chains that bound humanity. Luke 4:18-19 reveals Jesus’ mission: "He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind..." This is God’s deliberate intention: to set us free. In Galatians 4:4-5, it says, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son..." The "fullness of time" wasn’t an accident. It was God's precise moment in history to bring freedom through Christ.
VI. God is Intentional About Raising Sons and Daughters
Romans 8:29 tells us that God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. His intent is not just to save us, but to transform us into His children, part of His family. Ephesians 1:12 says this adoption is for "the praise of His glory." God is intentional about us being raised as sons and daughters, not as slaves or strangers, but as heirs of His kingdom. This is the heart of God—He wants us to share in His divine nature.
VII. God is Intentional About His Word
The Word of God is not just a book; it is the voice of the Almighty. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." God’s Word is powerful, and He has spoken with purpose. Every word He has spoken is a seed of divine intentionality, meant to accomplish His will in our lives and the world around us.
VIII. God is Intentional About His Presence
God did not create us to live apart from His presence. Exodus 33:14 says, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." God’s presence is not optional—it is essential. Matthew 28:20 affirms that Jesus’ presence is with us always, even to the end of the age. But beyond just being with us, God intends that we would carry His presence. He does not just want to be near us; He wants us to be a vessel of His presence to a lost world.
IX. God is Intentional About Redemption History
History is not a series of random events. From the very beginning, God was unfolding His redemption plan, and every moment was designed to lead to the cross. Acts 13:26-33 and Revelation 13:8 show us that the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world. God’s redemptive plan was intentional, and every moment in history, including the birth of Jesus, is part of that divine unfolding.
Conclusion:
The intentionality of God is not just a theological concept; it is a living, breathing reality that has touched every aspect of our lives. Christmas is the ultimate manifestation of God’s deliberate and purposeful plan for humanity. It’s not just the birth of a child, it’s the birth of a Savior who came with purpose—to restore, to redeem, and to bring us into the family of God. The same God who planned the redemption of mankind from the foundation of the world is the same God who is with us today. Christmas is a reminder that God is intentional about us. He came that we might have life—and have it more abundantly.
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