Prophecy in a Carol
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners – Isaiah 61:1
For 28 years I sang Christmas carols without understanding the words.
Now that I am a precious child of God, Carols bring life and hope.
One of my favorite carols is O Holy Night. My favorite line in the song, “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name, all oppression shall cease.”
Jesus humbled Himself and entered the world to break every chain.
I was in chains. Chains of self-doubt, worry and unbalanced expectations. I saw myself as unlovable, worthless, without a purpose. Jesus changed me when I believed this truth.
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let’s take a look at my favorite verse in O Holy Night and compare it to Scripture.
Chains Shall He break
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Psalm 107:14 NIV
I am your servant, LORD, I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. Psalm 116:16 NIV
For the slave is our brother
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant (slave), and coming in the likeness of men Philippians 2:7 NKJV
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother Mathew 12:50 NIV
For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source, That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers Hebrews 2:11 ESV
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. Deuteronomy 26:7 ESV
From oppression and violence, He redeems their life… Psalm 72:14 ESV
I still get chills when I sing this song. In Luke 4:18 Jesus declared that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
I envision people walking out of jail cells with no shackles, leaping for joy at their newfound freedom. Heads lifted high to greet the sun instead of staring at their feet. Hearts that once craved love now possess complete acceptance in Christ, who is Love.
As we celebrate His birth, let us never forget that He is the Messiah. The promised one.
Emmanuel, God with us.
He is the only one who breaks chains, heals wounds, and sets the captives free from the bondage of sin. My heart rejoices and I want to fall on my knees in reverence and worship.
What effect do Christmas carols have on you? Join the conversation.
Why Jesus is the Reason
Discussing Christmas traditions with an excited group of children, a young boy’s smile faded as he told me he couldn’t spend Christmas with his daddy. I inquired further, expecting the boy to cite divorce or death as a reason. My mind began forming words to encourage the boy.
“He’s in jail,” he said.
I stammered slightly, unsure how to respond to this revelation.
Quietly, I replied, “You know, no matter what circumstance caused your daddy to be in jail, there is nothing God won’t forgive unless a person doesn’t ever accept Jesus.”
As we created Christmas decorations together, I reminded those gathered around the table “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Then I explained what the phrase means and why.
When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the depth of God’s love for humanity. God loves us so much “… He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 NIV]
Jesus. His name is not just the “name above all names.” He is the King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Prince of Peace. The Messiah. The Savior of the World. His birth is Christmas. The first step on earth toward salvation for man.
Joy to the World!
Like this young boy, the blows of life threaten to chase away our joy. We know for many holidays magnify an endless list of struggles: the loss of loved ones; broken relationships; failing marriages; addiction; mental illness or physical health issues; financial worries; bitterness and anger; depression; unconfessed sin, and more. Even the volume of possible struggles is heartbreaking.
Christian joy is not a happiness based on how well things are going in our life. Perhaps the best description is an inner peace planted deep within the soul based on our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The more we know Jesus, the more joy we experience – even in the heat of suffering.
Notice I did not say the more we know about Jesus. We may learn all there is to know about Jesus and still not have a relationship with him.
Since God desires a close and personal relationship with us, the trials and sufferings we face in this world should cause us to long for our Heavenly home. There is only one way to Heaven.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” [John 14:6 NIV]
THE way.
THE truth.
THE life.
THE Father.
Singular. There is no other way to the One and Only Father except through His One and Only Son.
Jesus was born to die on the cross as the atonement for all our sins – past, present and future. Yours and mine. Not one of us is sinless.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23 NIV]
Our punishment for that sin is eternal separation from God – much worse than jail – but God gave us a precious gift to restore us to Him.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 6:23 NIV]
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8 NIV]
Therefore, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate God’s love and the gift of salvation. It is free to us, but not without cost. Jesus paid the price for us on the cross, and it is available to all who will accept it, just as we are. His blood washes us clean. We cannot do that on our own.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” [Romans 10:9-10 NIV]
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Romans 10:13 NIV]
Without this birth, there would be no Jesus. No cross. No resurrection. No salvation. No hope. No peace. No joy. No reason for Christmas.
“Jesus is the reason for the season.” It is not just a catchy phrase, or some singsong slogan.
It is truth.
Maybe you already have a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, but the hustle and bustle of holiday activities threatens to steal your joy. Maybe someone you love, like this young boy’s father, is in prison. Maybe you feel shackled and weighted by something you are trying to carry alone. Maybe your soul has been crying for hope, peace and joy.
I pray whatever your circumstance, you have accepted or will accept the best gift to all humanity: Jesus
I pray you will surrender your heart, your burdens, and your will to Him. Among all gifts, the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is the best gift we will ever receive, and the best gift we will ever share with others.
Share Him freely, and often.
After all, He is the reason we celebrate this season.
Genealogy Doesn’t Lie
The Messiah would be a descendant of King David of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it. – Isaiah 9:7
It’s Christmas morning, you’re in your pajamas with a cup of coffee. You watch your family open presents.
Life is good. You say to yourself.
“Open it,” your loved one says as they hand you the prettiest box you’ve ever seen.
“You’ve been talking about this all year.” The loved smiles.
I talk about many things. It’s too small to be a car, could it be the keys? You say to yourself.
You unwrap it with care.
“Hurry, it’s only paper, just rip it!” Your loved one is anxious to take a picture of your as you see the surprise.
“A DNA Kit! Thank you!”
They were listening.
All across the world, this scene will play out on Christmas morning. DNA kits have been one of the rave gifts this year, but why geneology for Christmas?
There are many reasons we might want to trace our ancestry. Maybe it’s the novelty of knowing that someone famous is in our lineage. Are other more practical reasons like to trace a family inheritance, trace land ownership, find birth parents, trace medical conditions, validate old family stories, or reconnect with family.
DNA kits help us discover our ancestors through genetic matching. These trending kits guide the user in collecting their own DNA samples and then results are received by mailing the samples in to a lab. The result from the testing are compared to other DNA samples from around the world, detecting similarities that trace back generations and connect us to the lands of our ancestors. Although DNA tests are fun and have become a recent hit, they are not always accurate.
These tests reveal what people groups are in your lineage, not specific individuals, which is still fascinating. With shows Finding Your Roots, Who Do You Think You Are, and Genealogy Roadshow, as well as, websites like https://www.geni.com, http://www.ancestor.com/, https://www.myheritage.com/, and https://www.ancestry.com/cs/finding-your-roots we can trace our lineages.
We can trace our lineage with accurate records.
Jake and Cherrilynn have discovered a pirate, Vikings, WWI General, Cowboy, and Farmer in their combined genealogies. Cherrilynn is a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, a pirate, and a pioneer. Cherrilyn attributes her plundering her sister’s candy and her love for travel to her lineage. Jake has confirmed old family stories of Vikings through his ancestry. Jake finds encouragement in his ministry looking back at the transformation of many Vikings on their hearing of the Gospel.
You may or may not be on the DNA Kit bandwagon this Christmas, but there is a great benefit to knowing our ancestry. Whatever inspires us to solve the mystery of our past, many find healing, strength, and a sense of belonging and purpose through the research.
Matthew and Luke who both tell of the birth of Jesus, also highlight Jesus’ genealogy. Obviously, they didn’t use a DNA kit, but the results are just as incredible. The difference between our lineage and that of Jesus is that his birth was predicted hundreds of years before the event. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah. Along with other prophets Isaiah told that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, and therefore a descendant of Jesse and Abraham.
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. – Isaiah 11:10 (NIV84)
But even beyond the prophecies, we learn In Matthew and Luke’s’ lists that Jesus had a King, shepherd, and prostitute in His lineage. The King may be expected in Jesus’ ancestry, but a prostitute? Yes, a prostitute. And in those days shepherds were considered quite lowly. There are also many other unsavory characters in that list, but Jesus wasn’t ashamed of his genealogy. He knew he had a mission and joyfully accepted it. His mission was to be the Savior of the World and bring ultimate peace.
Matthew’s genealogy begins with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, shows the relationship of Jesus to all Jews—he is their Messiah. This agrees with the theme and purpose of the book of Matthew—to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.
The purpose of the book of Luke is to give a record of the life of Christ as the perfect human Savior. Therefore, the genealogy record of Luke goes back to Adam, to demonstrate the relationship of Jesus to His creation.
He is the Savior of the world.
As you open your gifts this Christmas, as many of your ancestors did in the past, remember the best gift is to know that Jesus’ genealogy proves He is Savior and Lord. It also proves that Jesus was and his later sacrificial death was for everyone. The King, the popper, and yes, even the prostitute.
Genealogy doesn’t lie.
Have you tested your DNA or searched your ancestry? Or is a kit under your tree?
Cherrilynn Bisbano is a collaborator with Jake in this special Christmas Series. She is a writer, speaker, literary agent, and editor. Her passion for helping people is evident. She loves Christ, coffee, chocolate, and cats. Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author, Acquisitions Reader and Junior Agent for Literary Agent, Cyle Young. Host of Genre Chat www.seriouswriter.com. Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries, Leadership Certified by Christian Leaders Institute. http://bit.ly/2j9vzaT. She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Southern Writer, and other magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to, newly released Breaking the Chains. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard earning the John Levitow Military leadership award. She lives with her fifteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr. 
God’s Itinerary Will Not Be Denied
God works like this. He reveals our final destination —but the winding road to the journey’s end, makes His revelation seem impossible.
One example of this in Scripture is Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
The prophet Micah prophesied seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth that the promised Messiah would come from Bethlehem.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. – Micah 5:2 (NIV84)
With this prophecy in mind, imagine that you are an omniscient spectator in the first century watching the unfolding of Jesus’ arrival. As the viewer, you know the Messiah must come from Bethlehem. Yet, for nearly nine months Bethlehem wouldn’t even be in the picture.
Mary and Joseph individually receive news that Mary is pregnant with the Messiah. But it couldn’t be the Messiah for she lives in Nazareth—seventy miles from Bethlehem. So, either the couple is wrong about the Messiah or God is not going to keep His Word. This would make Micah a false prophet or God a liar.
You continue to watch as the plot twists lead Mary in different directions, none of which bring her to Bethlehem. For a brief moment, it seems Joseph will turn Mary in for adultery, and the locals would stone her to death. But Joseph contemplated divorcing her quietly. Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mathew 1:20-21)
He believed the angel and married Mary.
The story would take another turn as Mary travels to Jericho to visit Zachariah and Elizabeth. The trip brought her closer to Bethlehem, but there was still no reason to travel there. Mary returned to Nazareth, time appears to be running out. Will Micah’s prophecy be vindicated?
While hope for fulfillment seemed bleak, God is at work. Two surprises enterer the story—the Roman census and Joseph’s Davidic roots.
Happening behind the scenes was the rest of the story. The Roman census forced Joseph to travel to Bethlehem leaving us with this fulfillment recorded by Luke.
Joseph also went up…to Bethlehem …while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son… – Luke 2:4–7 (NIV84)
God’s plans will never be denied.
They weren’t thwarted in the birth of Jesus.
They weren’t denied in the countless similar “mystery thrillers” in Scripture.
And they won’t be denied in your life.
Cherrilynn Bisbano is a collaborator with Jake in this special Christmas Series. She is a writer, speaker, literary agent, and editor. Her passion for helping people is evident. She loves Christ, coffee, chocolate, and cats. Managing Editor at Serious Writer & Almost an Author, Acquisitions Reader and Junior Agent for Literary Agent, Cyle Young. Host of Genre Chat www.seriouswriter.com. Speaker with Women Speakers & By Design ministries, Leadership Certified by Christian Leaders Institute. http://bit.ly/2j9vzaT. She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. You can find her published in Amramp, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Refresh, Southern Writer, and other magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to, newly released Breaking the Chains. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard earning the John Levitow Military leadership award. She lives with her fifteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 19 years, Michael, Sr.