She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

A blessed Christmas from Mark, myself, and all your friends at Lutheran Hour Ministries.

It’s Christmas Day, and it’s only right for us to talk about babies.

So, let me ask, “Who do you think is the world’s most influential infant?”

Now be careful. I’m warning you: it is a trick question.

According to Forbes magazine, the world’s most influential infant is not Jesus. If you want to see the child who is at the top of the heap you have to make an appointment to visit Shiloh, the daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. That’s right, Shiloh is the child that people find to be most interesting, the child who attracts the most media attention.

Not that it wasn’t a close race. It was. There were other contenders for the title. Suri, the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, was in the running. Then, of course, there was Zahara, Sean, Pax, Sam, David, and Dannielynn.

You may have noticed the name of “Jesus” wasn’t there.

Of course, the logical ones among us might maintain: “No fair, Jesus isn’t an infant. He shouldn’t even be considered.” If that’s your position, I can’t argue. Although Jesus was born as a human baby, He didn’t stay that way. The Gospels record how the Babe of Bethlehem grew into a Man. As a Man, God’s perfect Son resisted temptation so we might be freed from the curse of the law. As a Man, He turned down Satan’s temptations. As a Man, He carried our sins, and as a Man, He died for us upon the cross. It was a risen Man, a risen Savior, who stood before Thomas and said, “Touch me and see, I am really alive.”

No, Jesus didn’t stay a baby forever.

Even so, who else can say their birth is being remembered 2,000 years after it happened? Can you give me the birthdate of Caesar Augustus, or Herod the Great, Aristotle, Socrates? And, I don’t think, 2,000 years from now Shiloh, Suri, Zahara, Sean, Pax, Sam, David, and Danielynn will be remembered either.

But the Son of God and Mary will still be remembered, revered, and worshiped. And why will He receive this honor? Because He is God’s Son, the world’s Savior. He is Jesus, who was born, lived, died, and rose to save us from our sins.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for 2,000 years You have been rightly worshiped. This day, every day, accept my thanks for the sacrifice You made for me. Accept my worship for You as not just a great influence; You are also my only Savior. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Nehemiah 1-3    Revelation 16

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