Who Is Jesus Christ?

My VIP for this week is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The following information comes from a special 2024 Christmas study plan. 

President Russell M. Nelson said, “[Jesus Christ’s birth was] foreseen by prophets since the days of Adam [and Eve].”

·         Isaiah prophesied about the birth of Jesus Christ during a time of great trouble and uncertainty for the people of Judah (see Isaiah 9:6-7).

·         Nephi, one of the first prophets in the Book of Mormon, was shown the Savior’s birth by an angel 600 years before the birth of Christ (see 1 Nephi 11:13-23).

·         King Benjamin was another Book of Mormon prophet who learned from an angel about the Savior’s coming (see Mosiah 3:5-10).

·         Samuel the Lamanite, who lived just before Christ’s birth, told of great signs in the heavens that would appear on the day the Son of God was born (see Helaman 14:1-13).

An angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she had found favor in the sight of God and that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Mary was humble and had great faith in accepting her role in God’s plan of salvation as the mother of the Son of God. Mary replied to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”  (Luke 1:38).

The same angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that Mary’s baby was the Son of God and that he should go ahead with plans to marry her. Joseph was a man of integrity and humility, who was divinely appointed to protect and support Mary and to help her rear the Savior of the world.

More angels announced the birth of the Son of God to shepherds caring for their sheep.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The angelic announcement to the shepherds was a divine declaration that the Savior’s birth is a cause to celebrate! It replaces fear with joy, glory, peace, and goodwill. The angel said this good news “shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10), so the shepherds “made [it] known abroad” (verse 17).

Elder Neil L. Andersen observed: “What comfort and reassurance Joseph and Mary must have felt as they realized there was purpose in the difficulty that surrounded them. The angels had declared His coming and His noble mission.” As humble shepherds worshipped at the manger, they were adding their witness to Mary’s and Joseph’s that this baby was God’s Son and a divine plan was at work.

The Lord provided a night without darkness in the Americas. President Russell M. Nelson taught the following:

“The scriptural story of Jesus Christ” … “is indeed a two-hemisphere story. While Mary and Joseph in the East were making preparations for the holy child’s birth in Bethlehem, Nephi in the West was being taught by the premortal Messiah. To Nephi the Lord said, ‘Be of good cheer; … on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets’ [3 Nephi 1:13].”

Jesus Christ was born and presented in the temple. “She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger” Luke 2:7). Jesus Christ was born to be the Savior of the world. Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. Away from the crowded inn, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. Angels appeared to shepherds, who then went to see the baby Jesus. After the shepherds left to spread the good news, “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

Simeon had been waiting for the Messiah, and he finally received a personal prompting that the day had come. Following that prompting to the temple, Simeon was blessed with a one-on-one encounter with the Messiah he had been seeking.

Anna, an elderly widow, spent much of her time in the temple. One day, Anna had a unique and personal experience with the Savior.

The wise men worshipped Jesus and gave Him gifts. “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). We do not know much about the wise men mentioned in Matthew 2, but we know they looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. They were willing to travel far to worship Him. And their gifts have inspired a long tradition of giving at Christmastime. “We cannot doubt,” President Dallin H. Oaks said, “that they were led by the Lord for His sacred purpose…. These wise men were of another land and culture, so a witness to them was a reminder that the Messiah was born for all people.”

Their simple story reminds us to reflect on our hope in Christ’s coming, our diligence in worshipping Him, and the gifts we can give to Him.