Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ which is the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Genesis 3:15 that a descendant of Eve would one day destroy the serpent, i.e. the devil.
The almighty sovereign God had/has an immutable plan from the beginning and an exact time table to implement that plan.
“…But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” Galatians 4:4
The humanity of Jesus Christ is irrefutable as is His deity. It is equally impossible to separate His two personages.
Old Testament prophecies had revealed that He would be born in Bethlehem of Judea, and so it was.
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…Joseph also went… into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the …lineage of David…” Luke 2:1-4
The Old Testament further revealed that He would be born of a virgin, i.e. He would be the Seed of the woman, but not of a man, and so it was.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
“Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you… that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:34-35
Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah and King told of Jesus being a descendant of King David and that someday He would rule over David’s kingdom which would never end and so it will be.
“…the angel said to her… ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever…’” Luke 1:28-33
The visit of the wise men also has Old Testament roots.
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2:1-2
‘Wise men’ are translated from magi who were astrologers and ‘East’ in the present context means Persia, or present day Iran. Its origin is found in Genesis.
“And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.” Genesis 25:5-6
To illustrate His humanity, Jesus frequently referred to Himself as ‘the Son of Man’. This title is found more than 80 times in the New Testament and also has Old Testament roots. The prophet Daniel had a dream about the Son of Man.
“‘I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! …Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.’” Daniel 7:13-14
While being born of a woman definitely confirms Jesus’ humanity, even more so does His death.
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death… that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
Jesus, the Son of Man and the Son of God was born to die.
Bethlehem was but a point on the unending time span as was the cross and the grave. The story continues and continues….