Secular observance of the Christmas season has become over-commercialized and at
minimum does not focus properly on the significance of Christ’s birth – the arrival of
Immanuel! Sadly, even religious observance has at times become stale, with too much
emphasis given to entertainment which results in artificial joy. In general, cultural
mindset has missed the magnitude of Immanuel’s coming; both secular and spiritual
have overlooked the elegant hope and unfettered joy of the Savior’s birth. Here we
celebrate the Christmas season fittingly by exploring the numbers (and their meaning)
found in the familiar Christmas accounts (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2).
We gain understanding by reviewing the appearance of number four in accounts of the
Savior’s birth. Within this specialized topic, we avoid bland secular and trite religious
observance of Christmas and instead center on the character of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By the numbers, the birth accounts of Jesus proclaim the most joyful news ever given
– the Savior has come to earth.
