A Startling Statistic

Between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, there were 400 years of silence. Many may have forgotten the promise that a Messiah would come. But, in the fullness of time, God sent an angel to announce to Zacharias and Elizabeth that they would have a son in their old age who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. And what a baby they had! When he grew up, John the Baptist announced that you can’t get to God unless you repent of your sins.

I saw some statistics that say that fewer people come to Christ at Christmas than during any other season. Why is that? Because they skip over the message of John to order to get to the message of the manger. Zacharias praised God for the promise of the One who would ‘accomplish redemption for His people.’ He thanked God for the promise of deliverance. That is where Christmas really begins as we repent, turn from sin, and get our lives right with God.