HOPE for the Holiday - Day 22

My first grandson, 2007

My only granddaughter, 2007

My second grandson, 2009

"We have this treasure [the gospel, i.e. Good News of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ] hidden in earthen vessels [ordinary, everyday people]..." (2 Cor. 4:7) "His name [JESUS] will be the HOPE of all the world." (Matt. 12:21) 

Story of HOPE:

        I've been on pins and needles this morning anticipating a text from my Ben and Gabbi - eagerly waiting to hear if the sonogram revealed whether the little treasure nestled in Gabbi's womb is a grandson or granddaughter. 

And the good news is....
                                drum roll please....
                                                              It's a BOY!


        "And the angel [Gabriel] said to Mary, 'Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign...forever; and His kingdom will have no end.'"
        "Now at that time Mary arose and went with hast to the hill country...and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!" (Luke 1:30-33,39-44)

Question: 
After Gabriel's announcement to Mary, who was the first person to tell the the Gospel of the coming Savior, and who did he witness to? (Hint: You'll find the answer in the verses above.)

Answer: 
John the Baptist, while still in Elizabeth's womb, conveyed to his mother by a leap of joy the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ!

        Have you been forgiven, saved, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? Yes? Then the treasure of the Good News dwells within you! Do not keep it hidden! Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere! Go tell the lost world that Jesus Christ was born!

O Father, thank You for giving our family the precious gift of a new baby boy, and thank You for sending Your precious Son, JESUS, to earth as a baby over two thousand years ago to save us from our sins! In this Christmas season and all the days to come, I pray that my readers and I will tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

"Grace to you and peace from...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings of the earth...who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood!" (Rev. 1:5-6)