Abraham's Joy in Beholding Christ's Nativity

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day.—Here the Lord Jesus speaks of a joy rooted in sight: Abraham beheld Christ's day, His nativity, with gladness. This declaration yields us a threefold warrant for Christmas observance.

First, Christ Himself possesses a day proper to Him—"My day." Not as the Son of Elohim, for the Eternal has no day; His goings forth are from everlasting (Micah v. 2). But as the Son of Man, He hath days distinguished above the rest. Two stand preeminently: His Genesis, the day of His birth, and His Exodus, the day of His passion. Yet the passion was not His but ours (Luke xxii. 53), a night rather than a day. His nativity alone remains "My day"—a day belonging to every believer, as monarchs claim the day their reigns commence, as Churches claim their dedication.

Second, Abraham's example proves approved by Christ Himself. The patriarch rejoiced not merely at the sight of the Son of Elohim in abstract Deity—wherein lies small joy—but at the sight of His day, His birth into humanity. The angel proclaimed this day to shepherds as tidings of great joy (Luke ii. 10–14), extending to all people, not after it only, but before, and thus to Abraham in his generation.

Third, Christ reproves the Jews for refusing what Abraham eagerly embraced. To love Him whilst disdaining His day is contradiction. Love Him; love His day.