CINXE.COM
Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
<!DOCTYPE html> <html dir="ltr" lang="en"> <head> <title>Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <meta name="description" content="This is an authorized Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses."/> <meta name="keywords" content="jehovah's witnesses, jehovah, witness, watchtower, library, online, publications"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"/> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/icon/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/icon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/icon/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#799FCC"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/icon/favicon.ico"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="/icon/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="WOL"> <meta name="application-name" content="WOL"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#799fcc"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black"/> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="no"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://b.jw-cdn.org/code/media-player/v3.0.0/css/media-player.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+0+974f270baf9554651558d525c4fb9b2bbaba7049.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+1+eda9e25e8d65b8146f2068ea6cf0d4486172ce3d.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+2+8bc20ec72a3d6bdee112c222e4724ab91daca5e0.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/+3+5fe81ac8c80b601f07459195d4af94edf92bb720.css"/> <script> var localizedNumbers = ["0","1"]; window.VIDEOJS_NO_DYNAMIC_STYLE = true; </script> <input id="insightApi" type="hidden" value="https://b.jw-cdn.org/apis/insight/events" /> <script src="/assets/js/+0+3b23965c032d57f4d3f2965f87b3740e2c650208.js"></script> </head> <body class="showRuby cc-theme--light DynamicLayout"> <style id="scalableui"></style> <script> if (window.Cookies != null) { // Apply user preferred font size // Doesn't apply to static pages, all of which don't scale text var fontScale = Cookies.get('fontScale'); if (fontScale) { var scalableuiStyleContainer = document.getElementById('scalableui'); var scalableuiStyleSheet = scalableuiStyleContainer.sheet; scalableuiStyleSheet.insertRule( '.scalableui{font-size:' + fontScale * 100 + '%;}', scalableuiStyleSheet.cssRules.length ); } } </script> <div id="wrapper" class="dropShadow50"> <input id="locale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="tooltipContentErrorMessage" type="hidden" value="Please click here to open the document." /> <input id="rsconf" type="hidden" value="r1" /> <input id="lib" type="hidden" value="lp-e" /> <input id="libLang" type="hidden" value="English" /> <input id="libTitle" type="hidden" value="English Publications (1950-2025)" /> <input id="libDir" type="hidden" value="ltr" /> <input id="libLangSym" type="hidden" value="E" /> <input id="libLangScript" type="hidden" value="ROMAN" /> <input id="libLangIsSignLanguage" type="hidden" value="" /> <input id="libraryLocale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="contentLocale" type="hidden" value="en" /> <input id="contentRsconf" type="hidden" value="r1" /> <input id="contentLib" type="hidden" value="lp-e" /> <input id="contentLibLang" type="hidden" value="English" /> <input id="contentLibTitle" type="hidden" value="English Publications (1950-2025)" /> <input id="rubyAvailable" type="hidden" value="false" /> <input id="contentLibDir" type="hidden" value="ltr" /> <input id="contentLibLangSym" type="hidden" value="E" /> <input id="contentLibLangScript" type="hidden" value="ROMAN" /> <input id="contentLibLangIsSignLanguage" type="hidden" value="false" /> <input id="siteCookieDomain" type="hidden" value="wol.jw.org" /> <input id="audioMultiselect" type="hidden" value="" /> <input id="site" type="hidden" value="unified" /> <input id="updatedMediaPlayer" type="hidden" value="1" /> <div id="regionHeader" class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="siteBanner"> <div class="title"> <a href="/en/wol/h/r1/lp-e"> <span class="logo"><span class="icon"></span></span> <div class="ellipsized label"> <span class="ellipsized titleBig">Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY</span> <div class="ellipsized titleLittle siteTitleLine1">Watchtower</div> <div class="ellipsized titleLittle siteTitleLine2">ONLINE LIBRARY</div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="language"> <a class="chrome librarySelectionLink spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">English</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="toolbarFrame"> <div id="standardSearch" class="searchControl"> <form class="searchForm" role="search" method="GET" action="/en/wol/qt/r1/lp-e"> <div class="searchFieldContainer"> <input type="hidden" id="st" name="st" /> <input class="searchField" name="q" accept-charset="utf-8" type="text" title="Search operators: * = any text; ? = any character; " " = exact phrase; & = AND; | = OR; ! = NOT; () = group" aria-label="Type search text or a Bible citation" placeholder="Enter Topic" autocomplete="off" autocapitalize="off" autocorrect="off" autofocus="autofocus" spellcheck="false" maxlength="256" value=""/> <span class="searchFieldCancel"><span class="icon"></span></span> </div> <div class="searchControlContainer"> <input type="hidden" name="p" value="par"/> <input type="hidden" name="r" value="occ"/> <input class="searchButton" type="submit" value="SEARCH"/> </div> <div class="searchControlButtons"> <button class="searchIcon menuButton" type="button" aria-label="search"><span class="icon"></span></button> <button class="closeIcon menuButton" type="button" aria-label="cancel"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <div class="suggestions hidden"></div> </form> </div> <div id="toolbarMenu"> <ul class="menu" role="menu"> <li id="menuToolsPreferences" class="menuButton iconOnly menuRight" role="menuitem" aria-label="preferences"> <a href="/en/wol/pref/r1/lp-e?url=%2Fen%2Fwol%2Fd%2Fr1%2Flp-e%2F2006921" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span> </a> </li> <li id="menuToolsShare" class="menuButton iconOnly menuRight" role="menuitem" aria-label="share"> <a id="shareButton" class="shareButtonIcon hidden" href="#"> <span class="icon"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="menuHome" role="menuitem" class="showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/h/r1/lp-e" aria-label="home"> <span class="icon"></span> </a> </div> <div id="menuFrame"> <ul id="menuBar" class="menu" role="menubar"> <li id="menuBible" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="bible" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/binav/r1/lp-e" role="menuitem" aria-label="bible"><span class="icon"></span><span class="label">BIBLE</span></a> </li> <li id="menuPublications" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="publications" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications" role="menuitem" aria-label="publications"><span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">PUBLICATIONS</span></a> </li> <li id="menuToday" class="chrome menuButton showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" role="menuitem" aria-label="meetings" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a class="todayNav" href="/en/wol/meetings/r1/lp-e" role="menuitem" aria-label="meetings"><span class="icon"></span><span class="label">MEETINGS</span></a> </li> <li id="menuSynchronizeControls" class="hidden"> <ul> <li id="menuSynchronize" class="chrome menuButton tbSync hidden" role="menuitem" aria-label="synchronize"> <a id="linkSynchronize" href="#" rel="nofollow"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label"></span> </a> </li> <li id="menuSynchronizeSwitch" class="chrome menuButton tbSync" role="menuitem"> <a id="linkSynchronizeSwitch" href="#" rel="nofollow"> <span class="icon"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="menuSearchHitNext" class="chrome menuButton iconOnly menuRight hidden showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="#"><span class="icon"></span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="publicationNavigation" class="chrome"> <div class="secondaryNavToggle"><span class="icon"></span></div> <div class="pubNavTitle"> <div class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <ul> <li class="resultsNavigationSelected documentLocation navPublications"><a href="/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/watchtower/the-watchtower-2006/december-15" class="spriteLink ellipsized"><span class="icon"></span>w06 12/15 pp. 4-7</a></li> <li class="resultDocumentPubTitle ellipsized"> Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="chrome forwardBackNavControls resultNavControls"> <ul> <li class="resultNavLeft"><a class="resultsNavDocumentLink" href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006920"><span class="icon"></span></a></li><li class="resultNavRight"><a class="resultsNavDocumentLink" href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006922"><span class="icon"></span></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="navPosition hidden showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="scrollPositionDisplay"></div> </div> </div> <div id="playerwrapper" class="hidden headerPosition"></div> </div> <div id="regionMain" class="unified navLeft showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr hasSecondaryNav showSecondaryNav" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" > <div id="videoWrapperContainer" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="videoWrapper" class="hidden headerPosition constrainedHeight hasSecondaryNav showSecondaryNav showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="topShadow"></div> <div class="videoNoticeContainer"> <p class="noticeText noMarkerNotice">No video available for this selection.</p> <p class="noticeText videoErrorNotice">Sorry, there was an error loading the video.</p> </div> <div id="playerShared" class="uninitialized"></div> </div> </div> <div id="secondaryNavContent" class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="secondaryNav" role="navigation"> <nav> <div id="resultNavigation"><div class="resultNavTitle"> <ul> <li class="resultsNavigationSelected "><span><span class="navContent">Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace</span></span></li><li class="resultDocumentPubTitle "><span><span class="navContent">The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—2006</span></span></li> </ul> </div></div> </nav> <div id="documentNavigation" class="chrome"> <ul class="navigationTabs"> <li class="active tabItem" data-related-content="subheadings"> <div class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> Subheadings </div> </li> <li class="tabItem" data-related-content="similarMaterial"> <div class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> Similar Material </div> </li> </ul> <div class="navigationContents"> <div id="subheadings" class="active tabContent" role="navigation"> <nav> <ul class="documentNavigation noTooltips" role="navigation"> <li class="subheading"><a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006921#p5">A Foretold King</a></li> <li class="subheading"><a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006921#p15">“Good News of a Great Joy”</a></li> <li class="subheading"><a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006921#p20">A Christian Spirit All Year Round?</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div id="similarMaterial" class="tabContent"> <ul class="results linkCard"> <li class="simDoc"> <a href="/en/wol/dsim/r1/lp-e/1101974041" class="jwac showRuby publication html5 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-po cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="po" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> The Messiah of God’s “Eternal Purpose” </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> God’s “Eternal Purpose” Now Triumphing for Man’s Good </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="simDoc"> <a href="/en/wol/dsim/r1/lp-e/1101973014" class="jwac showRuby publication html5 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-ka cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="ka" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> Kings for a Thousand Years Without Successors </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="simDoc"> <a href="/en/wol/dsim/r1/lp-e/1102010309" class="jwac showRuby publication html5 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <img class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-rk cat-brch " data-pub-symbol="rk" src="/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/rk/thumbnail"/> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> The Messiah Appears </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> Real Faith—Your Key to a Happy Life </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="simDoc"> <a href="/en/wol/dsim/r1/lp-e/1102003025" class="jwac showRuby publication html5 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <img class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-lr cat-bk " data-pub-symbol="lr" src="/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/lr/thumbnail"/> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> “This Is My Son” </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> Learn From the Great Teacher </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> </ul> <div class="moreSimDocs"> <a class="spriteLinkRight" href="/en/wol/sim/r1/lp-e/2006921">See More<span class="icon"></span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="documentCitationInformation"> <div>The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—2006</div> <div><strong>w06 12/15 pp. 4-7</strong></div> </div> <div id="content" class="content"> <div class="articlePositioner" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="banner" class="documentBanner showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> </div> <article id="article" class="article document html5 pub-w docId-2006921 pub-w06 pub-w pub-w06 docClass-6 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr includeSecondaryNav" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" role="article"> <div class="scalableui"> <p id="p1" data-pid="1" class="st"><span id="page4" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="4" data-before-text="4"></span><strong>Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace</strong></p> <p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sb">THE proclamation of “peace among men of goodwill” was not the only prophecy connected with Jesus’ birth. In addition to what the angels announced to the astonished shepherds, heavenly messengers had made divinely inspired declarations about the newborn Jesus to Mary and her husband, Joseph. A consideration of these messages will enable us to gain a broader perspective on Jesus’ birth and to understand the real significance behind the angelic promise of peace among men.</p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sb">Prior to Jesus’ birth, even before she became pregnant, Mary was visited by an angel whom the Bible identifies as Gabriel. “Good day, highly favored one, Jehovah is with you” was the angel’s greeting. As you might imagine, Mary was deeply disturbed at this and perhaps a little frightened. What could such a greeting mean?</p> <p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sb">Gabriel explained: “Look! you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus. This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” Mary questioned how this was to be, since she, a virgin, was not having intercourse with a man. Gabriel responded that the child would be conceived by means of God’s holy spirit. This would be no ordinary child.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/0/0" data-bid="1-1" class="b">Luke 1:28-35</a>.</p> <p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="ss"><strong>A Foretold King</strong></p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sb">Gabriel’s words must have helped Mary to discern that the son she would bear was the subject of ancient prophecies. The disclosure that Jehovah would give Mary’s son “the throne of David his father” would make her—and indeed any Jewish person acquainted with the Scriptures—think of the promise that God had made to King David of Israel.</p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sb">Through the prophet Nathan, Jehovah had told David: “Your house and your kingdom will certainly be steadfast to time indefinite before you; your very throne will become one firmly established to time indefinite.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/1/0" data-bid="2-1" class="b">2 Samuel 7:4,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/1/1" data-bid="2-2" class="b"> 16</a>) Jehovah stated concerning David: “I shall certainly set up his seed forever and his throne as the days of heaven. His seed itself will prove to be even to time indefinite, and his throne as the sun in front of me.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/2/0" data-bid="3-1" class="b">Psalm 89:20,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/2/1" data-bid="3-2" class="b"> 29,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/2/2" data-bid="3-3" class="b"> 35, 36</a>) Thus, it was no coincidence that Mary had descended from the house of David, as had Joseph.</p> <p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sb">These were not the only prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures regarding a royal son of David. Mary would also have been familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy: “There has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/3/0" data-bid="4-1" class="b">Isaiah 9:6, 7</a>.</p> <p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sb"><span id="page5" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="5" data-before-text="5"></span>What Gabriel announced to Mary, then, was much more than the miraculous birth of a baby boy. Her son would be the royal heir of King David—the permanent, everlasting heir to a divinely ordained Kingdom. Gabriel’s prophecies concerning Jesus’ future role have profound significance for all of us.</p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sb">When Joseph learned that his future wife was expecting a child, he decided to end their engagement. He knew that the child was not his because he and his fiancée had never had sexual relations. You can imagine how difficult it must have been for Joseph to believe Mary’s explanation of her pregnancy. The Gospel account reports: “Jehovah’s angel appeared to him in a dream, saying: ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for that which has been begotten in her is by holy spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you must call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/4/0" data-bid="5-1" class="b">Matthew 1:20, 21</a>.</p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sb">To what extent Joseph understood how the child would “save his people from their sins,” the Bible does not say. Still, this message was sufficient to assure Joseph that the expectant mother was innocent of any wrongdoing. He did as the angel directed and took Mary home, an act that was the equivalent of a wedding.</p> <p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sb">Thanks to information found elsewhere in the Scriptures, we can understand what the angel meant. Early in human history, a rebellious angel challenged Jehovah’s sovereignty. The Hebrew Scriptures show that this rebel asserted, among other things, that God’s way of ruling was unjust and that no man would maintain integrity to Jehovah when put to the test. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/5/0" data-bid="6-1" class="b">Genesis 3:2-5;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/5/1" data-bid="6-2" class="b"> Job 1:6-12</a>) Adam, for one, did not. As a result of his sin, all humans inherit sin, and the consequence of that sin is death. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/6/0" data-bid="7-1" class="b">Romans 5:12;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/6/1" data-bid="7-2" class="b"> 6:23</a>) Jesus, however, was born sinless because his conception was not by a human father. <span id="page6" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="6" data-before-text="6"></span>By willingly surrendering his perfect human life as a ransom corresponding exactly to what Adam lost, Jesus was in a position to save men from their sins and to offer them the prospect of everlasting life.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/7/0" data-bid="8-1" class="b">1 Timothy 2:3-6;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/7/1" data-bid="8-2" class="b"> Titus 3:6, 7;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/7/2" data-bid="8-3" class="b"> 1 John 2:25</a>.</p> <p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sb">During his earthly ministry, Jesus provided a foretaste of what the removal of the effects of sin will mean. He freed people from every sort of physical ailment and even brought the dead back to life. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/8/0" data-bid="9-1" class="b">Matthew 4:23;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/8/1" data-bid="9-2" class="b"> John 11:1-44</a>) Those miracles were a shadow of what he will do in the future. Jesus himself said: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [my] voice and come out.”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/9/0" data-bid="10-1" class="b">John 5:28, 29</a>.</p> <p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="sb">That promise of a future resurrection explains why the birth—and even more so the death—of Jesus is of utmost importance to us. God sent his Son into the world “for the world to be saved through him,” says <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/10/0" data-bid="11-1" class="b">John 3:17</a>. This wonderful news brings us back to the proclamation made to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks on the night Jesus was born.</p> <p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="ss"><strong>“Good News of a Great Joy”</strong></p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="sb">It was indeed “good news of a great joy” for humankind when the angels announced the birth of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/11/0" data-bid="12-1" class="b">Luke 2:10, 11</a>) This child was to be the Messiah, the great Prophet and Ruler that God’s people had long been expecting. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/12/0" data-bid="13-1" class="b">Deuteronomy 18:18;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/12/1" data-bid="13-2" class="b"> Micah 5:2</a>) His life and death on earth would be central to the vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, so that the angels could say: “Glory in the heights above to God.”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/13/0" data-bid="14-1" class="b">Luke 2:14</a>.</p> <p id="p17" data-pid="17" class="sb">Jesus, whom the Bible calls “the last Adam,” showed that it is possible for a human to be faithful to Jehovah under even the severest test. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/14/0" data-bid="15-1" class="b">1 Corinthians 15:45</a>) He thus proved Satan to be a wicked liar. This was reason for joy in heaven among faithful angels.</p> <p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="sb">Let us, though, return to the question, “Is there any realistic hope that the angelic proclamation on the night of Jesus’ birth will ever be fulfilled?” The answer is an emphatic yes! Peace is an essential condition in the outworking of the divine purpose for the earth, which includes the restoration of paradisaic conditions. When that is accomplished earth wide, all people will be motivated by love and loyalty. Hence, the accomplishment of Jehovah’s purpose also means the elimination of all resistance to his sovereignty. This is not good news for any who side with Satan in asserting that Jehovah’s standards are bad. For them, it will mean destruction.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/15/0" data-bid="16-1" class="b">Psalm 37:11;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/2006921/15/1" data-bid="16-2" class="b"> Proverbs 2:21, 22</a>.</p> <p id="p19" data-pid="19" class="sb">Please note that the angels did not tell the shepherds of peace and goodwill to <em>all men.</em> Rather, they announced “peace among <em>men of goodwill.”</em> That is to say, among those who are approved by God and have his goodwill. Those who express genuine faith in Jehovah become faithful followers and imitators of Jesus. Such men and women are willing to manifest generosity and understanding toward others, not just a few days each year, but every day.</p> <p id="p20" data-pid="20" class="ss"><strong>A Christian Spirit All Year Round?</strong></p> <p id="p21" data-pid="21" class="sb">The power of the good news that Jesus preached has touched the lives of countless individuals. Many have adopted Christian principles in every aspect of their lives. People who were once basically self-centered have begun to ask what Jesus might have done had he been in their situation. Some who had centered their lives on possessions and pleasures have come to recognize the importance of spiritual values and of sharing these with their neighbors. People who do this strive to show generosity and kindness <span id="page7" class="pageNum" aria-hidden="true" data-no="7" data-before-text="7"></span>all year round. Is that not what you would expect of true Christians?</p> <p id="p22" data-pid="22" class="sb">If all sincere individuals paused to consider what lies beneath the angelic message of peace and acted in harmony with such considerations, the world would surely be a different place.</p> <p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="sb">The prophecies surrounding Jesus’ birth assure those who have God’s goodwill that they can enjoy genuine peace forever. Is that not what you desire? We can be certain that the glorious prophetic announcement of peace made by the angels at Jesus’ birth will be fulfilled without fail. Far from being empty words at Christmastime, peace is certain to become an everlasting reality.</p> <p id="p24" data-pid="24" class="se"><strong>[Pictures on page 7]</strong></p> <p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="sc">A Christian spirit can and should be manifested all year round</p> <p id="p26" data-pid="26" class="sb"></p> <!-- Root element of lightbox --> <div class="pswp" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="pswp__bg"></div> <div class="pswp__scroll-wrap"> <!-- Container that holds slides. --> <div class="pswp__container"> <div class="pswp__item"></div> <div class="pswp__item"></div> <div class="pswp__item"></div> </div> <div class="pswp__ui pswp__ui--hidden"> <div class="pswp__top-bar"> <div class="pswp__counter"></div> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--close" title="Close (Esc)"></button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--fs" title="Toggle fullscreen"></button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--zoom" title="Zoom in/out"></button> <div class="pswp__preloader"> <div class="pswp__preloader__icn"> <div class="pswp__preloader__cut"> <div class="pswp__preloader__donut"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="pswp__share-modal pswp__share-modal--hidden pswp__single-tap"> <div class="pswp__share-tooltip"></div> </div> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--left" title="Previous (arrow left)"> </button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--right" title="Next (arrow right)"> </button> <div class="pswp__caption"> <div class="pswp__caption__center"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="questionContainer"> <ul></ul> </div> <div id="galleryModalContainer" class="underlay full fadeOut"> <div id="galleryModal"> <div class="header"> <div class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div> <div class="galleryHeaderButtons"> <div class="galleryPlayCaption"> <div class="galleryBtn playPauseBtn hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div> </div> <div class="galleryBtn galleryClose"> <div class="closeBtn"><span class="icon"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="contents"> <div class="gallery"> <div class="galleryWrapper"> <div class="navWrapper"> <div class="itemContainer"></div> </div> <div class="carouselContainer noTooltips"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <input type="hidden" id="bibleDocumentNavigationChapterManyVerseFormat" value="{BibleBookName} {BibleChapter}:{StartingBibleVerse}-{EndingBibleVerse}"/> <input type="hidden" id="bibleDocumentNavigationChapterVerseFormat" value="{BibleBookName} {BibleChapter}:{BibleVerse}"/> <input type="hidden" id="bibleDocumentNavigationChapterVerseRangeFormat" value="{BibleBookName} {StartingBibleChapter}:{StartingBibleVerse}-{EndingBibleChapter}:{EndingBibleVerse}"/> <input type="hidden" id="bibleDocumentNavigationSingleChapterManyVerseFormat" value="{BibleBookName} {StartingBibleVerse}-{EndingBibleVerse}"/> <input type="hidden" id="bibleDocumentNavigationSingleChapterSingleVerseFormat" value="{BibleBookName} {BibleVerse}"/> <input type="hidden" id="documentNavigationMultiplePagesPositionFormat" value="w06 12/15 p. {StartingPageNumber}-{EndingPageNumber}"/> <input type="hidden" id="documentNavigationSinglePagePositionFormat" value="w06 12/15 p. {PageNumber}"/> <input type="hidden" id="documentDescription" value="w06 12/15"/> <input type="hidden" id="englishSym" value="w"/> <input type="hidden" id="pubMediaServer" value="https://b.jw-cdn.org/apis/pub-media/GETPUBMEDIALINKS"/> <input type="hidden" id="audioPubSym" value="w"/> <input type="hidden" id="chapNo" value="-1"/> <input type="hidden" id="issue" value="20061215"/> <input type="hidden" id="docId" value="2006921"/> <input type="hidden" id="documentInBible" value=""/> <input type="hidden" id="hasRuby" value="false" /> <input type="hidden" id="isRuby" value="false" /> <input type="hidden" id="shareBaseUrl" value="https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2006921&srctype=wol&srcid=share"/> <input type="hidden" id="shareType" value="document"/> <input type="hidden" id="contentTitle" value="Jesus’ Birth—How It Brings Peace"/> <input type="hidden" id="parentTitle" value="The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—2006"/> <input type="hidden" id="contentThumbnail" value="/img/document@3x.png"/> </article> </div></div> </div> <div id="regionFooter" class="chrome showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <input id="returnToLibrary" type="hidden" value="Return to {LibraryName}" /> <div id="userStatus" class="hidden" data-library-color=""> <div class="ellipsized currentLibrary"> <a class="chrome librarySelectionLink spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label ellipsized showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr">English Publications (1950-2025)</span> </a> <div id="cookieLibrary"> </div> </div> <div class="currentUser ellipsized"> <a id="userStatusLabel" class="statusLabel" href="#"> <span class="userName ellipsized"></span> </a> <div id="userControls" class="userControls hidden"> <span id="headerLogout" class="hidden"> <a class="statusItem userLogoutLink" href="#">Log Out</a> </span> </div> </div> <div id="headerLogin" class="hidden"> <a class="statusButton userLoginLink" href="#">Log In</a> </div> </div> <div id="contentFooterNavigation" role="navigation" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <ul class="contentFooterIcons" role="menubar" class="chrome"> <li id="libraryTitle" class="chrome" role="menuitem" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a class="spriteLink" data-lang="E" href="/en/wol/li/r1/lp-e"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">English</span> </a> </li> <li id="contentFooterShare" role="menuitem" aria-label="share"> <a id="shareButtonFooter" class="shareButtonFooterIcon spriteLink hidden" href="#"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">Share</span> </a> </li> <li id="contentFooterPreferences" role="menuitem" aria-label="preferences"> <a class="spriteLink" href="/en/wol/pref/r1/lp-e?url=%2Fen%2Fwol%2Fd%2Fr1%2Flp-e%2F2006921" rel="nofollow"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">Preferences</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="contentFooterLegal" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <ul class="contentFooterList" role="menubar"> <li class="showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011511" target="_blank">Copyright</a> © 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011511" target="_blank">Terms of Use</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011512" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.jw.org/finder?prefer=content&wtlocale=E&docid=1011512" id="privacySettingsButton" class="hidden" target="_blank">Privacy Settings</a> </li> <li id="jworg" role="menuitem" aria-label="jw.org"> <a id="jworgLogo" class="spriteLink" target="_blank" href="https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1011200"> <span class="icon"></span> <span class="label">JW.ORG</span> </a> </li> <li id="footerLogin" class="clickable hidden"> <a class="statusButton userLoginLink" href="#">Log In</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="dialogContainer" class=" showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"></div> <div id="modalUnderlayContainer" class="underlay" tabindex="-1"></div> <div id="underlayContainer" class="underlay" touch-action="none"></div> <!-- share dialog --> <input type="hidden" id="mobileNativeShare" value=""/> <div class="jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="shareForm" class="hidden"> <div> <div class="header chrome"> Share <div class="closeBtn" aria-label="close" onclick="app.modal.removeModals();"> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </div> <form class="content"> <div class="shareFormWrapper"> <div> <img class="sharePublicationImage" /> </div> <div class="shareInfoContainer"> <div class="jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="shareContentParentTitle"></div> <div class="shareContentTitle"></div> </div> <input id="shareLink" class="shareLink" type="text" readonly dir="ltr" /> <button type="button" class="grayButton small shareCopyButton" aria-label="copy" onClick="app.utilities.copyToClipboard(document.getElementById('shareLink').value)"> <span class="icon"></span> </button> <div class="shareButtonContainer"> <button type="button" class="grayButton shareMailButton" onClick="app.share.sendEmail();"> <span class="icon"></span> Share Via Email </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> <!-- end share dialog --> </div> <input type="hidden" id="newMeetingsPage" value="yes"/> <script src="https://b.jw-cdn.org/code/media-player/v3.0.0/js/media-player.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/+1+d47041617fdb857d64eb29a3250d908664adf0ef.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/+2+78d2ab9b80a87e1396c3a1b7455ec10cece44b68.js"></script> </body> </html>