Here is the word given by Smith Wigglesworth to Lester Sumrall in 1939.

Smith Wigglesworth to Lester Sumrall in 1939 (WWII ready to break out) With tears rolling down his face Smith cried saying, “I probably won’t see you again now. My job is almost finished.” As he continued to pray he cried, “I see it, I see it!”

Brother Sumrall asked, “What do you see, what do you see?”

He said, “I see a healing revival coming right after World War II. It’ll be so easy to get people healed. I see it! I see it! I won’t be here for it, but you will be.” And there was a healing revival right after the war.

He continued to prophesy, “I see another one, I see people of all different denominations being filled with the Holy Ghost.” That was the Charismatic Revival. God raised up people during that era, like the Full Gospel Businessmen.

Then Brother Wigglesworth continued, “I see another move of God. I see auditoriums full of people, coming with notebooks. There will be a wave of teaching on faith and healing.” We did experience that wave he saw, and we call it the Word of Faith movement.

Then he prophesied, “After that, after the third wave,” he started sobbing. “I see the last day revival that’s going to usher in the precious fruit of the earth. It will be the greatest revival this world has ever seen! It’s going to be a wave of the gifts of the Spirit. The ministry gifts will be flowing on this planet earth. I see hospitals being emptied out, and they will bring the sick to churches where they allow the Holy Ghost to move.”

The Season of Love and the Christmas Story in the Bible

Estera Wieja

Christmas – the Season of Love

The Christmas season is commonly referred to as the Season of Love. Has it also felt like it to you? Does it all point back to the Christmas story in the Bible? For many, it is called a season of love because we spend more time with our families, and we are keen on blessing others. In other words, we shower our dear ones with love.

But is that the reason why we call this holiday season – a season of love?

Christmas Time in Israel

Some visitors are surprised to learn that Christmas is not really “a thing” in Israel. The Jewish land today follows the Hebrew calendar and observes mostly Jewish holidays (or as we like to say, Biblical holidays).

The few places that put up Christmas trees and hang up Christmas lights in Israel are churches (mostly Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) and the towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth. You may notice some Christmas trees here and there, but they are definitely a minority. And then, a lot Christians simply prefer not to draw attention to themselves.

Nevertheless, December is often illuminated with twinkling lights in Israel. How so? Because of the Festival of Lights! Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations are not directly linked, but they have some things in common, for example, the theme of light. And love? Are both Hanukkah and Christmas part of the season of love?

Let’s first revisit the miraculous story of Christmas in the Bible.

The Christmas story in the Bible is primarily told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. While both accounts focus on the birth of Jesus, they offer different details and perspectives.

The story begins with the announcement of the birth of Jesus. It is an important connection with the Old Testament prophecies. For hundreds of years, the prophets were saying that the Messiah will come. Now, an angel confirmed their exact words.

The Angel Gabriel appeared to a young Jewish woman to announce that she would conceive a child. Miriam (also known as Mary) was engaged to Joseph. But Gabriel told her that her child would be the Son of God.

Mary was understandably in shock but accepted God’s plan, saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

Joseph, her fiancé, initially planned to quietly divorce her to avoid public disgrace. However, an angel appeared to him as well and told him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be the Messiah. The angel instructed Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the baby Yeshua, meaning “God saves,” for He will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-25).

Journey to Bethlehem

Meanwhile, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken, requiring everyone to return to their ancestral town. Since Joseph was from the lineage of King David, he and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, a town in Judea (Luke 2:1-7).

While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Because there was no room for them in the inn, they found shelter in a stable, and Mary laid the baby in a manger.

This humble setting is significant. It symbolizes the arrival of the King of Kings in the most modest of circumstances. It shows a foundation of love in the Christmas story.

Nearby, some shepherds were watching over their flocks when an angel appeared to them, announcing the birth of the Savior. The angel told them that they would find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Then, a heavenly host (a choir of angels) appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:8-20). The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, and shared the angel’s message.

But they were not the only visitors of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus that are mentioned in the Gospels.

The Favor and the Persecution 

In the East, wise men, or Magi, saw a bright star in the sky and interpreted it as the sign of the birth of the King of the Jews. They followed the star to Jerusalem and inquired about the newborn king. However, their arrival maddened King Heron, who asked the Magi to find the child and report back to him (Matthew 2:1-12).

The star eventually led the Magi to Bethlehem, where they found Yeshua. They presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterward, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and depart for their own country by a different route.

After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. This time, the angel warned him of Herod’s plan to kill the child. In result, Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod died.

After Herod’s death, an angel appeared to Joseph yet again, telling him it was safe to return to the land of Israel. Finally, they were able to settle in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:19-23).

The Message of the Christmas Story

You must think, wow, that was very eventful for a young family with a newborn! Often when we think of the Christmas story, we just focus on Mary welcoming a little baby into the world. We don’t always think of the hardships, the fears, and the dangers that awaited both Jesus and his earthly parents.

If God knew what He was doing, then why did it happen this way?

The shortest answer is, love did that. God allowed for Jesus to be born in a humble setting and not in a royal palace, to counter worldly understanding of power and status. God’s kingdom is upside-down from worldly undercurrents.

He wanted His love to not be reserved for the powerful. God’s love was made available to the lowly, the poor, the sick, and the hungry…

The birth of Jesus is a fulfillment of various Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. But the essence of why He was born to us is encapsulated in the very first words of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world…”

Love Came Down at Christmas

Love did that. The Christmas story highlights divine intervention through angels and other visitors. It emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. But it was all for love. Because God so loved the world — He so loved mankind.

Christmas underscores the themes of hope, peace, and salvation brought through the birth of Jesus. But this hope is anchored in God’s love. The peace comes from love. And above all, salvation was made available to us because of love.

The birth of Jesus is a manifestation of God’s presence on earth. It is encapsulated in the name Immanuel, which means “God with us”, as foretold in the Book of Isaiah. In the name of love, God wanted to be with His creation.

Yeshua, God with Us

Through the person of Jesus, God wanted to show us love in a very tangible way. Through the Christmas story in the Bible, He lowered Himself to literally put Himself in our shoes. God knows all things, so He was always able to understand our thoughts and feelings. But He met us where we are, so that we could see Him with us. So that we could see what love looks like, at Christmas and around the clock.

The Gospels show a very vivid image of who Yeshua was and how He lived. He shared his day to day with His disciples and showed love to everyone who asked for it. And even to those who didn’t! Thus, celebrating Jesus meant celebrating God’s love.

Today, it is a common practice to celebrate people’s birthdays as a way to express our love for those we are honoring. In part, this tradition is why many observe Christmas. But celebrating the anniversary of one’s birth was not practiced at all in Jesus’ day.

So then, what would be something that Jesus and His disciples would celebrate? Well, in December it appears they all celebrated Hanukkah instead.

The Love of God at Hanukkah and Christmas

The Gospel of John says, Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication. Hanukkah is the celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil.

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, and at Christmas, we celebrate that the greatest light came into the world in the person of Yeshua (John 3:19). We know God revealed His love for us through the person of Yeshua – Immanuel, God with us.

And at Hanukkah? Remembering that the holiday is about the rededication of the Temple, we should also remember what makes the Temple significant in the first place. It was God’s dwelling place among people – where God was with us.

In this special season of love, of Hanukkah and Christmas, let us not forget what is most important. God so loved the world, that He chose to be with us.

Articles Related to The Season of Love and the Christmas Story in the Bible

This article is part of the Key Bible Verses series.

All commentary sections adapted from the ESV Study Bible.

1. James 4:6

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Read More

God’s grace will be extended to those who are humble before him; cf. Proverbs 3:34 (cf. also James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5). “God opposes” means he resists and sends judgment, for the proud have chosen the praise and the methods of the world and are acting as God’s enemies (James 4:4).

2. Psalm 75:4

I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; Read More

“Lift up your horn.” The horn is a symbol of power (cf. 1 Kings 22:11; Zech. 1:18–21), and thus to lift it up (or “exalt” it) is to make a public assertion of power. God warns the ungodly not to lift up their horn, and promises that he will lift up the horn of the faithful. The term “lift up” recurs throughout the psalm (Ps. 75:4–6, 10). To “cut off” the horns (Ps. 75:10) is to render powerless and to humiliate.

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3. Jeremiah 9:23–24

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Read More

The truly wise man (Jer. 4:22; Jer. 8:8–9; Jer. 9:12–14) learns what God teaches; he knows why Judah will fall and is grieved and humbled by that knowledge; thus he will not boast in his wisdom. Knowing God means knowing his steadfast love (covenant faithfulness), justice (right judgment), and righteousness (right behavior, esp. In keeping his promises). See Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:12–14; Jonah 3:9-4:2. Paul applied the admonition “let him who boasts boast in the Lord,” based on this text, to the Corinthian Christians (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17).

4. 1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. Read More

In warning against “all that is in the world”, John does not demonize the whole created order (cf. Gen. 1:31). Rather, he gives examples (“desires of the flesh”, etc.) of what the believer should guard against. Human desires are part of God’s creation and therefore not inherently evil, but they become twisted when not directed by and toward God.

5. 2 Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measures themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. Read More

Paul is speaking ironically: though his opponents say he is “bold” and “strong” in his letters (2 Cor. 10:1-2, 10), Paul does not dare to join them in their kind of self-recommendation; they are without understanding because their criterion for boasting (one another) is wrong. The opponents recommend each other by comparing their abilities, spiritual gifts, and experiences, all of which are irrelevant for establishing apostolic authority in a church.

6. Deuteronomy 8:2–3

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Read More

“Remember” is a key word in this chapter (also Deut.8:18), along with its antonym “forget”: Deuteronomy 8:11, 14, 19. Remembrance is demonstrated in obedience. The wilderness test was to reveal the state of Israel’s heart. This does not imply that God did not know but rather that he desired for Israel’s heart to produce evidence of obedience. Manna literally means “What is it?” (Ex. 16:15); it was not to their liking (Num. 11:6; Num. 21:5). The testing was also to teach Israel that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Real life derived directly from God and trusting his word (“word” could also be translated “thing spoken of”). This was the learning that Israel needed in its heart (Deut. 8:2) if it was to pass the test in the land (Deut. 8:17). This is the first of three verses from Deuteronomy quoted by Jesus in his temptation, affirming his confidence and determined faithfulness toward God (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; see also Deut. 6:13, 16).

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7. Mark 7:20–23

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Read More

“What comes out of a person” repeats Jesus’ earlier teaching (Mark 7:15). Here he mentions specific sinful thoughts and actions, and characteristics of a defiled heart, summarizing his teaching in Mark 7:23: “all these evil things come from within.”

8. Romans 11:18–20

Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. Read More

Gentile believers are warned against arrogance, for it is God’s saving promises (the root), not their own goodness, that saved them. Thus Gentiles might be tempted with pride because God removed the Jewish branches from the olive tree and grafted them in instead. But this should provoke fear and awe (Gk. phobeō, “to be afraid, have profound respect and reverence, have fear of offending”), for the Jews were removed because they failed to believe and the Gentiles remain only because of their continued trust.

9. Proverbs 18:10–12

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor. Read More

Proverbs 18:10–11 describe two types of security (the LORD and riches), while Prov. 18:9and Prov. 18:12 describe two things that bring about one’s destruction (laziness and pride). Taken together, these proverbs imply that riches can give a false sense of security that leads to laziness, pride, and a downfall, but that humility and the fear of God exalt people.

10. Proverbs 15:25–33

The LORD tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD
but gracious words are pure.
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Read More

These proverbs are framed by a contrast: the LORD opposes the proud (Prov. 15:25), but is near those who act in humility born out of the fear of the LORD (Prov. 15:33; cf. Prov. 15:25). Proverbs 15:24-32 expand on this by illustrating the pride of the wicked as represented in their: thoughts (Prov. 15:26), greed for unjust gain (Prov. 15:27), harmful speech (Prov. 15:28), and refusal to listen to reproof (Prov. 15:32). These are the opposite of the way of the righteous represented in: gracious words (Prov. 15:26, Prov. 15:28), maintaining justice (Prov. 15:27), and heeding instruction (Prov. 15: 31, Prov. 15:32). At the center of this section is the further reminder that the Lord is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the righteous (Prov. 15:29).