The Miracles of Christmas
Pastors Leslie & Adeline Chua
““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.””
Everyone loves Christmas, but for different reasons. For serious Christians, it is a time to reflect on the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus Christ where God took on flesh and became a man. Some two thousand years ago on that momentous day, the Creator came to dwell among man.
This awesome event is celebrated by many in and outside the Christian faith. It is the inspiration behind many great works of art, literature, music, and songs. Christmas carols have a special place in my heart. Somehow, these carols always evoke a sense of reverential awe and worship in me.
The message of Christmas is timeless, but it has a beginning. Not as you would expect, it began centuries before that day when Jesus the Saviour was born. The prophets of God had foretold of Messiah’s birth. Jesus did not just appear on the scene out of the blue. He came in the fulness of time according to the Old Testament Scriptures.
Micah’s Stunning Prophecies
The prophet, Micah, gave a prophecy of Christ’ birth more than seven hundred years before the actual event. The prophecy contains two stunning revelations.
First, it specifically named the place where the Saviour would be born, which was in the town of Bethlehem.
Though Jesus’ human parents, Joseph and Mary, were not residents of Bethlehem, they went there to register themselves as required by the edict of the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. Bethlehem was their ancestral hometown. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Thus, fulfilling the prophecy accurately. Isn’t that amazing?
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Jesus is the self-existent One.
He has no beginning and no end…
He is the ‘Ancient of Days.’
He is ‘the alpha and the omega,
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.’ ____________________________________________
The second stunning revelation concerns the Messiah’s divine origin.Every baby born into the world is a new creation. The child exists for the first time. However, the Messiah’s ‘coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.’ In other words, He had existed since ancient times. To be precise, He had existed from eternity past.
Jesus is the self-existent One. He has no beginning and no end. He made this declaration to the Jews – “Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). This is the Lord and Saviour whom we worship. He is the ‘Ancient of Days’ (Daniel 7:9). He is ‘the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13). Hallelujah!
The Miraculous Virgin Birth
Jesus’ birth is not ordinary. It is a miraculous conception. He is the Son of God and not the product of a man. He was planted as a seed in Mary’s womb by the power of God’s Spirit. Jesus’ virgin birth is a supernatural sign of His divinity.
Mary was shocked when the angel, Gabriel, informed her that she would conceive miraculously by the power of God.
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)
Neither could her fiancé, Joseph believed such an incredulous tale. It was out of the ordinary. He had in mind to break the marriage plan.
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“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will be with child
and will give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel”
(Isaiah 7:14)
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But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:20-21)
It is not surprising that Jesus’ virgin birth was also foretold. Another prophet, Isaiah, who lived more than seven hundred years before Christ’s birth, prophesied – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)
Immanuel means ‘God with us,’ The name reveals God’s heart toward fallen humanity. Though holy and transcendent, He longs to draw near to man. So, Jesus humbled Himself and became clothed in the flesh so that He might dwell among man.
The King & His Ever-Expanding Kingdom
Most scientists believe that the universe was born in a big bang about 13.8 billion years ago. The vast universe as we know it today is estimated to contain 70 billion trillion stars (7 X 1022) and we are only talking about the observable universe.
The amazing fact is, in the beginning, the universe was only the size of a grain of sand, or even smaller like an atom. From that humble beginning, this tiny but unimaginably hot and dense cauldron exploded and expanded at a terrifying rate. Physicists tell us that the universe is still expanding.
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Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
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When prophesying about the coming of the Messiah, Isaiah was also given a glimpse of how His Kingdom would look like.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
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The Christmas story is just the beginning.
Jesus did not remain a baby in the manger.
He was born to be King
– a King who will reign over all the created realm.
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Like the universe, Jesus’ Kingdom began small and humble. The King, Himself, was a tiny seed in the womb of Mary. But of the increase ‘of His government and peace there will be no end.’ Like the universe, Jesus’ reign and Kingdom have increased phenomenally in size and reach in the last 2,000 years, and it will keep expanding.
The Christmas story is just the beginning. Jesus did not remain a baby in the manger. He was born to be King – a King who will reign over all the created realm. Christ’s Kingdom, which is now in our hearts, will one day break forth and invade the geopolitical space, and finally into the galactic realm. His Kingdom will encompass the entire universe.
Then, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Then, every creature will join the heavenly hosts and proclaim, “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 7:12)
Will you like to be a part of this great chorus of voices?
Then, believe in Jesus and receive Him as your Lord and Saviour. Ask Him to come into your heart today by confessing your sins and asking for His forgiveness. He will forgive you and accept you as His child.
To God be the glory!