As senior citizens we all have tender years of Christmas memories, from early childhood Santa stories, through teen years kissing under the mistletoe, to hiding gifts for family surprises, and now to enjoying great grandchildren reliving those Christmas traditions. Yes, our lives are filled with decades of Christmases. As we look back over the years, what has made Christmas deep in our lives? Could it be we have never ceased to be overwhelmed with the reality of the proof of God's amazing, miraculous, spiritual, gracious gift of the baby Jesus?
I love Christmas and all the trimmings. There is one powerful element of Christmas that I experience every year. It's in the music, it's in the worship, it's in the thoughtful love of family and friends. Yes, God's presence radiates around us and in us believers as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is as if Almighty God pours out a special measure of love on us as He reminds us of that miraculous event.
And a super miracle it was! Just think of the details. First of all, the timing. Rome was the governing power in the world. Rome had built roads, established settlements and communication was possible across cultural differences throughout the Roman world. God knew it was the right time. Then a young teenage virgin girl is suddenly pregnant, never intimately knowing a young man. How could this happen? Scientists say 'impossible'. In order to become pregnant a male sperm must enter a female and fertilize an egg. Mary was a virgin and yet she became pregnant. First of all the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and spoke incredible news to her. Imagine her shock as she heard that she, of all women, would birth the Son of God, the long awaited Messiah. Then when she heard Gabriel tell her about Elizabeth, she knew she had to go talk with Elizabeth.
Imagine the gossip back in Nazareth. Mary engaged to Joseph is pregnant! Oh, what a naughty couple. But Mary knew and believed and trusted God. She knew the scriptures, Isaiah 7:14, "a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel". When the angel spoke to Joseph he believed and took Mary as his wife. Another miracle!
Shepherds were the low men in the culture at that time. Who would have ever thought simple shepherds would have a starring role in the Christmas story. But there they were, dirty and smelly, watching their innocent lambs during the long starry night. Imagine, "the glory of the Lord shone around them" Luke 2:9, and they saw a heavenly angel speaking to them. Wow! A life changing experience! A Savior. Then were told "Go, see him.......a baby wrapped in rags and lying in a manger" Luke 2:12. Then a "multitude of angels started singing praises to Eternal God" Luke 2:13. Multitude means thousands of heavenly beings. Imagine witnessing that power, that proclamation, that music. Here they were, lowest of low people and yet witnesses of God's immense presence. Of course the shepherds couldn't wait another second to see this newborn who was named Christ the Lord! And they rushed across the fields and to their joy and amazement they found Mary, Joseph and a tiny newborn baby lying in a manger. Can you imagine the shepherds shouting in jubilation all over Bethlehem about this incredible news! The Messiah is born!
We live in a physical world surrounded by material things, comforts and never ending technologies. But how many times do we witness the miraculous touch of God? When we think through the amazing story of Christmas we are confronted with the undeniable truth and reality that there is a God, that God is our Creator, that God is in control of our lives and our physical world. A virgin gave birth to Jesus, our Savior. Angels appeared to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Multitude of angels praising God in front of shepherds. No earthly human being could cause this. These phenomena only occur in the presence of spiritual power of the One True God. The miracle of Christmas occurred over two thousand years ago, in God's perfect timing. These events prove without a doubt that Almighty God exists. Never forget that God has a plan for our lives, that God controls our world and blessed us with the Miracle at Christmas. Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer is born! Let us, with the heavenly host, praise God!
