More Than One Christmas Miracle

Christmas MiracleMiracles don’t “just happen” instantly out of nowhere. Miracles occur when our desires line up with God’s plan and we submit to him. Christmas miracles are revealed in Luke chapters 1 and 2.

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were getting on in years and were still childless. Being childless was a black mark on a couple who, after so long, did not have children. A child was a guarantee of their future in the community. They probably gave up as their bodies were beyond the age of procreation. But God…answered their prayer by giving them a child. Not just any child, but one who will be the forerunner of the Messiah. He would play a major role in leading many into the Kingdom of God. God surpassed human expectation.

Meanwhile, Mary, a young girl at the other end of the age spectrum, was only engaged to a man and not yet married. But God… found favor in her purity and devotion to have her conceive his only Begotten Son. Again, this was not just any child, but the long prophesied Messiah--not begotten by a man but begotten through the Holy Spirit. Again God short-circuited human comprehension.

When the Jesus was born, this would be good news to the whole world. But God… knowing it would too dangerous to declare this with announcements in all the palaces, streets, and marketplaces sent angels, not people, to herald the good news to shepherds. If angels appeared to you, would you go check out what they were telling you? Yes they did and had an awesome experience with the Messiah. This too was mind bogging.

When Jesus was 8 days old, his parents took him to the temple to be dedicated, as was the custom. Up to then it was still a secret that he was the expected Messiah. Simeon, waiting for the Messiah, was promised by God to live long enough to see him with his own eyes. We don’t know how old Simeon was or how many hundreds of babies he has seen come through the temple. He rejoiced knowing that he would not die with only the “hope” of a Messiah but that God had carried out his promise of sending the Messiah. He just recognized Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Anna, a prophetess also waited faithfully in the temple to see the Messiah. How many thousands of babies had she seen in her 80 years in the temple? When she saw Jesus, even as an infant she knew who he was and discreetly told others

Finally, When Jesus was a young boy of Bar Mitvah age, he tarried in the temple during Passover to discuss scripture with the elders. He knew Passover was a significant Feast of his life, …but not yet.