The Miracle Of Christmas

Miracle Of the Birth

God is so big He uses all things to fulfill His prophecy

Mary was a young teen-age girl from the town of Nazareth. She was betrothed to a young carpenter named Joseph. He was from Bethlehem. The Angel told Mary that she would conceive a son and He would be the Son of God. Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth at the time Mary became pregnant. This is a problem because the prophet Michah claimed that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Nazareth is about 80 miles from Bethlehem. It is not practical to take a pregnant woman 80 miles from where she lives. So God uses the Roman government to give Joseph and Mary a reason to go to Bethlehem. Quirinus declared that a census be taken. A census was taken to recruit soldiers for the Roman army and raise taxes. Since Jews were exempt from serving in the Roman army, this area census was predominately for taxation purposes. Every male had to return to their home town to be counted for a census. Joseph had to go to Bethlehem and since he was betrothed (legally married) to Mary she had to go with him. God used the Jewish Law and the Roman government to fulfill a prophecy hundreds of years before. God is so big that he will use all things to fulfill His prophecy .

God is so loving that He will use the lowest in society to witness the greatest event in the world

Shepherds were the lowest people in society. Because of their trade they did not smell very good and they did not keep the ritualistic cleansing for temple worship. They were pretty much outcast in Jewish society. Although they were out cast to the Jewish culture they served a vital role in the temple worship. Imagine how many spotless lambs were taken to the temple for sacrifice every day. Most people just didn’t have a sheep that they raised, so they would have to buy them from the shepherds. It was not uncommon for the temple to have their own shepherds to provide for the sacrifice. So the outcast of society were providing the most valuable thing of temple worship. THE SPOTLESS LAMB!

I don’t believe it is coincident that God chose the ones that provide the lamb for sacrifice to be the first to see the LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD

Miracle of Jesus

The birth of Jesus is so significant that the angels of heaven make the announcement. They tell the shepherds not to be afraid because they have good news of great joy for all people. A Savior is born who is Christ and Lord. These three aspects of Jesus are a miracle.

Jesus the Savior

What does Jesus save us from? Some people think that Jesus has come to save us from our unfulfilled lives. The lives that we live just don’t meet our expectations. The person I married just is not the same person I married. The kids that we have bring us grief and did not turn out like we would like. The job that I have is too hard and it just doesn’t pay enough. I have not accomplished what I wanted in life, so I am disappointed in my self. So, salvation means to me that Jesus saves me from my unfulfilled life and gives me satisfaction. He will change my marriage, straighten my kids out, give me a better job, and help me accomplish what I want to accomplish. Though some of these things may happen that is not what a Savior truly does.

Some people see Jesus saves us from the strongholds in our lives. A person may be an alcoholic or addicted to drugs, pornography, homosexuality and Jesus saves them from their strongholds in their lives. Jesus fills in the gaps that we just can’t seem to get over by ourselves. Though these things may happen, it is still not the true meaning of a Savior.

The true meaning of being a Savior is that He rescues us from sin. If you have ever sinned against God then you need a Savior. Any sin deserves eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. We deserve eternal punishment for our sin. Jesus paid our sin price for us when he was crucified on the cross. He took the wrath of God on himself that we deserved for our sin. You see He is the spotless lamb that sacrificed His life for ours. He was without sin, but became sin so that we could be saved.

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Everyone has sin, so everyone needs a Savior. Jesus is the Savior!

Jesus the Christ

Jesus is Christ. Christ is Christos in the Greek which is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah found in .

25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a [a]decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [b]Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with [c]plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the [d]Messiah will be cut off and have [e]nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [f]its end will come with a flood; even to the end [g]there will be war; desolations are determined.

The word messiah simply means “anointed one”. This is important to understand because only 3 types of people were anointed: Kings, Prophets, and Priests.

Kings were anointed to demonstrate their position of authority. We see this when Samuel anoints David.

16 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I [a]designate to you.”

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Kings were anointed to show that God had given them authority to rule. God has given Jesus authority to rule over all creation.

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Jesus is the supreme ruler who’s kingdom will have no end.

Prophets were anointed to demonstrate that the were the mouthpiece of God.

15 The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Elijah’s word for the Lord was finished. Elisha was going to take his place as the prophet to Israel. The Lord used Elisha to be the mouthpiece of the Lord for the nation of Israel.

Jesus gave prophetic utterances while He was here on earth. he shared what was going to happen to him, the temple, and the world.

Priests were anointed to demonstrate themselves as servants of God on behalf of the people.

25 You shall make [a]of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. 29 You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. 31 You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on [b]anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in [c]the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.

Priests were responsible for interceding on behalf of the people to God.

4 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus perfectly understands us and can make perfect intercession for us.

Jesus is Lord

The reek word for Lord is kurios. It means supreme authority. Jesus is the third person of the Trinity. He is God. Anything less ascribed to Him is not Christianity. Whenever the Bible mentions Jesus as Lord you will find a capital “L”. This means God became flesh and walked this earth.

14 And the Word became flesh, and [k]dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of [l]the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Miracle Of The Gospel!

Glory to God in the highest

The birth of Christ brings the highest glory to God. There is now no enmity between God and man. Through Jesus Christ we are redeemed and made whole with God. We have the freedom to worship Him with every fiber of our being. The fact that God can overcome the mountain of sin in each and every one of our lives demonstrates the glory of God! When a lost sinner comes to faith in Jesus Christ heaven erupts in praise because the glory of God is being demonstrated.

Peace on Earth

The only true peace a person can have is when they are in right relation with God. The only way this can happen is through Jesus Christ. When Jesus is our satisfaction we have peace.