The Seven Miracles of Christmas
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Outline of The Seven Miracles of Christmas
There is the…
· Annunciation
· Conception
· Explanation
· Incarnation
· Declaration
· Conversation
· Visitation
Let’s look at each one individually.
- Annunciation – Luke 1:26-30
The word annunciation is not commonly used in America today. The word
means, making and announcement or proclamation. The announcement in focus here is
the one made by the angel Gabriel indicating that the Virgin Mary is God’s
choice of all the women upon earth to be the mother of the Messiah. Let’s take
a closer look at the passage.
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And
the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured,
the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And
when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." Luke 1:26-30
Verse 26 tells us the timing of the announcement. The Angel Gabriel was sent
to the Virgin Mary in the 6th month of her cousin Elizabeth’s
pregnancy. Gabriel had previously appeared to Zacharias telling him that
Elizabeth would conceive in her old age and bear John the Baptist who would pave
the way for the Messiah. But, previous to those two appearances, just six month
apart, it had been nearly 500 years since the last recorded mission God has sent
the Angel Gabriel to discharge. Daniel 9:21-27 records Gabriel’s prophetic
revelation concerning the time of the Messiah’s coming.
Let’s examine Gabriel’s message to Mary found in Luke
1:28.
Hail – The word was a common greeting, which meant, Peace be
to thee or may you enjoy all possible blessings!
Thou art highly favored –This phrase clearly
indicates that Mary was being chosen in preference to all the women upon earth,
to be the mother of the Messiah. However, it is not appropriate to refer to her
as the mother of God, for that is blasphemy.
The Lord is with thee – This indicates that the Lord
is about to bestow unique favor upon Mary.
Blessed art thou among women --
That is to say, among all women of the earth God distinctively blessed
Mary beyond all others. She was special among women but not to be
exalted above women.
How did Mary respond to Gabriel’s announcement? You might think that she was
elated, but nothing could be further from the truth. Verse 29 reveals that she
was troubled. The Greek word translated troubled is diatarassw -
diatarasso (dee-at-ar-as'-so; 1298) from where we get our word distressed.
Simply stated, she was distressed and puzzled. Why? Because, it was not
culturally acceptable with the Jews for a man directly address a woman to begin
with. In fact, it was not lawful to be done in any shape or form especially by a
messenger. So, no wonder Mary was distressed and puzzled! Not to mention that she
should be saluted as a peculiar favorite of God, and blessed among women. That’s
the Annunciation. Now to miracle #2…
- Conception – Luke 1:31-35
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his
father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the
angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel
answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:31-35
It would be easy to develop two full sermons dealing with these five verses
in Luke 1. While that is not my intention here, I can most assuredly say that
what is said in them is mind-boggling to me so think of the affect on young
Mary who was likely in her teen years. Gabriel declares…
1) You will become pregnant
2) It will be a son
3) You will name him Jesus meaning Jehovah Savior
4) He shall be great (all powerful)
5) He will be called by name the Son of God (indicating deity)
6) God will give Him the throne of His father David (indicating his
humanity)
7) Jesus will reign over the 12 tribes of Israel forever
8) His kingdom will be limitless both in its inclusiveness of all people and
its timeless nature.
After being barraged by all this information Mary’s response was, "How
shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Basically she is saying, how is
this going to happen because I am a virgin. Verse 35 says, "The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the
Son of God." God the Father and God the Holy Spirit formed the human
body and human nature assumed by the eternal Word of God who became flesh. Again,
the human body and human spirit of the Son of God was created by the energy of
God the Father and God the Spirit within the womb of the Virgin Mary. This is the
miracle of conception. Next we come to the third miracle of Christmas…
- Explanation – Matthew 1:18-25
Gabriel had appeared to Mary to tell her what was going to happen and it did
happen just as he had said. But what of Joseph, her betrothed? What would he do?
And how would he ever believe her when she told him about her angelic encounter.
As it turned out, she did not need to say anything. The Angel of the Lord makes a
visit to him. Let’s read the Scriptural account.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of
the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and
not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for
he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph
being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took
unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her
firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." Matthew 1:18-25
God covered all the bases. As a result, Joseph did not divorce his betrothed
but "took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth
her firstborn son." That brings us to the next miracle of Christmas…
- Incarnation – John 1:1-4 & 14
As with the word annunciation, incarnation is a word that we rarely use
in conversation today. The word literally means, the act of clothing with
flesh. This is the act of assuming flesh, or of taking a human body and the
nature of man; as the incarnation of the Son of God. The second person of the
Trinity always existed. We know this by what we read in John 1:1-4 & 14 - "In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2
The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life;
and the life was the light of men. 14 "And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth."
This incarnation of the Word of God, God becoming man was foretold in Micah
5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among
the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old,
from everlasting."
The Eternal God becoming man indeed is a miracle of the highest degree. That
brings us to the 5th miracle…
- Declaration – Luke 2:8-17
No one would have noticed or even cared about a baby being born in a barn as
it were, if it would not have been for the miraculous declaration of his birth to
the shepherds by the angels. After the angelic announcement, the shepherds went
to see the Savior and then spread the news far and wide. Let’s read the
Biblical account found in Luke 2:8-17.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it
came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds
said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which
is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came
with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And
when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child."
- Conversation – Hebrews 10:5-10
There is an important passage of Scripture that is not usually mentioned in
association with the Christmas story. It records a conversation between God and
his Son. This conversation reveals the reason for the incarnation. Let’s read Hebrews
10:5-10.
"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and
offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In
burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy
will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt
offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein;
which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy
will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By
the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all."
What a miracle. God became man so that He could offer Himself as a sin
offering for our sins that we might be saved.
- Visitation – Matthew 2:1-12
The last miracle of Christmas revolves around the visit of the wise men. They
were directed to the Christ child by a star. This star was the wise men’s own
personal GPS and led them to the home where the young child resided with his
parents. Jesus could have been up to two years old at this point. When the wise
men arrived in Bethlehem, they worshipped Christ and presented him with costly
presents. Let’s read the account in Matthew 2:1-12
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of
them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem
of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in
the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of
thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then
Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what
time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and
search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring
me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard
the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went
before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when
they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and
fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being
warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into
their own country another way."
Wise men (and women) still seek Christ and when they have found him, they
worship Him!
|
