Do you believe in miracles?
Do you believe in miracles? One of the popular Christmas movies is "Miracle on 34th Street." Like most Christmas movies, the plot line is centered on someone who doesn't believe in the "miracle" of Christmas. By the end of the movie our main character believes in Santa Claus and her life is fulfilled. She repeated the phrase, "I believe, I believe." But, is this the type of miracle that Christmas is actually all about?
When we think of the real story of Christmas we see many many miracles in the story. Some of these miracles is the perfect fulfillment of certain prophecies, some written over 6000 years before they came to pass. The prophets declared such things as the birth place, guest, tribe, and even family of the coming Messiah. The particulars from a very general promise of the coming of a Saviour to specific details as to His birth. Yet, though these events are miraculous in their fulfillment people would rather choose to believe in man-made miracles and deny God-made miracles.
Maybe the greatest of all the miracles of Christmas is the virgin birth of Christ. To a young, Jewish girl living in the northern Israeli town of Nazareth a visit from an angle happened. She was told that she, of all the Jewish girls, would be the mother of Messiah. Yet, she knew a problem existed that seemed impossible to overcome; she was a virgin! However, the angel told her that with God all things are possible. So, Mary became pregnant without the involvement of a man. And, ever since, man has denied this miracle as happening. To believe in Santa Claus is ok. But, to believe in a God powerful enough to allow a woman to give birth to a baby without benefit of a man is too big of a stretch for most people.
Sunday we will look at this miracle among others. During our choir presentation of the collection of songs entitled, "Come, Let us Adore Him," I will point out some of these miracles. As we come to adore and honor Jesus Christ, I want us to be reminded that God is the God of miracles. These miracles of real.
Do you believe in miracles? What kind are they, fake or real? Let's remember that Christmas is about God coming to our world and fulfilling prophecies of old. Let's give Him praise.