An angel appears to Mary and communicates an upcoming birth… An angel appears to Joseph in a dream to confirm Mary’s story… Unborn John the Baptist leaps in his mother’s womb when Mary visits Elizabeth… Angels visit shepherds in a field… A star leads wise men to Bethlehem… A Baby is born to a young Jewish virgin.
These are some of the miracles we remember at this time of the year. Of course the greatest Miracle is Jesus Himself… God made flesh… Immanuel – ‘God with us.’ As the Christmas parties and shopping and gift-giving take place all around the world, the Holy Spirit wants everyone to know the Miracle.
Jesus is the Message to the world. When we see Jesus, we see God. When we listen to Jesus, we listen to the Father. God reveals Himself through the Miracle of His Son. For those confused about God or hesitant about trusting a father or leery about religion, the Holy Spirit says: “Come to Jesus.”
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
We know Jesus worked many miracles while on earth, and today He continues to work miracles… in us! We are not only cleansed because of Jesus… we are changed because of Jesus. God is not content to just forgive us, He aims to transform us into the image of His Son. “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” (Romans 8:29)
When an angry, selfish, arrogant person comes to Christ and becomes peaceful, generous, and humble… the miracle of Jesus is at work. The ongoing work of God is to reveal His Son through us. May we present ourselves to Him as willing instruments, and may Christ be known in our world.
“This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ in you.” Colossians 1:26-27 (The Message)
Merry Christmas!!