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Christmas Miracles

Hope Ministries - Columnist
Posted 12/25/20

In most of the Christmas movies we watch, Christmas is portrayed as a magical time of miracles. People are expectant and hopeful that the miracles they desire just might come true, and most do. …

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Christmas Miracles

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In most of the Christmas movies we watch, Christmas is portrayed as a magical time of miracles. People are expectant and hopeful that the miracles they desire just might come true, and most do. However, in this year of unprecedented sorrow beyond the movies, many may find themselves without any hope or expectancy that anything good could happen.

What we may not realize is that the times surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ were also unprecedented times of sorrow. His birth was surrounded by an atmosphere of upheaval and tension from political turmoil, religious unrest, and even revolution and violence from oppressive rulers. Yet it was into this atmosphere that miracle after miracle took place to bring us the Light of the world, the only One who could set us free and give us hope.

Let's take a look at the many miracles that took place before, during and after Jesus' birth. Luke 1:26-38 tells us that God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to bring a message to a young virgin named Mary that she would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to God's Son who would be named Jesus. Mary accepted this word in spite of the hardship it would bring, including possible death.

Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, a descendant of King David. When Joseph found out she was pregnant, he planned to divorce her quietly to save her from being stoned to death. But Matthew 1:20-25 tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife for she was pregnant with God's Son.

Centuries before His birth, prophets foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, which was around ninety miles from Nazareth. In order to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in time for Jesus' birth, God had Caesar Augustus unknowingly call for a census of the Roman Empire for tax purposes. This required Joseph to return to Bethlehem to be counted, and while there Mary gave birth to Jesus, thus fulfilling prophecy. (See Luke 2:1-6.)

Luke 2:8-20 tells us that when Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem during the night to announce that their Savior had been born. This angel was joined by a large host of angels praising God. The lowly shepherds went quickly to find the baby.

Another miracle is found in Matthew 2:1-12. A new star had appeared in the sky that directed the wise men, who were probably astrologers, to follow the star to see the child who would be a king. Upon finding Jesus, they worshiped and gave Him gifts, then left by another route so as to escape telling King Herod where He could be found.

After they left, we find in Matthew 2:13-18 an angel once again telling Joseph in another dream to take Mary and the child to flee to Egypt, thus saving Jesus from Herod's wrath and slaughter.

So Christmas miracles are not a new thing. From the beginning of time, God has been a miracle-working God of the impossible, and He is able to put the whole world into motion to fulfill His word and prophecies. We can have hope and expectancy for the miracles that we need during this season, for Jesus is just as near to us now as when He walked the earth. Put your hope in Him and see what God will do for you.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 482-5300.

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