CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! Part 1

Last week's blog dealt with the subject of miracles. As we observed, a miracle is used in the Bible as a supernatural, extraordinary event that is the direct intervention of God and goes beyond the laws and limitations of what we term "nature." Miracles are one way God sometimes reveals Himself to human beings. One such direct, supernatural intervention of God in the affairs of the human race is what I call "THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS!" This miracle is THE INCARNATION! This event is a central doctrine that affirms the truth that God took human form in the Person of Christ Jesus. In other words, God was "in-

carnated" in human flesh. God literally became human. Christ, the second Person of the Godhead, has always existed, but was miraculously united with a human body that was named Jesus. Incarnation means the union of the divine and human natures in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. Incarnation means God was literally "made flesh." This is THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS!

The second verse of the Christmas Hymn , "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" says,

"Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity.

Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel!"

This Christmas Season, let's not just sing these words; rather, let us focus on the truth and deep significance of them. Let's allow the theology of these words to captivate our mind and spirit and cause us to celebrate God's miraculous gift of His Son given to us in a human body!

What began in heaven, before the foundation and creation of the universe and world, continued in the mind, heart and plan of God through the ages, until at last the fulness of time arrived, and God became the incarnate Deity for the first and final time in the Person of Jesus Christ! You see, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in obscure Bethlehem. The Son of God also became the son of Mary that first Christmas, in all the degradation of Bethlehem's cattle stall. "He is the image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15; II Corinthians 4:4) "Christ Jesus, who though He was in the very essence of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the role of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found as a human, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) Jesus was truly born to die! His mission was to come to earth as God and die in our place to give us the opportunity to receive eternal life rather than for us to experience eternal damnation. "Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. . . ." (Philippians 2:9-10) No wonder the Apostle John exclaims, "And the Word (eternal God) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Let's please ponder this important truth from Scripture!

First, "The Word Was Made Flesh!" Our Lord was of heavenly origin! There's never been or ever will be anyone like Him. He is completely unique; God and man at the same time! Let me clearly say, Jesus was not plagued with schizophrenia! He did not possess two independent natures at war with each other! He was of two natures (Divine and human) divinely blended into one, making Him "The God-Man." In Him, there is an immensity, depth and height, which no other human life has revealed in all of human history, and that finite mind cannot begin to understand! We do know and understand from God's Word (the Bible) that the Son of God exchanged all the glory, prestige, security, joy and utter blessedness of heaven for the shame, dis-honor, danger, misery and death of earth. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich (in heaven) yet for your sake He became poor (on earth) so that you by His poverty might become rich." (in salvation)! (II Corinthians 8:9) None of us knows what heaven is really like since none of us has been there (yet). A young girl, after attending a funeral for the first time, said to her Mother, "I know what heaven is like now!" "What?" her Mother asked her. "Heaven is where we rest from our neighbors." I think she must have meant "labors." In any case, we know from Scripture that heaven is where God lives and where everything operates according to God's will. God has no rival in heaven! It's a place of love and peace, a place of beauty and grandeur filled with costly stones and gems, it's a place of joy, worship, gladness and the habitation of royal community and heavenly beings, holy angels, and a heavenly court ministering to God in song and praise. There is no more sorrow, tears, pain, suffering and no more separation there. It has streets of pure gold and the "Tree Of Life" is present there.

In contrast, we know very well what this earth and our place here in this life is really like. Here, we have pain, suffering, death, disease, sorrow, tears, separations, injustice, the presence and activity of evil, hostilities, greed, spiritual oppression, hatred, envy, jealousy, broken lives, broken families, marriages and relationships, illnesses, wars, and satanic activity. WHO WOULD EVER EXCHANGE HEAVEN FOR EARTH? THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT THE SON OF GOD DID!

Second, "The Word Dwelt Among Us!" We are told in the Old Testament that Jesus was given a powerful name by an angel through the Prophet of old (700 years before Jesus was born!) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) Then in the New Testament we read, "Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel . . . . which means GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:23) Our Lord Lived, Worked and Ministered among men as a human for about 33 years. He taught, confounded the religious leaders, trained 12 disciples, healed the sick, made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the the lame to walk, touched the leper, and gave hope to the poor and outcasts, cast out demons, and raised the dead. Now, get this! "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession (of faith in Him). For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one (Jesus) who in every way was tempted just as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN." (Hebrews 4:14-15) HE WALKED OUR WAY THEN AND TODAY! He made this journey in life just like we do. We've sinned, HE NEVER DID! That is why He can save us from our sins! Our response? "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and grace. . . ." (Hebrews 4:16) The Christ who dwelt among us can now live within us! This is indeed The Christmas Miracle!

Third, the only Son Of God is "Full Of Grace And Truth!" "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ!" (John 1:17) Aren't you glad you can embrace Jesus The Christ, and put your whole spiritual weight down on Him, knowing that in Him there is truth and grace you can fully trust? "And from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace." (John 1:16) Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense - the unmerited gift of salvation to us! And Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6)

Fourth, "And We Beheld His Glory!" (John 1:14) To behold His glory is vital! If we don't focus on His glory this Christmas Season, we will have missed His Presence and Power! His glory is emphasized in two Hebrew (original language of the Old Testament) words:

1) "Kabod" - means weight, importance, significance, profound (not light or easy). It means honor, power splendor, magnificent, etc.. It conveys truth about God's glory that is so awe-inspiring that it can be terrifying. For example, the people of Israel saw the glory of the Lord as a devouring fire on the mountaintop, "Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel." (Exodus 24:17) What would happen if the glory of God gripped us in a similar manner? How would our lives change if we focused on the weight, importance, majesty and profound nature of His glory and we celebrated His Presence and Power?

2) "Qodesh" - means holiness, sacred, set apart, sanctified. It means to dedicate ourselves to God and be consecrated for a special purpose; set apart from everything else in order to accomplish His will. What profound impact would there be in our lives if we sought earnestly to be so dedicated and consecrated to God that we would manifest His Holy Character?

This Christmas Season, let's focus on the Incarnation of Christ - He, God became man to declare God's love, mercy, grace and eternal salvation. I am reminded of a song that highlights the significance of Christ's Incarnation . . . . "He Came Down To My Level":

"He came down to my level, When I couldn't get up to His.

With a strong arm, He lifted me up, To show me what livin' is.

'Cause I know about a Savior; He came down to be a man,

and when He left, He sent His Spirit. He made me everything I am.

He'll come down to your level, If you open the door,

He wants to make your life worth livin'; that's what He came down for."

JOYOUS INCARNATION CELEBRATION THIS CHRISTMAS TIME! Remember: JESUS IS THE ONLY REASON FOR THE SEASON!

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