Contributed by Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain
Christmas is a celebration of the impossible. The predictions in Isaiah and Micah of the coming Messiah, no one could know. The baby had no earthly father. We all know that is impossible. His birthplace was predicted perfectly, hundreds of years in advance. The angels and the heavenly host gave praise to God.
Yet all this did happen. How? By the hand of God!
Isaiah 7:14 tells of the virgin birth. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew 1:25 fulfills the promise. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”
Isaiah 9:6 states that this was no ordinary baby. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.” Luke 2:13-14 is being praised by angels and the heavenly host. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Micah 5:2 tells where He will be born. “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.” Matthew 2:4-6 confirm that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 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.”
So, during this Christmas season and as we go into the New Year, may we never forget that nothing is impossible for God!