The Impossible Made Possible: Believing in the Miraculous
As we enter the Christmas season, it is a time when our hearts are filled with wonder and awe. It is a time when we are reminded of the power of belief, especially in the impossible. Children, in particular, have an innate ability to believe in things that seem impossible to us as adults. Take, for example, their unwavering faith in Santa Claus. How can one man travel the world in a single night, delivering presents to every child? It seems impossible, and yet, many children sincerely believe in this magical figure.
But as we grow older, we often lose that childlike faith. We become skeptical and cynical, dismissing the impossible as mere fantasy. We may even question the truth behind the Christmas story itself, doubting the possibility of a baby being born to a virgin. However, I want to challenge you to believe in the impossible once again. To believe that God can make the impossible possible through Jesus Christ.
In the passage from Luke 1:26-38, we are introduced to Mary, a young girl from the insignificant town of Nazareth. She is engaged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of King David. And it is to Mary that the angel Gabriel appears, bringing her the most extraordinary news. He tells her that she has found favor with God and that she will conceive and bear a son, who will be called Jesus. This child will be the Son of the Most High, and his kingdom will have no end.
The first theme we will explore is the unlikely choice of Mary to bear the Son of God. Mary, a young girl from Nazareth, was not someone of great importance or significance in the eyes of the world. And yet, God chose her to play a pivotal role in His plan of salvation. We must remember that Mary's favor with God was not earned through her own righteousness, but rather a result of God's grace. While there have been many traditions and practices that make too much of Mary, nevertheless, her faith is commendable. Mary's response to the angel's announcement is one of humble obedience. She says, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." Christians today would do well to emulate this humble response to what God has called us to do in our lives. None of us will likely face the same threats that Mary would have faced as a pregnant virgin in a culture that punishes adultery with either a death sentence of never ending shame. Nevertheless, we are often called to do things for God at great cost or sacrifice to ourselves. May we too utter the words, "Let it be done according to your Word."
The second theme we will explore is the fulfillment of God's promises. Throughout the Old Testament, God made numerous promises to His people, including the promise of a Messiah who would come from the line of David and establish an eternal kingdom. We ought to be reminded the covenant God made with David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where God promises that a descendant of David will reign forever. This is a promise that the people of God had been waiting to see fulfilled for a long, long time. And now, with the birth of Jesus, these promises are finally being fulfilled. Similarly, we wait many of the promises of salvation to be fulfilled even still. We ought to not lose hope! God's word is sure and his promises never fail.
The third theme we will explore is the belief in the impossible, that God is with us! The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary is a proclamation of the miraculous. He tells her that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and that the child will be called the Son of God. It is here that we must emphasize the importance of the virgin birth. To not believe in it is to not believe what God's word says. Let us be reminded that the virgin birth is not only supported by this passage but also prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. To doubt the virgin birht and call it impossible, is to doubt all of God's Word! How can we affirm other miraculous events in the bible: Jesus Resurrection, Jesus' miracles, the parting of the red sea, Jonah in the belly of a fish for 3 days, God creating the universe by the power of his Word, or even the very existence of God altogether.
The implications of these themes are profound. They challenge us to believe in the impossible, to have faith like a child. They remind us that God's promises are trustworthy and that He is faithful to fulfill them. They also assure us that God is with us, that He became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.
The impact of these themes is far-reaching. They invite us to reexamine our own faith and to trust in the miraculous power of God. They call us to surrender our doubts and cynicism and to embrace the truth of the Christmas story. They remind us that God is still at work in our lives, making the impossible possible.
In conclusion, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, let us remember that the impossible is made possible through Him. Let us believe in the miraculous and have faith like a child. Let us trust in the fulfillment of God's promises and know that He is with us. And let us go forth with hope and joy, knowing that God is still at work in our lives, making the impossible possible.
