More than a Miracle

The Manger King 
Terry R. Baughman

“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 NKJ).

A virgin birth is an undeniable miracle, yet for many it is beyond belief. For them it is impossible. They look for an explanation, or surmise to other conclusions. Yet, Scripture records the prophesied birth of a child to a pure young woman that would be a sign to an unbelieving king in Judah, the wicked King Ahaz. Furthermore, the proclamation of the name of Immanuel (God with us), was an affirmation that indeed, God was with them. 

This prophecy was far more than a sign to a faulty king, but a prediction of another King who would come to the restored nation of Israel in future generations. This miraculous sign was more than a miracle for the moment, but a declaration of God’s intent. He would be born in the world He created, to live as a perfect example and then prepare to give Himself as a sinless sacrifice. He would be born of flesh, yet only have the blood of His mother. He would come to a world of sin to provide escape from its bondage. He would live as a servant, the son of man, and become the Savior of the world, as the Son of God. 

Prophecy was predicted 600 years before its fulfillment in Bethlehem of Judea. A virgin girl was promised to be married to a carpenter in Nazareth, when she was visited by an angel, another miracle! The message Gabriel delivered was that she was the chosen one to give birth to the Messiah. His message continued, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33 NKJ). Not only would Mary bear a son without having a sexual relationship with a man, her child was destined to become the everlasting King and be the fulfillment of countless prophecies. 

Joseph would also have to be in on the secret. He would be required to believe her story if she where to be protected from the penalty of the law. He would suffer the tarnish of a stained reputation from those who would never believe their story. So, the angel also appears to Joseph and assured him, “Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NKJ).

The birth of Jesus was more than a supernatural birth, this event was fulfillment of the promise of ages. A Savior King was born who would defeat the power of sin and provide redemption for the world! Christ’s coming was more than a miracle, but was the provision of a multitude of miracles which are still happening today. Every time a repentant sinner turns to God for forgiveness, every prayer of faith that sees unbelievable answers, and every impossible situation in which God provides a solution, the miracles happen again. God has a miracle for all who come to Him and believe! 

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Theme passage:
“There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12 NKJ).