Hidden Gems in the Christmas Story: Waiting in the Silence

by David Chadwick

There is something about a treasure hunt that invites every person into wonder and delightful suspense. I want to spend the next two weeks taking you on a treasure hunt.

I want to pull out ten gems that are in the Christmas story. Treat them as precious jewels, as treasures you can go back to again and again during this time of the year to stir up your faith and renew your hope for Jesus’s return.

Remember: Jesus’s first coming set the stage for his Second Coming! Because our God can change everything in a moment!

There were 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus’s coming, one of which included prophesying the exact city where Jesus would be born. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”

What a lot of people don’t know is that between Malachi and Matthew, between all the 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament to the coming of Jesus, there were 400 years of silence. Not one prophetic word. Nothing! Can you imagine waiting that long for an answer?

Waiting and silence. We have all been through it. It’s the reason for the great Christmas hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” People were longing for Jesus’s first coming.

Are you in one of those times right now? If so, don’t give up. Like when Jesus finally came, God can suddenly break through darkness and change everything. In a moment. With one word. God’s light shatters darkness.

And immediately, there is hope!

Take this gem from the Christmas story and treasure it always!

5 Miracles of Christmas: It is About Victory

by David Chadwick Christmas. Said by many to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, we know it’s even more wonderful than most know. It’s a rescue mission full of good news and miracles. Christmas is about the presence of God. Today, we learn it’s also about the victory we have through Jesus. Victory is defined as “an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition.” Everyone knows that it is far more fun to win than to lose. Victory is always a better outcome than losing. As we talk about the impact of the victory that comes with the Gospel of Jesus, always connect the cradle with the cross, remembering that the final chapter of the story of the cross is the empty tomb! That baby who grew up and perfectly obeyed all the righteous requirements of the law is the same one who took our place and our punishment on the cross. But on the third day, he rose from the dead. He has VICTORY over sin, death, and the devil. The miracle of all miracles! The Jesus who lives in us always gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). Thanks be to God who always gives us triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). If you believe this, you should have HOPE. Now and forever. The story begins with the incarnation. But it ends with the resurrection and the victory. A miraculous story from beginning to end. This is the true meaning of Christmas!

5 Miracles of Christmas: It is About Presence

by David Chadwick Christmas is all about Jesus. The true miracle of Christmas is found in the rescue mission God sent Jesus on to save the world. It’s a miraculous story full of good news! It’s a story that tells the greatest miracle ever told, and this is a time to remember that miracles can still happen today. In a time that often centers around presents in our consumer culture, let’s all remember this truth: Christmas is really all about God’s presence. Sure, we love presents. They are fun! But the true meaning of Christmas is about the presence of God. God came down to be with us. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he referred to God as Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23-25). Sometimes God used angels in Scripture to increase people’s awareness of his presence. In 2 Kings 6:16, Elisha and his servant saw the host of angels and realized, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” This miracle of the awareness of God’s support and nearness gave them great courage in a time of need. In Luke 2:13-21 we see the heavenly hosts, angel armies, that accompanied Jesus’s birth. They were praising God and giving glory to him! This miracle, heaven meeting earth to reveal God’s nearness, gave great joy and wonder to the shepherds as they were tending their flocks. When we receive Jesus, he promises to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). Indeed, he is even IN us (Colossians 1:27). Never leaving us. Never forsaking us. Never deserting us. Forever caring for us. Always empowering us in all things (Philippians 4:13). Meeting our every need. A miraculous promise to all of us who believe. And promising us an eternal home with him (John 14:1-3). And our loved ones. And the other saints who have trusted in him. What HOPE! This is another true miracle of Christmas!