Miracle of Miracles

December 23, 2001 - Quincy Chinese Church of the Nazarene, Massachusetts

Two brief scriptures:

John 1:1-5; 10-13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and he Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Hebrews 1:1-2a

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son ...

Christmas is the biggest miracle Christians are asked to believe. If we can believe what really happened at Christmas then all the other true miracles will take their place. But everything in the Christian faith begins with this one miracle.

That miracle is this: God has spoken our language. A Baby who could not even talk in any language, yet who is God, God's only Son, is the Word that God spoke.

This Baby who we know as Jesus came to tell us what can never fully be said in words. When I say God spoke our language I do not mean the Hebrew language, or English, which was not even dreamed of when Jesus lived on earth, nor Cantonese or Mandarin, which are ancient languages. No, when I say God spoke our language I mean the common HUMAN language of life the way it is really lived: hopes, and fears, and families, and love.

The Word of God came to identify with us. This is what I mean by the miracle of miracles: how the God of glory was willing and able to come all the way down to where you and I live so He could know us, and we could get to know Him.

The miracle is He really became a human being, and lived the way God intended that every one of us shall be able one day to live: being able to give and to receive love, and to turn from lying and hatred and prejudice and know true fulfillment.

We think of Jesus as growing up to be a teacher, and it is true that Jesus taught with words. He said we don't just live by bread alone, but that we need every Word that comes from God. He said that He did not come to condemn the world, but to seek and save those who were lost. He said that if they would look, the people who sit in spiritual darkness could and would see a light that would lead them to God. And he dared to say that He, Jesus, IS that light.

But the Word that Jesus spoke is more than the lessons that He taught and the words He spoke, as wonderful as they are. As we read the Bible, and as we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit of God, we realize that it was in what Jesus did, and in who Jesus IS that God has spoken.

Jesus, the Word, because He is God, and because He is without fault or sin, was able to take upon Himself the burdens and sins of the whole world. The Word became flesh, our scripture says, and lived among us- and then took our sins and our sorrows with Him to the Cross, which is another aspect of this, the greatest miracle. Then the third day after his death, Jesus, the Word, arose from the dead to say "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:17-18)

Yes, the miracle is that God has spoken our language- the human language- and He has said- and is saying now: "I LOVE YOU!" The Word is a Person- and that Person is God's Son, Jesus.

A Christmas Story to Close With (I don't know where I got it) A story is told of a widowed man who was a great collector of art. He traveled around the world collecting Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and many, many other world class objects of art to adorn his mansion.

The man's only child grew up to be both a skilled doctor and a great art collector in his own right. The son became highly respected in both medicine and art circles.

One summer the young doctor left the mansion to go for several months on a medical mssion to Central America. When he had been gone only three months a terrible hurricane swept through that country, and communication was cut off from the rest of the world.

The old art collector was anxious, and within a few days his worst fear were confirmed. He got word that his son had died while rescuing a family from a flooded river. He was very sad and lonely as he faced the upcoming Christmas holidays all alone. There would be no joy of Christmas in his house.

On Christmas morning there was a knock on the door of the old man. As he walked to the door the masterpieces that lined the walls only reminded him that his son would not be coming home. Then as he opened the door he was met by a small brown man carrying a large package.

"My name is Jorge Pascodero," the man said. "I was a friend of your son.

It was MY family your sons saved by sacrificing his life." The father invited Jorge in.

"I want to give you this," said Jorge. He placed the package in the old man's hands. Opening it carefully the father saw a great enlarged photograph of the man's only son. It was not very good as art because it was blurred and grainy. The son was holding a small child and speaking to a woman in his clinic. A stethoscope was around his neck, and he was looking toward the camera. You could see kindness and gentleness in his hands and face. The father was deeply moved. They talked awhile and then Senor Pascodero left.

After Senor Pascodero left the father took down a million dollar Picasso over the fireplace and hung up the grainy photograph of his son. He sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. He realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because he had touched a lot of people with love. He found later that his son had treated literally hundreds of people in the short time he was in Central America.

Two years later the old man became ill and passed away. Because his son has been his only heir the estate would be auctioned off. The art world was really excited at the prospect of such a rich estate becoming available.

When the day of the auction sale arrived dealers from all over the world gathered to bid on the spectacular paintings. Wealthy people from Europe, North America, and Japan came. Millions were at stake.

The auction began with the photograph of the man's son. That was not a piece that was on any of the wealthy collector's "must have list."

"Who will open the bidding?" the auctioneer asked.

The room was silent. Moments passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room someone could be heard: "Who cares about a lousy photograph? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget about it and go on to the good stuff." Voices echoed in agreement.

"No, we have to offer this first," replied the auctioneer. "Now who will take the son?" Silence. "Come now," said he auctioneer. "There must be someone who will take the son."

Finally the old man's gardener spoke. "I will. I knew the boy from the time he was born. He was a fine man. I miss him. I'd like to have it. I'll take it."

"Give it to him," cried the gallery of collectors. The auctioneer said to the gardener, "The son is yours without cost, sir." Cheers filled the room. Someone exclaimed, "Now get on with the auction! Put up a Picasso!"

The auctioneer looked at the audience and banged his gavel. He announced, "The auction is over! All the paintings in the collection will be registered as the property of the gardener."

The room was stunned! "What do you mean it's over? How can the gardener get anything? There are millions of dollars worth of art! You must explain! What's going on here?"

The auctioneer waved a sheaf of documents at the gallery and replied, "It is very simple: according to the will of the father, whoever accepts the son gets everything the father has!"

Conclusion

God has spoken by his son, spoken in OUR language. He has said, "I love YOU!" The golden text of the Bible tries to put in in words we can begin to understand: "For God so loved the world- you and me- that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

That is the Christmas message- the Miracle of all Miracles. Deeper than the most wonderful words in Chinese, English, or any other spoken language, God is saying to you and me this Christmas: "I love you!"