The Two Miracles of Christmas – The Christian Family Online in America, Inc.

The Two Miracles of Christmas

How the Lamb of God was Born in the City of Sacrifical Lambs,
and How The Bread of Life was Born in the House of Bread

By
J. Owen Allen, Ph.D.

Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Click Left Arrow to Listen to Audio Version as You Read.

1. Introduction – An Afternoon in Bethlehem.

Every time I’m asked to share some thoughts about “Christmas,” I think about the last time I was in Bethlehem. I spent a whole afternoon there that day, wandering around the fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds on the night that Jesus was born.

You know, Bethlehem is a very rocky area. The fields are full of caves. And in the First Century, the shepherds used those caves – and stone huts that they built – to shelter themselves and their sheep from the elements.

2. Bethlehem – A City of Lambs and Bread.

However, many people don’t realize this fact. In the First Century, Bethlehem’s fields were a religious restricted zone. Their use was restricted to a special kind of shepherd and a special kind of sheep. The shepherds were chosen and supervised by the temple priests. And the sheep were sacrificial lambs. They were being raised to be sacrificed in the temple.

Think about that. Jesus – the Lamb of God – was born in the city of Sacrificial Lambs. I don’t think that was an accident.

But it gets better. Because, as we know, the word Bethlehem in Hebrew means “house of bread.” And Jesus said that He was the “Bread of Life.”

[1. Adapted from John, chapter 6, verse 35.]

Think about that. Jesus – the Bread of Life – was born in the city of Bread. I don’t think that was an accident, either.

3. Jesus – Our Spiritual Food.

Now, the term Bread of Life can be translated to mean “Spiritual Food.” So Jesus is our Spiritual Food. He’s the source of our Spiritual growth. I think that’s why the angels sang a special song to the shepherd’s that night. We’ve all read about it in “The Christmas Story” in the Gospel of Luke. Here’s what the angels sang that night –

“Glory to God in the highest. And on earth: peace and goodwill
towards men and women.”[2. Adapted from Luke, chapter 2, verse 14.]

Now, in the original Greek, the word peace in this passage means “harmony in groups.”[3. The Greek noun eirene (“eye-ray’-nay”) in this passage means peace, harmony, accord, and oneness in groups.] And the word goodwill in the passage means “satisfaction within ourselves.”[4. The Greek noun eudokia (“you-da-key’-uh”) in this passage means delight, pleasure, and satisfaction within individuals.] So Jesus was born to bring us peace and goodwill personally, and to bring peace and goodwill to our groups. Those facts alone are amazing.

But in addition to all that, the birth of Jesus is actually a supernatural double-miracle. It’s two supernatural miracles rolled into one.

4. Christmas – The Double-Miracle.

Here are those two supernatural miracles –

• First, Jesus was born in the city of Sacrificial Lambs, so He could be sacrificed for
our sins. That’s why the angels told the shepherds that a Savior had been born.[5. Adapted from Luke, chapter 2, verse 11.]

        • Second, Jesus was born in a city called the House of Bread, so He could be our
            Spiritual food. That’s why the angels told the shepherds that Jesus is Peace and
            Goodwill towards all people.[6. Adapted from Luke, chapter 2, verse 14.]

So, as I wandered in the fields and caves of Bethlehem that afternoon, I realized something very important. I realized that “Christmas Day” is one of the most supernatural days in world history. It’s more supernatural than Santa Claus. It’s more supernatural than Reindeer. It’s more supernatural than Christmas Trees. And it’s more supernatural than any Christmas Present we can imagine.

Because “Christmas Day” is the day that our Sacrificial Lamb was born in the city of Sacrificial Lambs … and it’s the day the source of our Spiritual Food was born in the city of Bread.

5. His Name is Jesus – And His Kingdom Will Never End.

Personally, I think that’s why the angel Gabriel told Jesus’s mother, Mary, that –

             “You are to give Him the name, Jesus. He will be great, and will be called
          the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His
          father, David. And He will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and His
          kingdom … will never end.”[7. Adapted from Luke, chapter 1, verses 31 to 33.]

Return to Top or Return to Talks or Return to (or go to) “Start Here” List

HERE ARE THE ENDNOTES FOR THIS TALK: