December 12th
Daily Reading
Psalm 35:19
Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat.
Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.
Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause
outnumber the hairs on my head.
Many enemies try to destroy me with lies,
demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
John 15:24-25
If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
(Readings taken from Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/ New Living Translation)
Can you see?
The story of Christmas is truly miraculous.
Let’s pause and consider all the incredible prophecies we have read so far. Born of a Virgin. The Creator God made present in human form. Generations promised that their family lineage should expect to one day birth the Saviour. Born into a specific time and place – heralded by a wild prophet ministering in the wilderness.
At each step, the plan of redemption enacted by God is paved by miraculous and unlikely signs. Signs of hope and echoes of promise.
If we have eyes to see, God has revealed Himself in a myriad of ways. It is why the words of John in today’s reading are deeply troubling:
If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
The story of Christ’s arrival is both delightful and astounding.
It is Divine.
Yet, despite the dozens of predictions and miraculously fulfilled stipulations – it is still possible to be blind to God. To miss him. To hate Him. It is still possible not to see.
That is a challenging revelation.
It seems there is a force, an enemy, a tricky deceiver casting a shadow over this world and over the eyes and hearts of mankind. It’s the painful irony of the false promise made to Eve in the story of sin:
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)
But sin blinded humanity to God. It kept us in bondage. We crafted ourselves as gods; seeking fulfillment in our own selfish and empty desires, and we missed his beautiful, merciful and miraculous goodness.
God’s committed response to our broken humanity continues to captivate and stagger me. In the Christmas story, God invites us to see beyond the natural, to the miraculous nature of God.
Can you see the miracle?
