A Sign From God
This is an audio recording of A Sign from God the Day 16 entry in Today for Seafarers (Vol. 1) devotional by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Sheila Margerrison or read the text below:
“The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good
news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in
the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a
baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to
those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby,
who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they
spread the word concerning what had been told them about
this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
The angel had a great message: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news”! And with the message was a sign that confirmed its importance. In this we see the fulfillment of a very old promise: Christ, the longawaited Messiah, had come. Many people expected a sign like this: You will find a child on a golden throne in the greatest palace, surrounded by servants and wealth.
But no. The Messiah was “wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,” the feed trough of farm animals. Was this a place of great honor? Not by the standards of this world!
Every culture around the world has nativity scenes of the birth of Jesus. They are often picturesque and romantic—but the scene was not as charming when Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph did not want to be there. According to the text, they were in a stable because there was no other place available.
The angel’s message was that a Savior had been born. What kind of Savior? Obviously he was not a great warrior or king in some earthly sense. And throughout his life he would be viewed as a marginal and troublesome person. He would be persecuted by many, even from among his own people. And finally, he would be executed on a cross.
But it was exactly at that point— when it would seem to all the world that he had lost everything—that he gained victory over everything. He showed by his death that he could suffer the ultimate consequences of sin for our sake. And in his resurrection he showed that he could conquer death.
For Further Thought
Why is it good news that Christ’s power is seen in his seeming weakness?
Why was it important for Christ to be born in such humble surroundings?
What difference would it have made if Jesus Christ was a rich and powerful man?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you as you reign on high, and we ask that you will make us aware of your presence through your Spirit, even though we cannot see you. In your name we pray. Amen.
