Day 17: Miracle Worker

When we celebrate Christmas, it’s important for us to remember who our newborn King is. Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy about being a miracle worker many times over. All four gospels in the Bible record miracle after miracle that Jesus performed from healing the blind, lame, and deaf to casting out demons and raising many from the dead. He was showing the people of Israel who He was—their Messiah!

Have you been praying for a miracle in your own life? Sometimes we convince ourselves that it is an impossibility. We think God is too late or that our problems are too big for Him to handle or too small for Him to care about. But none of these are true. Our wonderful and loving God not only cares, but He is faithful and on time.

When Jesus was doing ministry with His disciples, His friend Lazarus died. It is recorded that Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, believed that Jesus would come and heal him. They even sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). But before He could get to their home, their brother had passed away. When Jesus finally made it to them, Lazarus had been buried in a tomb for four days. Martha went out to meet Jesus at the tomb and said, “Lord…if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).

Have you been in a similar circumstance? Has it seemed at times that God showed up too late? How have you responded in those times? It would have been understandable for Martha to be angry with Jesus. He was not only their Lord but also one of their dearest friends. But here is how Martha responded, “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:22).

Martha’s great faith was not unfounded—Jesus declared to her who He is, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

And that day, Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead! He continues to raise dead hearts to life every day by working the greatest miracle of all—by taking the sins of those who believe Him and giving them eternal life.

Through Lazarus’ resurrection, we have a testimony that can bring us hope. No matter your situation, trust that God is still working miracles even today.

“And the God who spoke is speaking still
And the God who came still comes
And the miracle that happened still
happens in the heart that will believe
And receive the miracle of Christmas”
- Steven Curtis Chapman
The Miracle of Christmas