Christmas miracles

Numerous movies, TV shows, stories and songs have been written on miracles and Christmas. Did you know that at Christmas we celebrate a miracle? The Bible claims that the conception of Jesus was a miracle. So, He was a miracle baby. But how can anyone believe that this was true? After all, I am not aware of any other miraculous conceptions reported in human history.

This post is based upon an article by Warner Wallace.

Why is a miracle possible?

Science says that the universe had a beginning. This means that the universe had a cause. But science can’t explain the cause, which had to be greater than the universe itself. This means that the cause was outside space, time, and matter (which were all created at the beginning of the universe). The cause was also personal and intelligent in order to make a choice to create the universe out of nothing and to create human consciousness and morality. Because such a personal divine creator can intervene with our world, miracles are possible.

The miraculous conception

In first-century Jewish culture, an unwed teenage mother faced potential shame and even death. No one invents a miraculous conception story that immediately invites public scorn—unless it’s true. So, the miraculous conception of Jesus is consistent with the power of God (who can do miracles) and the historical setting (it would not be invented by a Jew).

At Christmas we remember the birth of the baby with a miraculous conception – Jesus had a human mother, but not a human father (Joseph was like an adoptive father). The conception was miraculous, not the birth. So, God entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ. But why would He do that?

The reason for the miracle

The conception of Jesus is the point from which we date the union between His divine and human nature. The Bible explains why this happened. Only by becoming fully human could God bridge the infinite gap between our sin and His holiness. The conception marks the beginning of that rescue mission. It was announced to Mary beforehand and to Joseph afterwards.

Christmas marks the birth when the rescue mission was announced to others like the shepherds. After this there was a path that led directly to Christ’s death by crucifixion.

Other miracles

There were three other miracles associated with Jesus that were reported by Jews. Why would they invent a new religion that got them kicked out of the synagogue and then beaten, tortured and killed if it wasn’t true? They wouldn’t.

Christ’s death was different to any other death. Because He was the only person who never sinned, He was able to take the punishment that we deserve for our sins. In this way, God offered to forgive the sins of those willing to receive this forgiveness. So, it was a vicarious (done by one person as a substitute for another) miraculous death.

Jesus was buried like anyone who had died. But three days later, He was resurrected back to life in a glorified body. Others, like Lazarus had been raised back to life, but later they died again and were buried. But this was different, Jesus didn’t die after His resurrection. So, it was a miraculous resurrection.

Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus left the earth to join God the Father in the heavenly realm. Enoch and Elijah also ascended to heaven, but they hadn’t come down from heaven beforehand or been resurrected or left to rule and mediate from heaven. And they didn’t promise to return to earth. So, it was a miraculous ascension.

Lessons for us

At Christmas we remember the miracles that a virgin gave birth to a son and the Creator became part of creation.

Jesus was the supernatural Savior who intervened in our world of hostility and violence and suffered to enable peace with God. Those who confess their sins and believe that He took the penalty that they deserve can experience His divine love and unity today and look forward to an eternal destiny with their loved ones and the great Creator and Savior of us all.

Acknowledgement

This post is based upon an article by Warner Wallace and a message by Frank Turek.

Written, December 2025