The Day Impossible Has Been Denied

Have you ever went through some predicament that seemed there's no way out?

A financial debt too large you are unable to pay.

A serious disease declared as incurable.

You have one thing in mind as a conclusion: IMPOSSIBLE.

Have you ever prayed but God seemed to be silent—for more than 400 years? Exaggeration? No. That's what actually Israel felt.

From the last prophecy spoken about the coming Messiah—the Savior; a political liberator, they thought, God did not only seemed to be silent. He is. If you are of Israel (or even if you don't), you would have asked, "LORD, aren't we the  people You have chosen—the apple of Your eye? Didn't You found favor in our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David? Now, O LORD, why do You keep silent?" But the heavens were not heard of an answer. 

Not until that the time was right, God answered His promise. Miraculum: The Day Impossible Has Been Denied.

Miracles after miracles have happened on the first Christmas. Unusuals, I may say. And it all boils down to one word: FULFILLMENT. Everything happened to fulfill God's promises. "Oh, such a great delay, God," you would say. But God is neither early nor too late. He is just in time.

1. Unexpectant Parents

Let's begin with these pious, law-abiding saints, Zac and Beth. Yet despite their righteousness, they have suffered the disappointment of barrenness, a condition Elizabeth will later refer to as a disgrace. Elizabeth's feelings are perfectly understandable, but to be barren is not an indication of the presence of sin or of condemnation; it may be an opportunity for blessing, whether God grants a child late in life or allows a couple to pursue other opportunities of service. Until the day Zac was given the opportunity to offer incense before the presence of God in His temple. The angel Gabriel told him of the fulfillment of God's prophecy, that the "voice calling out in the wilderness" who will "prepare the way of the Lord" was to be their baby boy to be born. Would you blame him for asking, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” But who would also limit God? Miraculum. It was the day impossible has been denied.

2. Unnatural Process

God is not yet finished with His surprises. Now to this young girl pledged to be married by a carpenter named Joseph. Her name was Mary. What does her name means? Rebellion. "Ah, another impossible. God would allow His son be born of a woman whose name means, "rebellion"? But God did. He rebelled against what's natural. A woman cannot bear child unless her husband made love with her. Now here's another impossible. Mary and Joseph are still pledged to be married. Mary kept herself pure until the day of their wedding, but now, she is to conceive a child. Joseph was about to give Mary up, but he was warned in a dream that the baby to be born is of the Holy Spirit. Mary will be the surrogate mother of the Son of God in order that the promise of God be fulfilled. Miraculum. It was the day impossible has been denied.

3. Uneasy Adversities

Sounds familiar, eh? When God makes a promise and that He assured you that He will fulfill it, we can expect oppositions and adversities along the way. 

a. The census. Mary is in her last month of conception and Joseph may have expected that the child be born in Jerusalem. But a census has been decreed. Each one has to go back to their home town to be registered. If not, they shall serve as prisoners under the Roman rule. Hassle. But they chose to obey. The prophecy has been fulfilled. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

b. The stable. They arrived at Bethlehem at last. But the innkeepers crossed their arms and shook their heads. There was no more room. And the baby was about to come out! No more choice but the stable. The King of kings was not in a royal crib at David's palace, but in a lowly stable lying in a manger.

c. The Insecure King Herod. He wanted to remain on the throne, whatever it takes. Anyone who wants to take his place must be put to death. Here's the modus: convince the Magi to return and report the location of a child so that "he may worship him too". Just a front act. But he wanted the "baby king" out. Mary and Joseph were told to flee for Egypt that night, as the Magi went another route. "What? Egypt? Isn't that the land you have rescued us from? Is there some other place, LORD?" Joseph may have complained, but they obeyed. And that night, a massacre has took place. And it has been fulfilled what was told of the prophet.

d. Archelaus. They are about to return to Israel now.  But here comes another adversity, Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod. And they have to settle in Galilee in a town called Nazareth. “What is that again? Nazareth? Can anything good come of it?” you would probably say when you know that place’s background. The character of Nazareth was proverbially bad. To be a Galilean or a Nazarene was an expression of decided contempt, John 7:52. But God was never limited by the naturals, nor by adversities, “so was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

4. Undeserving Visitors.

            The good news of the coming Messiah may have been known by their neighbors, next door; or probably announced by a royal herald announcing a royal banquet. But God mind it to be a humbly coming. It was told to the lowly shepherds keeping their sheep at night. Being a shepherd was the most lowly job during that time. But God chose them to be the first witnesses of the coming of the Savior, announced not by an earthly kingdom herald by heavenly hosts singing, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!”

            Another “impossible-denied” here in the first Christmas story was the visitation of the Magi. They were wise as it has been told. But who cares if a king from a distant country been born? And shall they care to travel miles just to pay Him honor? But they did.

            Some think they are three, as being suggested by their gifts, but I believe there is perhaps a battalion of them. Just three persons may not be able to disturb the town, nor the king himself. Nevertheless, their question was Intriguing. “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” You may say that it is a wise move to begin searching in the king’s palace, where kings and royalties are actually born.  But God meant these strangers and foreigners witness the coming of the Messiah, not on Herod's palace in Jerusalem, but in Bethlehem's stable, lying in a manger. Impossible? Well, that was the day impossible has been denied.

            From my reflections of the story of the first Christmas, I began to realize that God is never limited nor intimidated by those we call “impossibilities.” As Burk Parsons put it, “We run to God in the midst of a trial only to learn that He was the one who sent the trial that we might run to Him.” 

Our God never knows the word IMPOSSIBLE. As is has been told, “Nothing is impossible with God.” They may seem setbacks, but those are only God’s setups so He can say, “I am able. I AM.”