And Peace On Earth To Men

In the wondrous festival of Christmas we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a birth that is a great and mighty wonder we boldly confess in the Nicene creed:

"We believe in one Lord, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father . . . For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. "

Jesus' entire life was marked by mighty works, wonders and signs. Some call these mighty works (dynamis in Greek) miracles. The  English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible has the word miracle only occuring once—in Exodus 7:9. The ESV translates the plural form of dynamis as miracles seven times . In the ESV translation of the Gospels miracles are always called mighty works. Here is a partial list of Jesus' mighty works.

• A great draught of fish convinces Simon Peter, James and John to follow Him - Luke 5:1-11
• A evil spirit is ordered to come out of a man in the Capernaum synagogue - Mark 1:21-28
• A Roman Centurion's servant is healed in Capernaum - Matthew 8:5-13
• A paralyzed man, also from Capernaum, is empowered to walk - Mark 2:1-12
• The only son of a widow from Nain is raised from the dead - Luke 7:11-17
• The daughter of a Jewish official named Jairus is also raised from the dead - Matthew 9:18-26

Jesus' mighty works caused people to be astonished. Again and again they asked,"Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? - Mark 6:2

In the Gospel of  John seven of Jesus' mighty works are called signs. John's Gospel breaks into four parts. The second is often called The Book Of Signs (1:19-12:50). In that section we read about

• Over a hundred gallons of water turned into wine at a wedding - John 2:1-11
• The son of a government official from Capernaum  healed - John 4:45-54 
• An invalid at the Bethesda pool cured - John 5:1-15
• Over 5,000 fed with 5 loaves and two fish - John 6:5-14
• Jesus walking across the Sea of Galilee amidst a storm - John 6:16-24
• A man blind from birth having his sight restored -  John 9:1-7
• Lazarus raised from the dead - John 11:43-44

This has been the message of the church from the beginning. On the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection the Apostle Peter proclaimed,

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know-- - Acts 2:22 ESV

Jesus continues to perform mighty works, wonders and signs. Ask any gathering of Christians and you will find those who testify to being fed, healed and rescued from death by Jesus. Such signs of Jesus' presence and power are only recognized by believers. Unbelievers will credit modern science or medicine or chance. Believers see Jesus' hand at work in all things. This faith in Christ is the greatest wonder of all. We believe and confess that in our Baptism Jesus has taken us into his death and brought us with him out of death into the new life of faith (Rom. 6:4). This is the great and mighty wonder of new birth known and experienced by every true believer in Jesus Christ. It is a miracle unknown and rejected by the world. The Church is the living Body of Christ in whom His Spirit and life dwells. The Church is the great sign of His Presence to this very day (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 12:27; Rom. 12:5). And it all began with Christmas.

A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure:
The virgin bears the Infant with virgin honor pure!
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”

The Word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”

While thus they sing your Monarch, those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains, ye oceans, clap your hands.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”

Since all He comes to ransom, by all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethl’em, the Savior and the Lord.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”

And idol forms shall perish, and error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His scepter, our Lord and God for aye.
Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory
And peace on earth to men!”