More Evidence God Exists? Christmas Miracle is more than Virgin Birth.

The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ is unquestionably an important point for believers to share with doubters and athiests. But some skeptics could understandably just say: 'how can Christians prove the Virgin Birth?' What follows doesn't ignore the Virgin Birth but it goes so far beyond it that even believers will find these fascinating facts to be of keen interest as Christmas approaches, or for any other time of the year.

ICYMI, let's recall the evidence for God that was posted in the article on this Patch by your's truly linked below.

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

Let’s start with the basics for the sake of all.

Humanity has free will. Unless you are disabled, most people can jump up and down right now if they wanted to do so. People who are driving can go over or under the speed limit. Most adults can decide what they want to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We can choose.

So, most believers accept that God gave us that free will. God doesn’t force us to believe. God didn't make us robots.

That said, let’s flash back in time for some eye opening evidence that is beyond the science linked here, yet is nevertheless still rational, logical and new to millions.

There have long been prophets, people who predicted certain events well in advance of their occurring. With that in mind, according to Britannica, left-leaning Wikipedia, and Got Questions: ‘The Book of Micah was written in the 8th century (BC-Before Christ) by the prophet Micah, likely between 735 and 700 Before Christ (BC). However, some scholars believe that the book was completed in the early 5th century BC.’

Either way, hundreds of years before Jesus was born the prophet Micah wrote the following.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.” Micah 5:2-4 (NIV per Bible.com, bold emphasis added).

• The exact town that Jesus was to be born was foretold to be the small town of Bethlehem.
• This Messianic figure to be born there will see "his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”
• Today, some 2000 years after that first Christmas in Bethlehem, Jesus' greatness has indeed reached every continent on earth.

Christianity collectively amounts to well over 2 billion souls globally. Wikipedia says: “There are approximately 2.38 billion Christians worldwide, representing nearly one-third of the global population (1). Christianity is the world's largest religion, with the three largest groups being the Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church (1). The number of Christians has quadrupled in the last century, particularly in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (2).” As the song goes, all of that started in the "little town of Bethlehem." The Jewish prophet Micah foretold that centuries before Jesus birth with a description that fits the facts.

It has been said that Jesus was 'born to die.' From crib to the Cross, a perfect God came into human existence to redeem humanity's sins, because limited creatures like men and women can't repair the breach caused by the disobedience of Adam and Eve of a perfect, loving, Creator-God. So, 'in the fullness of time' God himself takes the form of man to offer the perfect sacrifice to atone for all of humanity's evil deeds.

With Jesus and the cross in mind, let's look at this prophecy. It is Psalm 22, NIV using the Bible Gateway. We'll start at verse 7b, and keep in mind that the language can be poetic or it can be startingly concrete language.

According to Reason, Psalm 22 was: "Written by King David roughly a thousand years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, it describes with stunning accuracy the means of execution and several other significant details surrounding Jesus’s death." For example: "bulls" or "roaring lions" doesn't mean a literal bull or lion, but bullish or roaring people. But quite specific: "a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce [e] my hands and my feet." Jesus hands and feet were pierced on the Cross. That prediction occurred about 1,000 years before Jesus was crucified.

Psalm (22 7b-31) NIV

"...they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth [d] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce [e] my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.

19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear youf]" style="font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;">[f] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!"

We could go on and cite scores of prophecies from the Hebrew or "Old Testament" Scriptures that were made often hundreds of years before the time of Christ. That would take a book, but to keep this manageable, let's cite the following.

According to Bible Gateway, scholars estimate that Jesus fulfilled between 300 and 570 Old Testament prophecies. However, scholars have different ways of counting and defining Messianic prophecies, and the range is generally between 200 and 400.

According to left-leaning Bing's artificial intelligence powered Copilot was the following reply to the question shown below.

There isn't any historical figure who is widely recognized for fulfilling as many prophecies as Jesus is said to have fulfilled according to the Bible. The number of prophecies attributed to Jesus is indeed unique, and the range of 200 to 400 fulfilled prophecies is often cited by scholars.

While there are other figures in history who have been associated with prophecies, none come close to the extensive list attributed to Jesus. For example, figures like the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster or the Hindu sage Krishna are associated with prophecies, but the scale and specificity of the prophecies attributed to Jesus are considered unparalleled.

So, not only is there scientific 'data' that points to God creating the universe and all that is in it, there is found in the person of Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas, a stunning number of prophecies that were uttered hundreds or even thousands of years before he was born. The odds on that might make winning the lottery look like a sure thing.

So, yes, a God that can create a universe out of nothing can cause a young virgin named Mary to give birth to an only son ("firstborn" in Hebrew culture then was a legal notion, because the firstborn had certain rights. It doesn't have to mean that Jesus had other siblings). God the Father can predict the birth of God the Son, who with the Holy Spirit makes a Trinity of Divine Persons, but that is another true story for another time.

The article by Hanne Nabintu Herland about Christmas, Saint Nick - the true Santa Claus- and related may well mean more to you know in the light of these insights.

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

Before wrapping on this article and sharing other topics here on this Patch or from Manufactured Home Pro News (a.k.a.: MHProNews), let's share what has been called the 'best argument against Christianity.' As you can see, none of these are just my notions, these points have been around for hundreds to thousands of years.

It has been said that the best argument against Christianity is Christians. That tongue in cheek remark has some teeth to it.

But Jesus himself picked 12 apostles, one of whom betrayed him (Judas Iscariot), and 10 out of the 11 at some point ran off and abandoned him, per the Gospel accounts. God knows that we are weak and prone to error. That's not an excuse to do wrong, but it is useful to understand human nature, including our own. Being Christian doesn't make us perfect. Being a Christian means accepting Jesus as the Messiah or Savior. Odds are excellent that any argument you heard used against Christian faith has been answered and was likely answered centuries ago.

The early believers entered an often-hostile world. They didn't follow Jesus because it was easy or fashionable. They followed the teachings of Christ because they believed it to be true.

Some think there is a new awakening to faith in our society. Time will tell. But what is certain is that the evidence for such an awakening is stronger than ever before.

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

Christian faith has waxed and waned untold times over the past almost 2000 years. There was a point in time when the Muslims (known in some parts of Europe as the Moors) threatened to overwhelm Christian Europe. But amazing events occurred, and Christianity survived. More on that another time too.

The late, great Archbishop Fulton Sheen was in some ways the first hit televangelist. He and the Rev. Billy Graham were hot tickets on television back in the 1950s and later. Bishop Sheen used to say that "Life is Worth Living," and had an audience of millions that included people of all faiths, and some with no faith at all. He often showed how faith and reason supported each other. Sheen was good about explaining how life would seem absurd to many if not for the keen insights that faith brings to living.

There may or may not seem to be justice in this life. But there will be perfect justice tempered with mercy to those who act on God's call. The scoundrels that rip off, rape or kill whomever and don't repent will get their just reward. Those who repent, will get mercy, as did the good thief.

The Christmas crib of Christ looks ahead to the Cross of Christ. But let's not rush there now. Take the time to ponder what happened on that first Christmas. It's an amazing story and the evidence for it is, well, a series of miracles. Isn't that fitting for Jesus? And isn't it amazing the Jesus came to be born in a stable instead of in a palace? That's one of many signs of Divine Love, showered on all who accept it and act on it.

Don't forget to keep the Reason for this holy Season in the mix this Christmas.

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---> L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###