The original Christmas is full of contact with God. The ordinary becomes the extraordinary as people encounter God’s Presence and power.

A physical new star in the heavens becomes a messenger from Heaven, directing wise men hundreds of miles to the Christ Child. They sacrifice much time, effort, and resources to follow the physical star, motivated by stirring in their heart. Then they worship the Babe.

Mary (Jesus’ mother), and Zachariah and Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s parents) are overcome by the Spirit of God and speak beautiful prophetic words from God that are treasured to this very day.

Shepherds (one of the lowliest occupations at the time) run around Bethlehem excitedly telling everybody that they had seen angels who had told them the Messiah had been born in their small town. “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.”

Eight days later, Simeon of Jerusalem was “guided by the Spirit” to see Jesus circumcised in the Temple. The New Testament says: “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.” When he saw Jesus, Simeon took Him in his arms and moved by the Spirit, declared Jesus to be: “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.”

At that very moment, Anna, an 84 year-old widow who continually prayed and fasted in the Temple, walked up to the Baby. Then she also began to speak in the power of the Spirit about Jesus.

Jesus, the light for revelation, still shines in the 21st Century, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary and demonstrating His Presence and love with many spiritual and physical signs and wonders.