The older I get, the more I fall in love with and appreciate the Christmas story as found in the pages of Holy Scripture.
For some time I thought it was a bit of seasonal depression; lack of sunlight, overall dreary weather, cold, you know. But the more I think about it, my malaise or melancholy is more of introspective thoughts, especially as another year draws to a close.
Don't get me wrong, I love celebrating Christmas. I enjoy putting up the tree and household decorations. We don't go crazy, but it's Christmas. My favorite part of decorating is putting up the children's ornaments that we have saved over the years. Each ornament has a story to tell; whether directly or because it recalls a particular time of life. Now some in my family might disagree with this jolly sentiment, and I'll leave that there. That's not part of this thought.
This year is especially introspective for me. The events of the past twelve to eighteen months have been life-changing to say the least, and as difficult as this period of time has been, I can honestly say that I'm glad God has allowed me to traverse this time. I'm also very thankful that God has also surrounded me with a multitude of people - family, friends, customers, business acquaintances - to prevent my being alone in these times.
More than anything else, I can honestly say that I have come to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of God, Jesus my Savior and what He has done for me; and what He will continue to do for me. But enough of that, let's look at the Christmas story as it is told by Matthew and Luke, the Evangelists or Gospel writers. It's an amazing story of love, obedience and trust; things that we all need to relate to.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matthew 1:18 - 2:12. (ESV)
Here's Luke's version:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:1-21 (ESV)
It's about God and His children.
The story of Christmas is a story about a loving Father and His children. It's a story about a Father Who finally presents a gift to His children who have been wondering and waiting and wanting for a long time and now that the present has been presented, there is confusion. It's not that the gift was not wanted, but it wasn't what was expected. Out of all the people and places in the world that God would choose to bring His Savior, He chose an unsuspecting place. Furthermore, God chose unexpected people and circumstances to bring and initially present this gift. But one thing God did do was to present His most excellent Gift to those who knew their God.
This is a lesson of their stories. This is also a lesson of how each of us today must come to know and understand that knowing our God means everything! Let's look at the people of the Christmas story and what knowing their God meant to their lives and how that knowledge affected their actions in a time that didn't necessarily want to know God; a time similar to today.
The Shepherds knew their God.
Admittedly, shepherds were near the bottom on the social totem pole in that era. Shepherds hung around animals all day, rain or shine, heat or cold. They were considered probably no better than today's street sweeper or warehouse lackey. They did the work that others didn't want. They weren't trusted. They were dirty; and smelly. Knowing that, it's extraordinary that when Jesus was born, the Father would send His heavenly hosts to announce this miraculous birth to this group of men.
The angels showed up and these guys were taken by surprise yet they went and worshiped the King. God came to them and they rejoiced!
But there's something in me that says, yes, all of that is true, but there had to be something in these men that God looked down upon and loved and then chose to make this event known. I think more than anything else, these shepherds had humility of heart and mind. They could take direction without question, they were willing to be looked down on. They were also able to be free of pretense, meaning that they didn't have anyone really who would think anything different for later excitedly sharing the Good News with whoever they met. Others would think they were crazy, but that was okay with them. They had been invited to Messiah's birth and rejoiced in Him. Their utter humility and obedience was all they needed.
Knowing God means being humble and obedient. Am I humble like a shepherd?
The Wise men knew their God.
The Wise men are a striking bunch. Tradition has it that there were three Magi from the East. We actually don't know how many there were, but considering there were three precious and unusual gifts, we'll go with three Magi. The point of the Magi is incredibly important because unless you've read your Bible all the way through, you're not going to be able to bring a few things together: what are Magi? what do we mean by "the east"? how would they even know what's going on?
Briefly, these wise men, these Magi, most likely came from an area known as Chaldea. Why is that important? It's important because about 600 years earlier, the Babylonians (Chaldeans) sacked Jerusalem and deported the Jews to Babylon (Chaldea), and there the Jewish captives flourished for 70 years (as prophesied) before returning to Jerusalem and Judea. Amongst the captives was a young man by the name of Daniel who was used by God in the courts of the Babylonians and later the Medes and Persians. Almost more importantly, Daniel had his scrolls, his copies of the Hebrew Scriptures and he diligently studied them. Knowing that Daniel was chief of the wise men in the various courts, he brought significant influence. It wouldn't be surprising that Daniel taught other Magi or wise men the Scriptures, from the Law to the Prophets to the Psalms. Let's face it, wise men are wise men because they study and apply what they learn so that it can be used in everyday life.
For centuries the Jewish priests and "wise men" were studying the Scriptures as well, but there were others doing and looking for the same thing: looking with anticipation for Messiah! And now they found Him and they would go to see Him. And they would worship Him and even "equip" Him (God in His provision knew that Jesus' family would need certain tangible things for their life, and God the Father provided it). For example, Gold was certainly something this young family would need for traveling to Egypt, setting up a family and then one day returning to Judea and Galilee. Even Myrrh and Frankincense are items of significant value.
Wisdom also leads to obedience. If you are wise and have been listening to God speak to your heart and spirit through His Word, and when you find all of that true, how much more are you going to follow instructions when the Lord speaks and tells you not to do something? In this case, not to return to Herod who had vastly ulterior motives. Sometimes God has us do things that appear not right or illogical, in fact in partial hindsight these events may even appear tragic. But this is not about my comfort or your comfort, this is about God's perfect plan and perfect timing.
Knowing God means being wise because you have diligently sought Him and are obedient to His Word. Am I wise and diligent in seeking God's will for my life through the Scriptures?
Mary and Joseph knew their God.
That sentence almost goes without saying! Of course Mary and Joseph knew their God. This couple is an extraordinary example of trusting God through humility and obeying God regardless of the personal cost. Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married. They were still teenagers and if that weren't enough, their lives were about to be turned upside down through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary would become pregnant, and since miracles are rare, this couple would become scandalized in their own town. Tongues would wag. Eyes would view them with incredulity and great disdain. This was not how a betrothal was supposed to work. Their respective families would never live this down.
Thankfully, this young lady and this young man were both righteous in God's eyes. Not only were they righteous, but they were obedient. When the angel came to Mary, she accepted her assignment and gave glory to God. When the angel spoke to Joseph, he also accepted his assignment and was obedient to care not only for his betrothed to keep her "holy" throughout the pregnancy, but to guard her and support her and his adopted son. When the angel came to Joseph a second time and told him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod was wanting to kill the baby Jesus, Joseph scooped up his little family and abruptly left everything behind in obedience to God. Joseph had trusted God this far, he had no reason to not trust Him in this hour.
Joseph especially strikes me because the Gospels don't tell us much more about him. All that we do know is he and Mary had other sons and daughters while he carried on his simple life as a simple village carpenter in an obscure part of the Roman Empire. Scripture doesn't record any words spoken by Joseph, but I suppose that isn't necessary because his actions spoke (and still speak) volumes! Joseph truly was a man who knew and trusted God for literally everything.
In knowing God, Mary and Joseph helped bring Jesus the Savior into the world. In knowing God, they were loving parents. As the father of 3 adopted children, I am ever grateful for the birth-parents; without them, I wouldn't have my kids that I love so terribly much. Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was not their own, and they loved Him so terribly much. This young couple physically touched and kissed the face of God! Their love for this Child was their reward.
Knowing God means trusting God no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the outcome or outcomes. Continual trusting leads to greater love of others. Am I trusting and loving God in all of my circumstances, regardless of what happens in my life or theirs?
Jesus knew His God.
That sentence sounds strange to say, and strange to write. Why? Because Jesus Himself IS God!
When we read the Christmas story, we oftentimes forget about Jesus as God. We read the story of the baby Jesus lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, surrounded by mounds of hay and stubble. Then there are the smells of animals and the simple earth. There's the arrival of the local shepherds who have come to worship the newborn Messiah. Months will pass and the wise men from the East will visit and like the shepherds, will have come to worship, while at the same time bestowing gifts on the this long awaited King. From that point on, Jesus will lead an unremarkable life as an average peasant, living life and working among average people. He will most likely be viewed as "different" or even "strange", even (especially) by his earthly half brothers and sisters.
As I allow my mind to wander and ponder these thoughts of Jesus, I have to come to understand that at the time of His birth, He had already done it all: He was God! Jesus was there with the Father and the Holy Spirit as they created the universe and set time and history into motion. Jesus was there when Adam and Eve first sinned and brought death into this perfect Creation. For centuries and centuries Jesus as God would watch mankind strive to be like God and yet continually fail in that process. But this was all a part of the story, His story, history and the story of Redemption; how one day Jesus would fulfill His mission.
Jesus was and is fully God and fully man. Always was, is and will be. Jesus lived every bit as men and women live. He grew in His mother's womb. He traversed the birth canal. He was birthed in a crude and lowly place among society's forgotten people. And yet He was fully God who accepted worship from angels and shepherds and wise men.
Why did Jesus put aside His glory that He had so enjoyed from eternity past? Jesus knew His God. He knew the Father's plan for redeeming and restoring the relationship that man had broken back in the Garden. Jesus was the integral part of the plan of God. Only Jesus could be the final sacrifice that would redeem mankind because He was fully man and fully God.
The Apostle Paul writes: "2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:2-11.
Jesus as God chose to be the sacrifice and was sent out by the Father to restore the broken relationship between Creator and creation. You and I can now have that restored relationship with God because of what Jesus did. Jesus knew the Father. Jesus knew the plan. Jesus humbled Himself. Jesus was wise and obedient. Jesus loved the Father (as the Father loves His Son) and trusted the entire plan, as difficult as it would be in human terms and experience. And now in the end He is glorified just because He knew His God and lovingly and humbly trusted and obeyed.
What about us?
Our attitude needs to the same as the Shepherds; to be lowly and humble and rejoice in the wonder of God that we see. Our attitude needs to be the same as the Wise men from the East, searching the Scriptures to know God and His Word and how that all works in our lives (family, business or work, social); to be willing to share the truths of Jesus to a world that wants to stamp Him out. Our attitude needs to be the same as Joseph and Mary and be accepting and obedient in whatever circumstance God may lead us into, because if He's going to lead me into something, He will lead me through it while bringing Him much glory. After all, it's about God, not about you or me. Ultimately, our attitude needs to be the same as Jesus. Reread Paul's words above; that passage says it all. We need to move ourselves aside and allow God to fully come, take over and transform our lives. Each one of us was created in the image and likeness of God to be like Him in love and purity and beauty and holiness and kindness and generosity and creativity.
When we tell people of our God and what He has done in our lives, it is a compelling personal story; almost as compelling as the Christmas story. Our story isn't compelling because of you or me or what we have done or what we have gone through, it is compelling because we know our God and our God has done amazing things in us and through us and it is He Who deserves the honor and the glory. It is God Who always gets the honor and the glory simply because He is God.
In this life, we all enter the same way: helpless and crying, yet sweet and gentle. Life will affect us for good or for evil and we will choose one over the other.
As I come to Christmas (especially this year), I come with true joy because of what God has done for me and through me. At the same time, I come to Christmas with a certain sobriety as to the Christmas story and its characters as well as my responsibilities for the life I have been given. I am a blessed man. I am a thankful man. God has provided me with respect and humility for the "frail" human body that I currently reside in. God has provided me wisdom that I am free to use for His glory. I am free to trust God and His ways, because I have already been a living witness and hopefully a good testimony of how He brings me to and through life's tumults. I love others both close to me and different from me because I am loved by God Himself. Knowing God gives me the strength and fortitude to press on for His glory and to His plan, no matter what.
I know my God gifts me with Christmas, with Jesus, because He is my good, good Father. Merry Christmas!
Music video: Chris Tomlin, "Good, Good Father"