Ed Urzi

Come to Bethlehem and see Christ Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King ₍₁₎

One of the best-known portions of the Christmas story involves an angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth to a group of shepherds who were looking after their flocks by night. For these shepherds, their night’s work may have started out like any other night’s work- but this night was no ordinary night on the job…

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:8-9 NIV).

As a group, shepherds were often considered to be the social outcasts of their day. Their work wasn’t very glamorous, and they spent most of their time with a group of animals. A first-century shepherd’s life could also become very isolated, especially since they were not allowed to participate in the various Jewish ceremonies. Unfortunately for these shepherds, Hebrew social life largely revolved around the Temple during this period.

A shepherd who was not permitted to participate in these activities was someone who was cut out of the social network of the community. And if that wasn’t enough, shepherds were considered to be an unreliable class of people; in fact, they were so mistrusted that they were not even permitted to offer testimony in court.

So, the shepherds were a group of outsiders- a collection of people who didn’t fit into the accepted social categories of their day. They were untrusted and looked down upon by others. Yet these were the people whom God chose to receive the announcement of Jesus’ birth.

This part of the Christmas story reminds us that God doesn’t exclude us from a relationship with Him based on our social standing (or lack thereof). It also brings to mind something recorded in the New Testament book of Acts: “…I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35 NLT).

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger'” (Luke 2:10-12 NIV).

It’s important to note that this event was good news for everyone, everywhere. And following this single angel’s announcement, an army of angels suddenly joined together to honor God…

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:13-16 NIV).

So, the shepherds decided to hurry to Bethlehem to see the child that had just been announced to them. Bethlehem was not a very large town, so the shepherds probably had little problem in checking from place to place until they finally found the location with infant Jesus, the same one that matched the description that was given to them while they were out in the fields.

While the Scriptures do not tell us how Mary and Joseph responded to this visit from the shepherds, it’s likely that their arrival came as quite a surprise. You can just imagine the astonishment of Mary and Joseph as a group of breathless shepherds suddenly burst in upon them to see the newborn child and to tell them all they had seen and heard concerning Him.

But this part of the Christmas story shouldn’t end before we take a moment to put ourselves in the position of these shepherds. For instance, what could be more impossible to believe than an announcement that Christ the Lord had been born and that He could be found lying in a feedbox inside a shelter for animals? While many people might find that announcement difficult to accept, these men certainly didn’t seem doubtful, skeptical, or unimpressed regarding it- or by what they found in that manger when they followed up on this angelic proclamation.

On the contrary, the next few verses tell us this…

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:17-20 NIV).

To Mary’s credit, she didn’t let the memory of these incredible events pass by. Instead, she collected them, thought about them, and kept them close to her heart. Perhaps it was the joy that Mary associated with these memories that helped sustain her throughout the difficult times that were to follow.

(1) Angels We Have Heard On High (Traditional)

At this point, it might be good to stop and consider a question that people often ask at this time of year: Was Jesus actually born on Christmas as we know it today?

Well, it may come as a surprise to find that December 25th was originally chosen as the date of Jesus’ birth in order to establish a “Christian holiday” as an alternative to the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. The Saturnalia festival (or “festival of the sun”) was held each year around the time of the winter solstice. One feast that was held during this time was the Sol Invictus or the feast of the “invincible sun” and it celebrated the fact that the shortest day of the year had passed and the days were about to grow longer again.

The ancient Saturnalia festival was said to be a non-stop blowout of drunkenness and feasting that often featured practical jokes, drinking, gambling and lots of immorality. Of course, many people choose to celebrate Christmas in much the same manner today so perhaps things haven’t changed as much as we might like to think.

Anyway, the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25th was first popularized during the fourth century A.D. and while it is unlikely that December 25th  represents the actual date of Jesus’ birth, it’s not entirely impossible. You see, it’s difficult to establish the exact time of year that Jesus was born from the information that’s given to us in the Bible. In fact, even the year of Jesus’ birth is uncertain, although many commentators believe it took place around 4 B.C. This, of course, puts us in the awkward position of saying that Christ was born “before Christ” but that’s the way it is.

So with these things in mind, is it wrong to celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25th? Well, the New Testament book of Romans tells us this: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). We could apply this verse to our question by saying that if someone wishes to celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25th, then he or she should do so because people are free to dedicate certain days to God as long as they remain convinced that they are doing the right thing.

Of course, someone who wants to celebrate Jesus’ birth on some other day of the year is also free to do so as well. Remember, “…some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable” (NLT).

Since we’re on the subject of holiday traditions, let’s take a moment to look at another well-known holiday tradition: Christmas trees. Have you ever wondered how a decorated tree inside a house became a Christmas tradition? Well, believe it or not, the Christmas tree traces its origins to the ancient non-Christian peoples of Europe.

You see, the winter seasons are often very severe in northern Europe. Because of this, the ancient peoples of that area often blamed evil spirits for the arrival of winter when much of the existing plant life appeared to die. However, there were a few trees and other plants that seemed resistant to the brutal winter weather and stayed “alive” while everything else “died” during that time of year. Those trees were the evergreen trees, along with certain other plants like holly and mistletoe.

These trees and plants were thought to offer protection against the life-threatening evil of the cold winter darkness and over time, people eventually came to believe that wherever these evergreens were placed, evil spirits could not go. So people began to bring such trees and plants into their homes and decorate them as a sign of worship.

For example, garlands made of evergreens were hung inside the home. This is where the tradition to “Deck the halls with boughs of holly” got started. Evergreens were also “sacrificed” to encourage the return of the sun in some Scandinavian countries,. This represented the origin of the modern-day “Yule Log” tradition. The ancient people of what is now Germany were probably the first to place lights on their trees in the form of candles.

So it seems that there is no real historical evidence to connect these holiday traditions with Jesus’ birth. But does that mean it’s wrong for Christians to put up a Christmas tree or hang evergreen wreaths and garland during the holidays?

Well, we might think of these traditions in the following manner: when an artist like a musician or a painter becomes a Christian, he or she will often rededicate their creative talents, skills, and abilities for use in a way that honors God. In a similar manner, we can look at many of the symbolic elements of Christmas (like a Christmas tree, for example) in much the same way. In other words, Christians have an opportunity to rededicate those symbols for use in a manner that honors God..

For example, here are a few traditional Christmas elements along with the new symbolic meanings…

• Evergreen tree: An evergreen tree symbolizes everlasting life through Jesus (John 10:27-28).
• Lights:  Lights indicate that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).
• Gifts: Giving gifts at Christmas time reminds us that “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
• Star at the top of a Christmas tree: This represents the star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2).
• Angels: These are representative of the angelic beings who announced Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8-14).
• Ornaments/Decorations: These help symbolize the joyous celebration of the Savior’s birth (Luke 2:10-11).

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child” (Luke 2:1-5 NIV).

Caesar Augustus is also known to history as Octavian and he ruled the Roman Empire from approximately 30 BC to 14 AD. A “census” was a type of survey that counted people for tax purposes within ancient Rome. In fact, the New Testament Gospel of Luke refers to this as “the first census” to separate it from another well-known census (which Luke also mentions in Acts 5:37) that occurred in 6 A.D.

On the surface, it would seem that Caesar was responsible for ordering this census, but the Scriptures tell us God was the One who orchestrated these events behind the scenes to fulfill His promises. We know this from a passage found in the Old Testament book of Micah…

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2 NKJ).

Joseph and Mary’s trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles (129 km) one way. At an average walking speed of 2 mph (3 kph), this was not an easy distance to cover in those days. Although Roman law didn’t require someone like Mary to register for the census, Luke 4:5 tells us that she and Joseph went together anyway. Knowing this, we might be tempted to ask why a young woman in the latter stages of her pregnancy would choose to make this difficult, unnecessary journey?

Some possible answers to that question should quickly come to mind for those who know something of the culture and background to this story. You see, it’s possible that Mary’s controversial pregnancy created such a difficult climate back home for Mary and Joseph that the long trip to Bethlehem together seemed better than leaving her behind. Or perhaps Joseph simply didn’t want to leave Mary by herself to face the possibility of coming to term alone.

In any event, the curtain was now about to rise on the greatest event in human history…

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7 NIV).

One of the most incredible things about the Christmas story is the difference between the enormity of the event and the simplicity of the account. In this day and age where a small nativity scene on the front lawn at Christmas time often gets buried behind Santa Claus and various Christmas decorations, it may be difficult to appreciate the astounding nature of this event.

There weren’t many good places to stay when traveling in those days because the “inns” mentioned in the Bible were not like the hotels or motels we might encounter today. In fact, the word translated “inn” probably refers to a “private home” or “guest room.”

The cloths or “swaddling clothes” were long cloth strips that were used to wrap an infant of that time. In Mary’s day, midwives usually assisted during childbirth but notice that Mary apparently had no one to help her (except perhaps Joseph) for we’re told that she wrapped the baby on her own.

This passage then goes on to say that Mary placed the infant Jesus in a manger. For many, the idea of a manger brings to mind the image of a barn-like structure or some other type of building suitable for the care and shelter of animals. But animals were not usually kept in barns as is common today. In those days, animals were often kept in a hollowed out rock area or caves. A “manger” was actually a feeding trough for such animals. All of this meant that Jesus was probably not born in a barn or a stable as we know it, but in a cave behind someone’s home.

So Joseph and Mary couldn’t find a place to stay and they didn’t have a cradle for the infant Jesus. This means that the greatest human being of all time probably spent His first hours on earth inside a cave while sleeping in a feed box for animals. This is hardly the kind of entrance that one might expect for God in the flesh.

When Gabriel, God’s angelic messenger, said to Mary, “You will be with child and give birth to a son,” it’s possible she made a connection between this angelic announcement and a prophecy contained within the Old Testament book of Isaiah: “…the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV). But this led to an understandable question…

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:34-35 NIV)

So, Gabriel told Mary that this miraculous event would be accomplished through the power of the Highest in the Person of the Holy Spirit. In the original language of this passage, the word “overshadow” carries the idea of “covering with a cloud,” not unlike the cloud of God’s glory that appeared from time to time in the Scriptures (see Exodus 13:21 and Matthew 17:5).

This was the visible revelation of the power and presence of God and it meant that the same power of God that was revealed in the Old Testament would be present in Mary’s life as well. Because of this, Mary’s child would differ from all others: He would be the Holy One and the Son of God.

“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37 NIV).

These verses make reference to Mary’s relative Elizabeth who was pregnant with the child who would later come to be known as John the Baptist (see Luke 1:5-25). So, Gabriel brought Mary a promise and some evidence as well. If God could enable Elizabeth to become pregnant when she was well past her childbearing years, He could certainly accomplish a miraculous event in Mary’s life as well.

Here was Mary’s simple but powerful response…

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

Think about the kind of faith that Mary demonstrated in this response. Notice she didn’t argue, debate, or reject God’s plan- she simply said, “let it be to me according to your word.” In this, Mary’s example provides us with a good example to follow. In fact, her response took a lot more trust in God than it may seem. First, we should remember that Mary agreed to become an unwed mother in a society that mandated capital punishment for those who were physically intimate prior to marriage.

We might also consider Mary’s faith from a practical perspective. For instance, it’s likely that Mary had to endure the whispers, gossip, and suspicious looks that were sure to follow her wherever she went. Not only that, but many also believe that Mary was just 14-16 years old when these events occurred; perhaps even younger.

So, Mary was aligned with God’s plan but there was one more family member to consider…

“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’-which means, ‘God with us.’

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus” (Matthew 1:19-25 NIV).

It may be easy to overlook Joseph’s role in the Christmas story but let’s consider his reaction as well. For example, how would you respond if you were in Joseph’s position and your fiancée said this…

• “I’m going to have a baby.”
• “The baby’s Father is God.”

Would you accept that? Probably not. So, we shouldn’t be surprised to read that Joseph wanted to break off his engagement with Mary when she was found to be pregnant before their wedding ceremony. However, Joseph (who, like Mary, was almost certainly about 14-16 years old) was a person of character and integrity. He was determined to conduct himself in an honorable manner even if seemed as if Mary had not acted honorably towards him before their wedding.

Yet Joseph immediately moved forward in faith once God’s plan was revealed to him, just as Mary had done. These features of the real Christmas story are all important but sometimes easy to forget while we’re trying to avoid the holiday shopping crush.

Note: we will preempt our study in the book of 2 Peter for a brief look at the Christmas Story. Our current study is scheduled to resume on Thursday, December 26th

Well, it’s Christmas time once again. You know, Christmas- the holiday we often associate with things like online sales, crazy shoppers, and ridiculous commercialism. We can illustrate that part of the Christmas “experience” with a holiday song from another generation…

“I just go nuts at Christmas
On that jolly holiday
I’ll go in the red like a knucklehead
‘Cause I squander all my pay…

Oh I just go nuts at Christmas
When each kid hangs up his sock
It’s a time for kids to flip their lids
While their papa goes in hock.” ₍₁₎

There may be more truth behind those lyrics than we’re willing to admit- and that should make us stop and think. For example, do you ever get the feeling that people have missed the real meaning of Christmas? And what is the real meaning of Christmas anyway? Perhaps now is a good time to re-familiarize ourselves with the genuine Christmas story so we can avoid going nuts at Christmas.

We can start with a passage from the Biblical book of Luke…

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27 NIV).

Parents typically arranged marriages for their children in the New Testament era. These marriages usually took place during the early to mid teenage years, with thirteen being the minimum age for boys and twelve for girls. Once the right person was agreed upon by each set of parents, a payment was negotiated with the future bride’s father. This payment could be in the form of money or services provided to the bride’s family to help offset the loss of their daughter as a valued worker. Once this arrangement was complete, the couple entered a period of “betrothal.”

The betrothal was something like the modern-day “engagement” that we see between couples today but was much more formal. First, the couple agreed to a binding marriage contract in the presence of witnesses. These legal agreements were taken very seriously. There were very few “broken engagements” back then for this agreement between the couple could only be dissolved through a process of divorce. This betrothal period could last for up to a year and while the couple were known as husband and wife during that time, there were no marital relations between them.

The groom typically spent this period working to prepare the couple’s future home. When everything was ready, the groom and his friends would travel to meet the bride and her bridal attendants. The bride and groom would join together for a reading of the marriage contract and then the groom would bring his new bride back to the home he had prepared. A great celebration then followed that could go on for a week or more.

So it was during this betrothal period that the angel Gabriel was sent to a young woman named Mary in the village of Nazareth, a town located about seventy miles (113 km) northeast of Jerusalem. Nazareth carried a rather undistinguished reputation back in those days and seemed to be an unlikely candidate for an angelic visit. That might help to explain Mary’s response…

“The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be” (Luke 1:28-29 NIV).

So Mary was confused and disturbed (NLT) by this greeting but there was more to follow…

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33 NIV).

The focus of this angelic message was not so much upon Mary but upon the Son that was to be born to her. First, her Son was to be named “Jesus,” a common name in that day. Next, the announcement that He would be given the throne of his father David fulfilled a promise that God made to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13. In that passage of Scripture, God spoke to David through a prophet named Nathan and said this:

“When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (NIV).

So it was clear from the angel’s message that God was preparing to do something significant. But as we’re about to see, Mary had some difficulty comprehending the breadth of God’s plan.

(1) I Just Go Nuts At Christmas Yogi Yorgesson, Written by: Harry Stewart, Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC