Yes, Christmas is next week! Unfortunately, many of us are stressing trying to make the day “perfect.” Don’t let that ruin your holiday and time with your family.

Because of family schedules, everyone gathers at our house Christmas afternoon and we open gifts after dinner. I try to talk about Jesus for a few minutes post eating and before the wrapping paper flies. It isn’t much, but I hope it directs everyone’s thoughts (especially the grandkids) to the real reason we are celebrating.

This year we are looking at the Christmas story through carols. Hopefully, this unique way of looking at Jesus’ birth will give you a new perspective. If did for me! Happy Caroling!

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 

We romanticize so much about the birth of Jesus and the town of Bethlehem is no exception. The song is right about the size. It is a small town. During Jesus’ time, the population may have only been a few hundred people. Today 20 – 30 thousand people live there.

This special place has known a lot of turmoil. Different countries controlled the city throughout history. Although Israel was recognized as a nation in 1948, Bethlehem was not part of Israel until after they won the Six-Day War in 1967. Then in 1995, Israel ceded control of the city to Palestine per a peace agreement. Today Palestine still controls the city that is now majority Muslim. Approximately 40% of the city is Christian.  

Bethlehem may be small, but it played an important role in Biblical history. In Genesis 35:19 we read that Jacob (the father of the twelve tribes of Israel) was on his way to Bethlehem when his favorite wife Rachel died giving birth to his twelfth son. So Rachel was buried close to Bethlehem.  This city was where Ruth (a Moabite and ancestor of Jesus) met her future husband Boaz. (Ruth 2: 1-5) It was also King David’s birthplace (hence the reason Mary and Joseph were there for the census) and where Samuel anointed David to succeed Saul as king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)  

Mary and Joseph were Jews and raised in faithful homes. I am sure they knew Bethlehem’s rich history and were taught to anticipate the coming of the Messiah, who was to be born in this small town. (Micah 5:2-5) But I doubt the exhausted couple was thinking about that when they entered the city.  After all, they had just traveled 8-10 days (about 100 miles) and their thoughts were most likely focused on Mary’s labor pains. So tonight they saw Bethlehem as a welcome respite, until they realized there was no room for them in the inn.  

JOY TO THE WORLD

It was time for the birth! (Luke 2:6) I wonder if a midwife was available? Did Joseph deliver the child? Was it a difficult birth? I am curious about so much that is left out of the story. I do believe that when Mary held Jesus in her arms she must have felt joy. I picture her snuggling the child full of wonder about the future for this special son.  Mary had a unique perspective that no other human can fully understand. She loved Jesus as her son and as the Messiah. 

AWAY IN A MANGER

Mary laid him in a manger, (Luke 2:7) which was a feeding trough for animals. The Nativity scene is probably the most inaccurate part of the Christmas story. It was surely dark, damp, and dirty. Most likely they were in a cave next to where the animals of the inn’s guests were kept. The song says Jesus didn’t cry. Hopefully, that is true for Mary’s sake, but probably not. 

Think how exhausted we are after labor and delivery. But we are usually in a hospital or birthing center where there are comfortable beds and assistance. There are even drugs if we need or want them! Mary had none of that. 

I have to be honest, I would be asking God what He is thinking.  Why did He give me this impossible calling and not even bother to reserve a room for me to give birth? Why was I using an animal’s feeding trough for a bed? This young couple endured so much. Did they wonder why God didn’t prepare better for the arrival of His Son? In my flesh, I am afraid I would question God’s methods.  

The Bible doesn’t tell us what Mary and Joseph were thinking, but we know they were faithful and trusted God. Surely our loving Father walked with Mary and Joseph that night providing special comfort to endure the hardships they encountered.

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

This song tells us the angels sang, but read Luke 2: 8-15 closely. It never states the angels sang. They praised God and told the shepherds where to find the Messiah. It is interesting to note that the angel told the shepherds that they could recognize Jesus by this sign: a baby in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. I think it was typical to wrap babies in swaddling cloths- they still do today. So how was this a sign? Most newborns weren’t in a feeding trough!

The shepherds didn’t seem to question why the Messiah was in a manger. They went to find him Him and rejoiced at the revelation praising God when they returned to their flocks. 

SILENT NIGHT

I doubt it was a silent night. The couple was probably staying in a cave near the inn.  All the people were coming for the census that the Roman Emperor Augustus decreed. (Luke 2: 1-5) So this sleepy town was probably turned into a bustling city. Today when people go out of town they often shed the constraints of being at home and spend time partying. I bet it was no different then. Additionally, there was a visit from shepherds exclaiming a fantastic tale. These men were excited and probably not particularly quiet.

After an exhausting delivery, Mary was probably up all night caring for and feeding her newborn son. Her mind processing all that happened, thinking about the future, and praying fervently for Jesus.

All is calm? I have to say no to that. 

I WONDER AS I WANDER

Luke 2: 21-24 tells us that Mary and Joseph followed the Jewish customs. Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth and dedicated to the Lord. They also brought Jesus to the Temple to make the purification offering. After giving birth a woman was ceremonially unclean. This service was done forty days after the birth of a son. After a priest sacrificed the couple’s offering the woman would be declared clean. 

It is here that we are introduced to Simeon. I picture him an old man (but the Bible doesn’t say that) wandering through life wondering when rescue would come. After all, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. (Luke 2:25-26) The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple that day and he held the baby Jesus knowing he could now die in peace. (Luke 2: 27-32) He had some tough words for Mary to hear including that many would oppose her son and a sword would pierce her soul. We have such hopes and dreams for our child. Mary knew Jesus’ birth was a miracle; however, she didn’t know everything. This must have been both a joyful and confusing time for her. (Luke 2: 33-35)

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

While talking with Simeon a woman named Anna came along. Anna stayed at the Temple day and night. She was called a prophet. It is interesting that the Bible doesn’t say that Anna spoke to the couple or admired the baby. She simply began to praise God. The Spirit must have told her who she had just seen and she wanted everyone to know that the Messiah had come. (Luke 2: 36-38) 

WE THREE KINGS

Matthew 2: 1-12 records the account of men who were guided by a star to Jesus. We don’t know much about the wise men who came to find the Messiah. We do know that three gifts are mentioned, but the song might be wrong about the number of men.

The fact that this group got the attention of Herod leads us to believe it was a large group of wealthy men. They were probably educated, but were they kings? Were they Jews or Gentiles? Perhaps they were descendants of Jews who were exiled when Israel was conquered and their families never returned home.  Could they have been astronomers who studied the stars and ancient manuscripts? Perhaps God intervened in a miraculous way to speak to these men about this special birth. Some believe that they represented the world bowing down to Jesus. We are sort of left in the dark about the details of this visit.

We do know one thing, and that is they came from the east and traveled a long distance to see Jesus. By the time they arrived Jesus was living in a house with his parents. These foreigners were joyful when they found the child. All wise men rejoice when they receive Jesus into their lives. Unlike most of us, they did not seek Him to ask for blessings or favor. Instead, they came to worship Him and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

Herod’s paranoia got the best of him and he tried to use these important men to find Jesus and kill Him. Of course, it didn’t work. Jesus had much to do before he died for our sins. God warned the travelers to avoid Herod by traveling a different route home. They were wise men, so they obeyed God. I am sure they knew they were part of a miracle. 

Hope you find some time during the holiday to share this perspective on the Christmas story with your family. Maybe you can even convince them to sing!   Also, share your favorite carol in the comment section below!

No devotions this week. No blog or devotions next week. My next blog post will be January 2 and  “Word of the Week” and Children’s “Walk Through the Bible” will also return in 2018.

Hope you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!  Don’t forget to comment below!