I love to hear the details of the Christmas story over and over!
I love to tell the story; ‘tis pleasant to repeat
Kate Hankey, 1866
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy word!
I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love!
My husband shares a Christmas homily each year. I’ve posted it in this blog before … but it bears repeating!
When my husband was a young child, the birth of Jesus was portrayed as sad and unfortunate. Mary and Joseph had to travel to be taxed; Mary, very pregnant, had to ride a donkey on a long journey; when they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room in the inn. Ron shares that when he grew up, he realized there were no accidents with God.
Everything has meaning.
And so, in the circumstances of Jesus’ birth,
there was meaning as well.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” was the city of David and home to the temple flocks of sheep.
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.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.And he will be their peace.
Micah 5:1-4
The City of David—
When the angel came to Mary, he said, “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 1:31-33
The “house of bread” —
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry,
John 6:35
and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
The home to sacred temple flocks —
Lambs were specifically raised in this area for the sacrificial system –
the first-born male lambs were considered sacred. It was John the Baptist who said,
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29
Notice that Jesus rode into the city of his birth on a donkey …
and into the city of his death on a donkey …
Even the lowly circumstances of Jesus’ birth were appropriate. The stable – a place for livestock, was an expected place for a lamb’s birth. The manger was a feeding trough – perfect for the “bread of life!”
The announcement of his birth was also fitting. Notice how God announced the birth of his son to every segment of society.
The wise men, Gentiles, followed the star to Jerusalem. Herod and the Jewish religious leaders heard about the birth from the Wise Men. The angels visited the shepherds – who better to know about the birth of a sacred lamb than the shepherds!
The angels said, “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 2:10-11
Angels, messengers of God, announced the birth of the Son of God. They identified the Son of God as
the Savior … redeemer,
Christ … the anointed one, Messiah,
and Lord … the sovereign ruler!
Notice how the key people in this story responded to the birth of Jesus!
Joseph responded appropriately to the birth of Jesus even though he first questioned the pregnancy! He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him … took Mary to be his wife and named his son Jesus!
Mary also responded appropriately. She humbly responded at the announcement that she was the chosen one, “May it be to me as you have said.” And at the birth, she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
The Wise Men followed the star, brought gifts, and bowed down to worship the Christ child.
The shepherds, after the angel visitation, hurried to find the baby. When they saw him, they spread the word! They returned to their fields, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen!”
How should we respond to the Christmas story?
We respond with adoration!
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!God of God, Light of Light eternal,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created,.Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
“Glory to God, all glory in the highest!”Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
John Francis Wade, 1841
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Merry Christmas!
