Christmas is upon us. This devotional is being posted on Christmas Eve, and thus I will try to keep this a bit shorter. The Scripture reading is the very familiar Nativity account found in the Gospel of Luke.
Many of us have a Nativity set that we place in our house sometime during the month of December. Among the figures we usually find a shepherd or two, as Luke’s account includes the angel's announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Most of us don’t encounter shepherds in our day-to-day life, and those who raise sheep today are probably quite different from those who did so in Bible times. At the time of Jesus, shepherds were considered among the lowest of the low in society. They were generally uneducated and poor. Most of the year they lived outdoors among the sheep they tended, and thus they and their clothes were often dirty, and probably smelly, as well.
Most societies, both back then and today, have a social order, where some people are considered higher, more socially acceptable, and there are others who are lower in rank, and tend to be shunned by “better people”. Unfortunately there are even some churches where this uncharitable behavior goes on. It was the same in Biblical times, and the shepherds were down towards the bottom, not much higher than lepers. They were treated as outsiders, and usually not welcomed to come worship in the synagogues or especially in the Temple in Jerusalem. However, Jesus welcomed people who were regarded as unclean and outsiders - the lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and at His birth, the shepherds.
God didn’t announce the birth of Jesus to the Pharisees or the other religious leaders. Nor did He announce it to King Herod or to Caesar. He didn’t announce it to the snobbish, social elites in Jerusalem or the country club crowd. God chose to announce the birth of the Savior to the shepherds (vs. 8-12). The message that the angels gave the shepherds was that they would find the Savior, the Son of God in a manger, wrapped in simple swaddling clothes, not in a palace in a warm cradle, attended to by nurses and maids. They were to go and find Him. They would be welcomed at His side, there was room for them there.
The angels brought them, and all of us, a message of peace and goodwill (vs. 13-14). This good news is for all people, all nations, people of every social ranking. However, God’s peace is only for those on whom His favor rests, meaning those who have accepted Jesus. God’s peace is not a reward for those who have good will, but it is a gracious gift to those who are the objects of His good will, the saved.
Christmas is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Though we don’t know exactly what day He was born, this is the day that was chosen to celebrate. Christmas should be a birthday party for Jesus. And though a large part of the world celebrates Christmas with gifts, trees, and Santa, only a few include Jesus in their celebrations. Imagine having a birthday party, but the Guest of Honor is not invited. Not only is He not invited, so many get angry if He is even referred to. How many around the world want to have Christmas without Jesus, want to keep Him out?! We see Christmas displays with brightly decorated trees, Christmas lights, plenty of Santas and elves, but sadly Jesus is kept out. Most Christmas cards don’t even show Him. And yet it is His birthday!
As you celebrate your Christmas, be sure to include Jesus in the celebration. After all, it is His birthday, and He should be the Guest of Honor!
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