The Wonder of Christmas

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From ground level, Joseph and Mary were insignificant nobodies from a nothing town. The peasant couple appeared to be helpless pawns caught in the movement of secular history. But as they made their way to Bethlehem, God was setting the scene for the birth of his Son. The baby Mary carried was not a Caesar, a man who would claim to be God, but a far greater wonder--God who had become man!

When they arrived no room was available, only a crude stable. There in the humiliation of a stinking barnyard the Son of God was born into the world--not as a prince but as a pauper. We must never forget that this is where Christianity began--and where it always begins. It begins with a sense of need, a graced sense of one's insufficiency. Christ comes to the needy. Ultimately, he is born in those who are "poor in spirit."

The story moves quickly as Christ's birth is announced. Shepherds were the first to hear. "And there were shepherds 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).

Shepherds were despised by the "good," respectable people of that day. They were regarded as thieves. The only ones lower than shepherds were lepers.

God wants us to get it straight: Christmas is for those who need Jesus! Whatever our situation, he can deliver us. The angel said the "good news" was for "all the people." Whoever you are, he can deliver you. "Because Jesus lives forever... he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:24-25). Listen to the angel's words, again, slowly: "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" (Luke 2:10-11).

This Christmas it is not enough to hear about Jesus. It is not enough to come peek in the manger and say, "Oh, how nice. What a lovely scene. It gives me such good feelings." The truth is, even if Christ were born in Bethlehem a thousand times and not in you, you would be eternally lost. The Christ who was born into the world must be born in you.

Christmas sentiment without the living Christ is a yellow brick road to darkness. That is the terrifying thing about all the Christmas glitz--that Christmas can be buried by materialism and sentiment, and people will not even know it or care.

He really did come into the world; and because of this, he really can come into your heart. This Christmas, let us lay our lives before him and receive the gift.

In this world of sin,
Where meek souls will
Receive him still
The dear Christ enters in.

Excerpted from The Gift by R. Kent Hughes. Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL 60187. Reference: Philip Brooks, "O, Little Town of Bethlehem"

© 2002 Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Translated by permission of Good News Publishers
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