December 13 - The Responses of Christmas

The Responses of Christmas

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2)NIV

God has something for each of us this Christmas but we will determine what we find.  As different ones heard the news of Christ’s birth, they responded differently which still happens today.  Now when babies are born there is celebration, right? It doesn’t make much difference what the circumstances are. When a baby is born, there is reason to acknowledge it.

On the night Jesus was born, it was a private celebration at first, just Mary and Joseph. They knew something no one else knew. They knew that this baby was God’s own Son and that His birth was a miracle. Soon the celebration spreads. Angels spoke to shepherds and announced that a Savior had been born, who is Christ the Lord. So they came rushing to see the new baby. Maybe some people from the inn even came out and peeked through cracks in the wall to see what was going on and then joined in the celebration.

Christmas ought always to be a celebration because a baby was born.  But, as we know, this was not just “any baby.” This was God as a baby and that’s cause for greatest celebration because Christ has come to live within us.

In Ron Mehl’s Christmas book, “Love Found A Way,” he shares the story of

a little red-headed deaf boy who visited their church in Beaverton, Oregon on the night of a Children’s Christmas program.  Right before Christmas, the children’s choir sang for the congregation.  As the concert progressed, the little guy was mildly interested, to say the least, in watching the singing children because there was no message for him. How could there be?  He couldn’t hear any of the words.  Suddenly everything changed.  The choir began to sing in the lad’s language.  They began to sign with their hands and sing with their voices a song written by Lanny Wolfe.  The song was called “Jesus We Crown You With Praise.” The little boy suddenly stood up on his seat.  His eyes lit up like big saucers.  They were singing to him. He could hardly contain his joy.  His little hands began to sing as he signed along with the choir.    When the choir finished, that excited little redhead thought the evening had been planned just for him.  Ron Mehl would say, “I believe in my heart that he was right.”

But the truth is, God individually tailor-makes Christmas for every person if they are willing to hear the news. He did it then. He does it now. Consider the five responses that followed the news of Christ’s birth that first Christmas.

I think you’ll realize that you fit into at least one of them. Maybe you’ll fit into more.

First, the Innkeeper’s response: Down through the centuries, people have pictured him either as a villain or as a hero. Either he is a mean-spirited, grumpy old man who slams the door in the face of Mary and Joseph, or a kind-hearted, gentle man who is a victim of circumstances beyond his control. I know that his response was the response of preoccupation.

Second, the Shepherd’s Response: Their’s was a response of surprise. Shepherds were part of the lower class in Israel. They were often the rejects of society. And yet, God reaches across all the barriers of society and tells the shepherds, "I want you to be the first to know that in the city of David, a Savior has been born." They were privileged people, indeed. God told the shepherds, "You’re first. You get the first opportunity to see and worship Him."

Third, Herod’s Response: His is a response of fear. In fact, history says that Herod was so fearful he would lose his throne that he killed his favorite wife and three of his sons. The threat of another king would create jealous rage that rarely the world has seen.

Fourth, the Religious Leaders’ Response: Their response is one of indifference. It has always interested me that when Herod asks them, "Have you heard anything about a new king?" that they instantly answer and say, "Yes. One is going to be born in Bethlehem. The prophets have said that for years." Well, they knew the right answer, but it has always amazed me that they didn’t go to Bethlehem. They were indifferent.

Finally, the Wise Men’s Response: It is the response of the wise men. Theirs is a response of worship. They lived hundreds of miles away. And when they saw this new star, this special star, they reasoned that a new world ruler had been born. So they started their long journey to find Him. And once they found Mary & Joseph & the baby, the Bible says that they worshiped Him and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

More than any of the responses, that ought to be our response to weigh the evidence, to listen to what God has said, to see what He has revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. And once we have reached the conclusion that, indeed, this is the Son of God, that this is God in the flesh, we worship Him, giving Him gifts, expressing our adoration, our love & our thankfulness for what God has done.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)    Have you ever responded to the Christmas message differently than the wise men?

2)   What keeps us from worshipping Him?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser