Scroll down to see and play Audio.
Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this special CHRISTMAS day 2020. I have already prayed for you today, that you would receive a special touch from Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us” wherever you are in our big world today.
It shouldn’t be difficult for us to put ourselves in the original Christmas story, you’ve heard it, read it, seen it depicted in movies and on stage many times. But today as families and friends gather around the world, what will you say if someone asks you: “So, this Christmas story in the Bible, do you really believe it? When did it happen and what does it mean?”
So…The Biblical Christmas. . .
Where: Bethlehem, a village about 6 miles south of Jerusalem.
When: About 6bc (note I have two links at the end today giving you some really good information about Caesar Augustus, the census and Quirinius)
What: The birth of Jesus Christ.
Why is it so important? Ah… that’s the “good news of great joy for all people…a Savior has been born to you,” (Luke 2:11) as the angels told the shepherds. Gabriel had told Joseph “You are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
So come on my friends, let’s step into that Christmas miracle together. As the night sky grew dark again after the angels left, how long did it take before any of those shepherds recovered from their shock enough to speak? I imagine they just sat looking into the sky or the embers of their campfire for a long time before finally someone said: “Let’s go, to Bethlehem, and see this thing which the LORD has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)
Somehow they decided who should go and who should stay with the sheep, and off they went, quickly. They were animal herdsmen, so they knew the only clue the angels had given them, a manger, is a feeding trough for animals and therefore it would be found in Bethlehem where animals would be kept for long periods of time, like near an Inn.
We only have one short sentence about their encounter: “So they hurried off and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:16-18) So what do you think they saw in that stable? Did they ask any questions? Did Joseph tell them about his angelic visit? Did Mary tell them about her time with Zechariah & Elizabeth or her visit from Gabriel? Or was it simply a visit of sacred silence as they all watched a tiny baby stretch His newborn arms and legs in that stable manger?
Those shepherds became the first missionaries as they ‘spread the word’ to any who would hear them in Bethlehem that night, and I imagine for the rest of their lives, over and over, they told their stories of their Christmas experience! You know how we like to return to places that are very special to us? So I wonder if these shepherds brought their grandkids back to that field in the years future, and as they sat around the campfire, or they laid back on the grass looking up into the sky, did they tell their Christmas story…again?
We have no record of it, but I’ve often wondered if 30 years later or so, some of those shepherds might have been in a town selling some of their sheep, and overheard someone talking about Jesus who was doing miracles and speaking His great truths in that town? Can you imagine, if you were one of those shepherds, and as a young boy you had accompanied your father going to Bethlehem that night, and now as a middle aged man, you stand in a crowd watching Jesus speak! And then suddenly a blind man cries out asking Jesus for help, and you watch Jesus heal that blind man and give him sight! Do you suppose you’d work your way through the crowd trying to approach Jesus? Probably Peter, Jesus’ disciple, would hold you back, but maybe you’d ask permission to just have a brief word with Jesus.
Stand there for a moment… let your eyes focus on the face of God… Jesus. Finally, might you take a deep breath and say something like: “Jesus, I’ve heard so much about you, but I spend all my time with sheep moving from place to place searching for grass and water for them, so this is the first time that I’ve had a chance to hear you teach. But it’s not the first time I’ve seen you. Jesus… I was there, that night in the stable. I came with my father and some other shepherds. Angels had appeared to us and told us of Your birth, and that we’d find You lying in a manger… and we did! That night changed my life. I’ve prayed, thanking God many times since that night. Now, today, I want to thank You, Jesus, personally for coming to be our Savior! . . .”
Do you suppose you might fall to your knees simply overwhelmed by this encounter and who you know Jesus is? And what do you suppose Jesus might say to you in response?
You see my friends, Jesus several times explained WHY He came to be born in that stable that first Christmas. May I give you three of His statements:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
“The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10)
I think it’s time to worship… on this Christmas day, right where you are, you and Jesus. What wells up in your soul that you’d like to say to Jesus right now, my friends?
Here’s a video link that may help you. Mr. Jimmy Stewart, stepping into the stable that Christmas night… it’s powerful.
Here is the link for further information about Caesar Augustus, the census in Luke 2:1…
This is a link with further information about Quirinius, the governor of Syria, mentioned in Luke 2:2…
Click to read today’s chapter: Luke2:1-20. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
Click here to listen to a dramatized reading of Luke 2.
 |  |
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email
WhatsApp