I like Christmas! Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I enjoy the season; I enjoy the festivity. I enjoy the opportunity to revisit an important part of the storyline of Scripture.
The Christmas season is misunderstood by many, diminished, even demeaned. Christmas is much larger than the story of baby Jesus. For many people in the world today, Christmas is only a secular holiday, no longer a religious holiday. Some churches and religious groups reject Christmas. Other churches and religious groups attach so much ritual to the season that they forget to tell the story and explain its importance. For many years, the Christmas season was largely ignored in my religious heritage. In more recent years, many of my tribe have swerved to the other side, celebrating the Christmas season with traditional religious trappings. In both cases, we were and continue to be largely silent about the biblical message that is so needed in our world today.
In the biblical narrative of the shepherds in Luke 2, three questions come forth. Three “Christmas resolutions” follow.
First, Who is Jesus? (In the city of David, is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.) I want to see Jesus! I want to understand and know him.
Second, What will I do with the story of Jesus? (Let us go see and verify what we have been told. And they spread the word.) I will share the good news of Jesus.
Third, What will I do with Jesus? (And they returned glorifying and praising God.) Luke’s historical account has a long list of those who reacted to and participated with the Jesus story in various ways — John the Baptist in the womb, Mary and Joseph, Quirinius, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna. And outside the Lukan account, one could add Gabriel, Herod, the Magi, and others. I will bow down in worship — I will praise and glorify Him.
Three resolutions: to know Him, to share Him, to exalt Him. Quite a life-changing set of resolutions, for the next two weeks, for the coming year, for life! May God bless you as you resolve to understand the biblical significance of the season!