You’ve heard the Christmas story—probably multiple times.
You may even know interesting background information such as:
- The number of miles Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem—about seventy—and the number of days on the road—four to seven
- Angels not necessarily singing to the shepherds but most likely speaking their message [1]
- The gifts of the Magi holding symbolic meaning: gold for Christ’s royalty, myrrh (used in embalming) for his humanity, and incense for his divinity
But perhaps a new insight or two about the familiar story will add a bit of icing to your Christmas joy!
For example, consider:
A Disadvantaged Upbringing
Most of us would choose a sophisticated city like Jerusalem (in the homes of priests perhaps) for the upbringing of the mother and earthly father of the Christ Child.
Instead, God chose Nazareth–a small, nondescript town that nobody cared about. That’s where Mary and Joseph, the parents for the Son of God, were likely born and raised.
We mustn’t think anyone too weak, untrained, or undistinguished to fulfill God’s plans.
An Unknowing Participant
The Roman emperor Caesar Augustus—not a believer in God—unknowingly carried out holy purpose [2]. Our Lord can and does use the most unlikely people; we mustn’t underestimate his influence and power.
An Unlikely Invitation
by Alexander Laureus, 1815
Neither the powers of Rome nor the priests of the Jewish people received an invitation to the birthplace of the King of kings. Instead, angels delivered the news of the Messiah’s birth to scruffy shepherds and told them where Christ could be found.
Often it is the lowly who are the beneficiaries of God’s special favors and blessings—more so than the rich or famous [3].
An Unassuming Humility
Our Savior God is a humble God. Even though he’s the sovereign power of the universe, Christ humbled himself to be born a helpless baby, grow into manhood, and suffer death in the place of all sinners who put their faith in him [4].
How dare I entertain even the smallest of prideful thoughts?
An Unexpected Circumstance
Our God loves surprises! Imagine the shepherds crying out in shock as an angel suddenly appears to them, only to be even more surprised by the angel’s message!
No doubt you’ve been surprised by God too, as he worked out impossible circumstances, miraculously supplied a dire need, or blessed beyond imagination. God’s surprises prove his creative capability to perform wonders that cannot be fathomed, and miracles that cannot be counted!
An Unlikely Juxtaposition
The shepherds visited the True Shepherd; the kings from the East visited the King of the universe. And that Shepherd-King (such a mind-boggling juxtaposition of humility and majesty!) now lives within us.
An Uncommon Possibility
When angels announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds, “the glory of the Lord shone around them [5].”
I wonder, might that celestial light have been rainbow-infused? Consider Revelation 4:3 where the Apostle John tries to describe the glory around God’s throne.
He wrote, “A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.” Perhaps those same, glorious rainbow hues swirled in the light above the hills of Bethlehem that night!
This is the only public-domain image that hints toward what I’m imagining!
Some people enjoy adding such facts and conjectures to their bank of knowledge.
Better yet is to let such information provide the icing on our Christmas joy—the icing of delicious astonishment and sweet encouragement that leads to worship.
* * * * * * * * * *
I praise you Lord God, that your Word is living and active. No matter how often we read a passage or hear a scripture story, you can breathe fresh life into its meaning and impact.
The Christmas narrative is no exception. As we read and hear again the grand story of Jesus’ birth, may our hearts be open to your inspiration, may we overflow with renewed wonder, and in response, offer you our heartfelt worship.
Hebrews 4:12a; Proverbs 4:20-22;
Psalm 119:18; Psalm 40:5; Psalm 72:18-19
[1] Luke 2:13-14
[2] Luke 2:1-4
[4] Colossians 1:17; Philippians 2:5-8
[5] Luke 2:9
Art & photo credits: http://www.freebibleimages.org; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.canva.com.
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God certainly showed that his ways are not like our ways with all that was part of the birth of Jesus and God also showed how sovereign he is
Right you are, Matt. It might be interesting to study the Christmas story in light of God’s attributes. Which ones in particular are on display? You’ve named two already: his separateness from humanity (achieving his purposes, for example, in ways we wouldn’t choose), and his sovereignty. No doubt there are many more! (Maybe we could evidence for all of them!)
Interesting idea for a collab
It’s always a joy to hear/read the Christmas Story. Thank you for embellishing your account with interesting information. But here’s something interesting, too: Doesn’t the statue of Caesar Augustus resemble a young Mitch Teemley? Thank you, Nancy! 🙂
Oh my goodness–you’re right Nancy!! I’ll have to point out to him this coincidence at our next Writers’ Group meeting–if I remember! 😆
Mitch’s actor ego would get a charge out of the resemblance.
Haha! 😀
You certainly added lots of sweet icing to my Christmas cake, Nancy. I loved these reminders that God doesn’t use the high and mighty, but the humble and ordinary to carry out His wondrous works among and within us. Blessings always!
So glad to add to your Christmas joy, Martha. I agree, it is a wonder that God can use the ordinary to accomplish extraordinary things! Happy Advent, my friend!
I’m so amazed at the goodness and wonder of God to do what is so unexpected and so needed. Thank you for enriching me with your wisdom and information. I love that God enjoys surprising us and doing the remarkable in such adventuresome ways. This was wonderful, Nancy.
Thank you, Dayle, and praise God for bringing these auxiliary facts and thoughts to my attention. It was a joy to ponder their significance as I drafted this post!
So many interesting facts and perspectives to point us to Jesus. I’ll add to Mary’s ride on a donkey: We used to own a donkey, and I rode him a few times. A donkey ride is very bumpy! I can’t imagine doing it pregnant. That would be so uncomfortable! Thanks for your beautiful post as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
Thank you for your kind, closing comment, Linda. Concerning the tradition of Mary riding a donkey, I wrote in another Christmas post some years ago that a donkey ride while nine months pregnant sounded terribly uncomfortable. I think I would have chosen to walk! Sounds like you would’ve too!
Yes, I probably would have alternated walking and riding. Since she delivered her baby the day of her arrival, walking would probably have been pretty uncomfortable too. In 21st century U.S., we are spoiled. Can you imagine Mary knowing she could end up delivering her first child, the Son of God, along the side of the road? I imagine she and Joseph were both praying the whole way!
I agree–alternating would probably be the best! And yes, I can see Mary and Joseph praying the whole way!
God ways are not our ways. He uses the ordinary to carry out His plans and purposes and often in very unexpected ways.
Agreed, Manu. It’s a glorious pleasure we enjoy, watching God perform his awesome works for us, in ways we never imagined. In perfect faithfulness he has done wonderful things (Isaiah 25:1)!
“I praise you Lord God, that your Word is living and active. No matter how often we read a passage or hear a scripture story, you can breathe fresh life into its meaning and impact.” Amen and amen, Nancy!
isn’t that wonderful truth? Even at my age, after years of classes, sermons, Bible studies, and personal study, God still provides fresh wonder and insight. His Word never grows old–Hallelujah!
Beautiful post! No matter how many times we read a verse from scripture, we can always find something new. God opens our eyes to ‘seeing’ from a brand-new perspective. Wishing you blessings in this Advent season!
Thank you, Linda. Couldn’t agree with you more! May your Advent include discovery and awe, my friend!
What I love about the shepherds’ part of the story (and something I just learned recently) is that they were just outside Jerusalem, and some of their lambs would be used for the Temple sacrifices. When a lamb without blemish was born, they would wrap (swaddle) it carefully and put it in a manger to keep it from getting injured. When they were told, “And this will be a sign to you …” they would have immediately seen the connection with atoning sacrifice. So, these lowly shepherds were given the most profound picture of what kind of Savior this would be – insight missed by the more powerful characters in the story, like Herod.
Thank you so much for sharing this about the shepherds, Annie. I knew that the shepherds may very well have raised the lambs used for sacrifice at the temple, but I didn’t know about the swaddling of unblemished ones and putting them in mangers. Wow–how amazing is that? Our God is so creative and clever in the ways he communicates truth to us!
I know, right? Every time you think you’ve heard the whole story … !
Exactly! It’s such a delight to realize there will always be more Bible truth to discover, more intimacy with God to experience, until we’re home with him!
I like your icing! I often wondered since the shepherds could have been young if any of them were also at the cross or follow Jesus later. Also did Mary keep the myrrh? or the other gifts to be used later? Love how you get us to use our imagination to wonder and get new perspectives. Thanks Nancy
That might make a good story/novel, to follow the life of one of the shepherds from that night in Bethlehem to that day in Jerusalem! As for the gifts the Magi brought, I’ve heard that Mary and Joseph may have sold them to pay for their trip to Egypt and cover expenses until they could get settled. / So glad you liked the icing, Jean!
I’ve heard “shepherd king” before but never really considered the power of the juxtaposition. That is my take of a breath of fresh life into the story this year.
Such far-flung traits to be true of our Savior: humility and majesty. “To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 25)!
I love how God used you to share with us a fresh perspective to the Christmas story. Icing on the cake, indeed!
Thank you, Cheri, and praise you, God!
Nancy, thanks for all these fascinating tidbits that add to the already rich, sacred season that we are right in the middle of. May these weeks of Advent be renewing your soul, giving rest to your body, and joy all the way around.
Thank you for reading, Linda, and adding this sweet blessing in the comments! I pray the same for you, my friend!
Nancy,
Shepherds had the lowest job, possibly no home, and always on the move. The True Shepherd followed that lifestyle. I heard that in Bethleham everyone was family. Maybe no one took them in because of this scandalous birth. Wasn’t swaddling clothes how they prepared the dead? The manager was a box like The Ark and Noah’s arc. All three turned death into life.
Crazy perfect HIS story. Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing these Christmas morsels of info, Gary. No doubt you’re right about Bethlehem being family. The village was small, and adult children didn’t move away like they do today. (I’ve often thought a family compound would be delightful!)
Yes.
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com