Sad as it was to see Christmas decorations in the stores alongside Jack-O-Lanterns and inflatable Frankensteins, I still found my heart getting that wonderful little rush of holiday adrenaline! Every year I tell myself to “scale back” on the Christmas enthusiasm and ease up on the combination of frivolity and full wonder at the coming of the Savior. But I just can’t do it! My love for this season is real and, I trust, zealous for the things of God in a fashion that far surpasses the things of this life. And so, I have again immersed my heart and mind in the wonders of Christmas as revealed in the Word of God.
Of course, one of the dangers inherent in often considering the men and women involved in the “first” Christmas is that we sometimes convince ourselves that they had such a better basis for their faith than we have for ours. After all, Mary was spoken to by the angel of the Lord! Joseph had a divinely given visitation in his dream! Even the magi had a revelation in the stars! We can become so blown away by the advantages shown to them that we become blinded to the reality that is behind all of this. This reality is brought to mind by what our Lord Jesus said to Thomas,
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
And while those words were spoken within the context of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that is entailed therein, we should understand that it is not without significance that John wrote these words just two verses later: …but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).
Let me make the application plain: Jesus pronounced a special blessing on those who believe on Him for eternity even though they have never seen the things mentioned in Scripture. That principle holds true whether you consider the empty tomb or the crowded stable with the Baby in the manger!
After all, there really wasn’t anything all that compelling in the sight of a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in that manger. In fact, if it had not been for the angel revealing that such a happening would be the sign to demonstrate that this Baby was the One, it would have meant nothing to the shepherds or anyone else. Apart from the revelation that God had given in the Old Testament and the supporting revelation He gave through the angels and signs at the time of the birth of Jesus, one would never have looked for the Messiah in a well-used cattle trough!
Not only so, but consider this: the gospels of Matthew and Luke were written well after the ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It was likely that only after these books were written, guided by the Holy Spirit, that all the events of Jesus’ birth were finally seen as a whole. When the shepherds heard the angels, or the magi brought their gifts, they only knew the situation in which they were involved. Simeon or Anna at the temple, and even Joseph or Mary really knew only the pieces of the prophetic picture that were specifically revealed to them. No wonder we are twice told that Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51). The characters that played such an important part in the Christmas story had only pieces of whole—but we have it all! We are so blessed to see the beginning, end and middle regarding the entire first coming of Christ.
Now, this is where I want us to really grasp some truth this Christmas. Obviously, Peter was a witness of the majesty and glory of God that was revealed through Jesus Christ. In fact, this was especially true when the Lord allowed Peter to get a glimpse of His glory during the transfiguration account. It is this very Peter who also wrote the following:
…we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:16-18).
Because of this showing of glory that he personally witnessed, Peter’s words would assure a great number of his readers that he knew what he was talking about. Yet, that same disciple goes on to say that the written revelation of God was all the more trustworthy than what he even saw with his own eyes! Here is what Peter continued to write:
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21).
The revelations that God gave to Peter at the transfiguration, and by implication those blessings given to those who were participants in the first Christmas, were not only was intended to be a basis for their faith, but to make ours all the more sure and trustworthy because they are based on the whole Word of God! As jealous as we might be of the witnessing shepherds or worshipping wise men, they would be jealous of us because we have the entire whole of Scripture!
On the whole, the Jewish community of the first century expected the Messiah to be revealed in a blaze of glory. They did not expect Him to be born in a manger into a poor family. This may be why no apparent effort was made by the people of Jerusalem or the chief priests and scribes to travel the relatively small distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to search for the Messiah after the magi’s visit. Even though they knew of the prophecy of Micah 5:2, they were convinced the Messiah would come to them, and His coming would be one of splendor and majesty. They did not expect to find the Creator in a cattle shed. But we know, as a famous radio personality would say, the rest of the story. We have God’s Word.
So, this Christmas, let us do our best to put off our mistaken presuppositions to think the Bible characters had so much more of a basis for faith. It is we who grasp the truth that the very Lord of glory came as a baby, and in that coming the majesty of God was veiled, and the Lord of Lords was to be found in a manger, not a majestic temple. And we also know He is coming again—this time in splendor, power and glory!
Posted on December 18th, 2008 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: From the Pastor’s Pen