“It is my heart-warmed and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage (every man and brother of us all throughout the whole earth), may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone.” —Mark Twain
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So, what’s so special about Christmas, anyway? Saint Luke has written one of the most thought-provoking stories of the first Nativity. In Luke 2:1-14, he recounted:
“In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
“So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
“And there are shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.’
“Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’”
C. Neil Strait once wrote: “The coming of Christ by way of a Bethlehem manger seems strange and stunning. But when we take Him out of the manger and invite Him into our hearts, then the meaning unfolds and the strangeness vanishes.”
Certainly, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born in a manger due to the lack of available accommodations at the inn. The guests at the inn were unaware that a King had been born on that night; one can only ponder their possible reactions. Michael Daves endeavored to capture their thoughts by composing a letter to the innkeeper.
“I was a guest at your inn a few weeks ago. My visit to your city was most unpleasant. The Romans were enrolling me for another of their miserable taxes. And the stay in your hostel did not improve matters.
“I am a patient man, innkeeper. One must be if he is to be a merchant. I can forgive you for the many inconveniences. I can overlook the fact that your wine was poor and your bread stale.
“But, innkeeper, there are several things I cannot forgive. For my private room, you charged an unreasonable price. And it was about as private as the marketplace. The stench from the stable was unbearable.
“No sooner had I fallen asleep when I was awakened by shouts of ‘Hallelujah, the King is born!’ I saw a group of shepherds in front of the stable. I could see them by the light of bright stars. I ordered them to be quiet, but they paid me no mind. At long last, they disappeared into the stable and it became relatively quiet again.
“Five minutes later, I was awakened again, this time by the crying of an infant. Strangely enough, the cries came from the stable. I looked out again and, through the open stable doors, could see the infant and its mother. I yelled down to keep the baby quiet but apparently they didn’t hear me.
“I could not sleep for the rest of the night. It was the most miserable night of my life… and all because of those people in the stable.
“If you are going to permit your high-paying guests to be disturbed by those who pay less and are less, then I hope you are prepared to suffer great financial loss. You will never get anything from shepherds and a family which had to be housed in a stable.”
So, how do you explain the greatness of the Man whose birthday we celebrate each year on December 25? Let’s make a humble attempt:
He was born in a stable to a peasant woman. He spent his childhood in an unremarkable village and worked as a carpenter until the age of 30, after which He became a traveling preacher for three years. He did not attend college, write any books, hold any official positions, own a home, or have a family. He also did not possess significant wealth and never traveled more than 200 miles from his birthplace. He did not achieve the typical milestones associated with greatness and had no credentials other than himself.
Despite speaking with remarkable authority, teaching with exceptional wisdom, and gaining widespread acceptance among the people, He faced opposition from the religious leaders of his time. While still young, public sentiment shifted against Him. He was betrayed by a friend, deserted by His followers, and handed over to His enemies. He was falsely accused, subjected to a mock trial, and unjustly condemned to death.
He was crucified alongside two thieves, and as He was dying, his executioners cast lots for the only possession He had on earth, which was His clothing. After His death, He was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb, courtesy of a compassionate friend.
Ian McCrae wrote: “Many who saw a Man hanging on a cross more than 2,000 years ago thought: ‘The Christian religion is dissolved.’ But it was not so. It is true now as it was then. The end is the beginning.”
John 3:16 reminds: “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
