And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11
The Christmas story is a wonderful and powerful story of the birth of our Savior. The imagery of this story comes alive in our minds in so many ways. The shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and an unassuming manger in that little town of Bethlehem all come together to set the stage for the greatest story that has ever been told.
When I think of the Christmas story, I cannot help but think about the decorations at my mother’s house. My mom spent days, weeks decorating her house for Christmas. Among all of her decorations, she always set her Nativity scene in a prominent place. Like most Nativity scenes it had the usual characters, even a few animals, that reminded us of the humble place where Jesus was born. My mom also placed, right in the center of her Nativity set, a small Bible on a stand. The Bible was always opened to the second chapter of Luke.
The second chapter of Luke describes the days and events around the birth of Jesus. It involves an Emperor, a Governor, a host of angels and the arrival of Christ the Lord. I always found myself reading from that display on Christmas day. Even now in the midst of the craziness of Christmas with my family all packed into my mom’s house, I find myself reading this story and reminding myself of the wonder and power of that first Christmas day.
During this Advent season, I encourage you to find time to read this powerful story. You can find accounts of the birth of our Savior in the Book of Matthew, chapters 1-2 and in the Book of Luke, chapters 1-2.
The Christmas season can be busy and overwhelming, but as people of faith, we should find time to pause and remind ourselves that Christ our Lord arrived in the midst of our crazy world to bring us hope, joy, and peace. If we will take a few moments to focus on this wonderful story, I know the reality of Christ will come alive to us, once again.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
