Who Would of Thought?

This past week I took some time to read through the Christmas story in Luke. I always enjoy reading the Christmas story during this time of the year. In a culture where it seems that the meaning of this season has been swept under the rug, its nice to remember the purpose for this time of year. Last year, at this time, I was driving home with the radio on. The host was sharing about the Christmas story. At that moment I began to play devils advocate with the host. I do this with my students to help build their critical thinking skills, so at that moment I begin asking questions out loud. I began to think like anyone in our culture who questions the validity of Christ birth, let alone the reason for Christmas. How could I be sure that the Christmas story is true? It sounds crazy! Angel meets Mary. Mary a virgin, gives birth? Angels in the sky? A child is born and declared divine? Sounds crazy to one who may have never really looked or even heard the story. So I went to Luke to find some answers.

The Book of Luke is authored by the one whose name it bares. Luke was a physician but seems that upon him acknowledging Christ as the Messiah, he played a vital role in the early church. He was one of Paul's associates who gives us a historical look into the life of the early church. The Book of Luke was written for one reason...

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4

Now there is some debate as to when Luke was actualy written. Whether it was written in the late 50's-early 60's or the early eighties it is the context of the passage that is important. Either what Luke wrote was false or true. By the time Luke wrote his invistigated report, Christ death and resurection had happened about 20 to 40 years prior. In that time stories of Christ were floating around. Doctrinal issues were rising in the early church as Gnosticism began to infiltriate the church. One belief of Gnoscicism, saw Christ as a man who became divine at his baptism. Christ death and resurrection was even being challenged. Yet Luke saw it important to "carefully investigate everything from the beginning". Luke investigated by asking eyewitness, who were still alive and saw the events of Christ, detailed questions of this story of the Messaih. The Jewish culture knew the Old Tetsament Scriptures. They knew the prophcies of a coming Messiah. Luke wanted evidence of the claim that he was making...Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 11:1-5

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Yet what strikes me the most about Luke's account of the Christmas story, is the proclamation of the birth to the shepherds.

The shepherds.
Here was a group of guys who where doing there job. It was the census. Thousands of people where coming to Bethlehem. Besides feeding their flocks, maybe, just maybe they were their to provide lamb for the inn keepers to keep their customers fed. Maybe the sheep where used for the Temple sacrifices. Whatever the scenario, they where out in the fields that night. Luke tells us that an angel of the Lord appeared to them. He then writes that they were told, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ (Greek meaning Messiah) the Lord." The angel gives a description and then a great company of angles appeared signing and praising God. Now take a step back...THERE WAS A CENSUS GOING ON AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN BETHLEHEM. Even if the shepherds were outside a distance from Bethlehem, I have to ask...did anybody else see a great light in the distance or even hear the angles sing. And if they did what did they do about it? Remember, THERE WAS A CENSUS GOING ON AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN BETHLEHEM. Someone had to see the light in the distance! Someone had to hear something! Where are talking, the heavenly host signing "Glory to God in the highest!" Yet we see the shepherds leaving their flock to find this precious gift to mankind. They did not say, "To cool! Let's check it out tomorrow when its light!" No, they "hurried off"! They found Mary and Joseph! Why the shepherds? Why not a wealthy person who could pay others to spread the word? Why not a politician who could make a monument of the event? Why the shepherds? I have a theory. They had nothing to offer, except themselves and their belief that what they saw was the very proclamation of the angel. Their gift? It was their faith in God's promise to mankind that was brought to this Child. Imagine you being the very one who kneels before the one who has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. The one who was to bring salvation to all Israel and mankind. Who would of thought that a number of shepherds would have been given the greatest opportunity to proclaim the coming of the Messiah! Luke records, "When they had seen him (Christ), they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." Nobodies. Shepherds who lived out in the fields for a time. Dirty. Smelly. They were rejected. They were not chosen to continue their education in the Jewish system. Nobodies. Sounds familiar? Try twelve nobodies who "spread the word concerning" what they had seen to a world in need of hope.

This Christmas I challenge you to not be distracted like maybe those thousands who saw the great "light" in the distance and did nothing. Yet may we be like the shepherds who came with nothing and presented themselves before a living God to accept His love to us. What does one give to a God who created everything?

Yourself.

His Love. His gift to you. Irrevocable!