‘Papa, what was it like to be in Bethlehem when Jesus was born?’
‘It happened at this time the whole countryside was afoot with travellers visiting Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus, the emperor, had ordered a census of all the inhabitants of the Roman world, the first of its kind, and so Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth, their home town, to Bethlehem, the city of King David to be registered. The roads from all the countryside were crowded with people and Bethlehem itself was unable to provide accommodation for all of them. Mary was due to give birth to her Son and it was whilst they were in Bethlehem Jesus was born. He was born in a stable because there was no room for them at any of the Inns.
‘Hidden from view in a stable, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus had only the company of the animals. But they were soon to receive unexpected visitors, humble folk to whom God announced the birth. That night there were shepherds watching over their flocks by night when they were struck with terror at the sight of an angel and a brilliant light that lit up the sky and shone all around them.
‘It happened at this time the whole countryside was afoot with travellers visiting Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus, the emperor, had ordered a census of all the inhabitants of the Roman world, the first of its kind, and so Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth, their home town, to Bethlehem, the city of King David to be registered. The roads from all the countryside were crowded with people and Bethlehem itself was unable to provide accommodation for all of them. Mary was due to give birth to her Son and it was whilst they were in Bethlehem Jesus was born. He was born in a stable because there was no room for them at any of the Inns.
‘Hidden from view in a stable, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus had only the company of the animals. But they were soon to receive unexpected visitors, humble folk to whom God announced the birth. That night there were shepherds watching over their flocks by night when they were struck with terror at the sight of an angel and a brilliant light that lit up the sky and shone all around them.
The angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ {Luke 2:10-14}
The shepherds, who were God fearing men, went to Bethlehem to find the child. Just as the angel said they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger. They told of all they had heard and seen that night. Mary and Joseph listened with awe as the shepherds spoke of who the child was. When the shepherds left, Mary turned these things over in her mind for this confirmed what the angel Gabrielle had told her. Mary and Joseph were not the only ones now who shared the big secret. There were others like the shepherds who knew that the Messiah, the long expected king had arrived. They were not aware that the whole of Jerusalem was alarmed. They were not aware that King Herod was planning to kill the child, only quietly so that no questions would be asked. Nor were they aware that three wise men from the east had arrived in Jerusalem and were even now approaching Bethlehem. They did not even know that the star of Bethlehem, the Christ star, was leading the wise men to where they watched over the baby Jesus. Angels appearing to shepherds was amazing enough but I wonder what they thought when the wise men arrived and told them of their long journey following the star?’
‘Oh papa, they must have thought that all the world knew about Jesus!’ said Claire.
‘Yes, papa, it was no longer a secret, was it?’ Anabella said.
‘I think it was still a secret, papa,’ Edward said. ‘Only the wise men, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph and the angels knew where Jesus was born, or where he had come from.’
‘I think Edward is right. The birth of Jesus was big news in Jerusalem yet only a few people knew the details of his birth, who he was or why God had sent him from heaven to earth. The people were knew were trusted and loved by God. It was only to them that the angel was sent. So I think there was still a big secret that was shared only by a small number of people. Do you remember the purpose of the three wise men?’
‘They wanted to find Jesus,’ Anabella said.
‘Yes, that is true. What else?’
‘To worship him!’ exclaimed Claire.
‘That is right.’
‘And give him gifts,’ Edward added.
‘Yes. Their purpose was holy which means they recognised who Jesus was and wanted to honour and worship him for he was God’s Son. The star led them to the stable. They entered and greeted Mary and Joseph with their news and their wish to kneel down and worship the baby Jesus. They then presented their gifts to the baby Jesus, gold, frankincense and myrrh. I believe these gifts represented the deep understanding that the wise men had of Jesus. They knew that the king from heaven would not be loved by the kings of earth, nor by religious people who were set in their ways. Gold is a pure metal, unmixed by any other alloy, representing the purity and holiness; frankincense was often burned as an incense or used to embalm the dead; myrrh was a bitter resin of a tree in Arabia and was used in perfumes and ointments. I think these were obviously symbolic gifts of the future that Jesus and Mary faced, the purity and love of Christ and his rejection by all but his disciples who believed in him.
‘Oh papa that is so sad!’ exclaimed Anabella.
‘Yes papa, are you sure the three wise men were warning Mary that her life too would be sad and bitter?’
‘I believe so. But it shows the love God has for the world that he would send his son to suffer and die on a cross for our sins.’
‘Oh papa! I thought Christmas was the happiest of all times. Now you have spoiled it for me,’ Claire said, tears in her eyes.
‘Would you like me to tell you the truth or just a happy story, Claire?’
‘But if God knew that Jesus would suffer why did he send him, papa,’ Edward asked.
‘Because only Jesus was pure and good, so only he could save us from our sins. And Jesus was willing to suffer on earth because he knew that his Light and Truth would change the future. He knew that all who believed in him would have eternal life. He knew that he could be a light in a dark world by telling the truth about God and man, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear. He knew that his Light would so shine that people would have hope, not despair, love not hate, peace not conflict and because of his love would chose good instead of evil.
‘That is different papa. Christmas is a happy time after all because of what Jesus would do.’
‘Yes, that is why it is a happy time. Shall we sing another carol now?’
‘Yes, I have chosen ‘O come, all ye faithful.’
‘Do you feel better now Claire?’
‘Yes papa but I didn’t think Christmas had a dark side.’
‘It does but the darkness is like night. It will pass in the morning.’
They stand and sing:
The shepherds, who were God fearing men, went to Bethlehem to find the child. Just as the angel said they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger. They told of all they had heard and seen that night. Mary and Joseph listened with awe as the shepherds spoke of who the child was. When the shepherds left, Mary turned these things over in her mind for this confirmed what the angel Gabrielle had told her. Mary and Joseph were not the only ones now who shared the big secret. There were others like the shepherds who knew that the Messiah, the long expected king had arrived. They were not aware that the whole of Jerusalem was alarmed. They were not aware that King Herod was planning to kill the child, only quietly so that no questions would be asked. Nor were they aware that three wise men from the east had arrived in Jerusalem and were even now approaching Bethlehem. They did not even know that the star of Bethlehem, the Christ star, was leading the wise men to where they watched over the baby Jesus. Angels appearing to shepherds was amazing enough but I wonder what they thought when the wise men arrived and told them of their long journey following the star?’
‘Oh papa, they must have thought that all the world knew about Jesus!’ said Claire.
‘Yes, papa, it was no longer a secret, was it?’ Anabella said.
‘I think it was still a secret, papa,’ Edward said. ‘Only the wise men, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph and the angels knew where Jesus was born, or where he had come from.’
‘I think Edward is right. The birth of Jesus was big news in Jerusalem yet only a few people knew the details of his birth, who he was or why God had sent him from heaven to earth. The people were knew were trusted and loved by God. It was only to them that the angel was sent. So I think there was still a big secret that was shared only by a small number of people. Do you remember the purpose of the three wise men?’
‘They wanted to find Jesus,’ Anabella said.
‘Yes, that is true. What else?’
‘To worship him!’ exclaimed Claire.
‘That is right.’
‘And give him gifts,’ Edward added.
‘Yes. Their purpose was holy which means they recognised who Jesus was and wanted to honour and worship him for he was God’s Son. The star led them to the stable. They entered and greeted Mary and Joseph with their news and their wish to kneel down and worship the baby Jesus. They then presented their gifts to the baby Jesus, gold, frankincense and myrrh. I believe these gifts represented the deep understanding that the wise men had of Jesus. They knew that the king from heaven would not be loved by the kings of earth, nor by religious people who were set in their ways. Gold is a pure metal, unmixed by any other alloy, representing the purity and holiness; frankincense was often burned as an incense or used to embalm the dead; myrrh was a bitter resin of a tree in Arabia and was used in perfumes and ointments. I think these were obviously symbolic gifts of the future that Jesus and Mary faced, the purity and love of Christ and his rejection by all but his disciples who believed in him.
‘Oh papa that is so sad!’ exclaimed Anabella.
‘Yes papa, are you sure the three wise men were warning Mary that her life too would be sad and bitter?’
‘I believe so. But it shows the love God has for the world that he would send his son to suffer and die on a cross for our sins.’
‘Oh papa! I thought Christmas was the happiest of all times. Now you have spoiled it for me,’ Claire said, tears in her eyes.
‘Would you like me to tell you the truth or just a happy story, Claire?’
‘But if God knew that Jesus would suffer why did he send him, papa,’ Edward asked.
‘Because only Jesus was pure and good, so only he could save us from our sins. And Jesus was willing to suffer on earth because he knew that his Light and Truth would change the future. He knew that all who believed in him would have eternal life. He knew that he could be a light in a dark world by telling the truth about God and man, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear. He knew that his Light would so shine that people would have hope, not despair, love not hate, peace not conflict and because of his love would chose good instead of evil.
‘That is different papa. Christmas is a happy time after all because of what Jesus would do.’
‘Yes, that is why it is a happy time. Shall we sing another carol now?’
‘Yes, I have chosen ‘O come, all ye faithful.’
‘Do you feel better now Claire?’
‘Yes papa but I didn’t think Christmas had a dark side.’
‘It does but the darkness is like night. It will pass in the morning.’
They stand and sing:
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him Born the king of angels:
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!’
Sing choir of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above:
Glory to God In the highest:
O Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing;
Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.’
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him Born the king of angels:
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!’
Sing choir of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above:
Glory to God In the highest:
O Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing;
Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.’