The gift of CHRISTmas
Martha Olawale
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Everything leading to the birth of Christ goes against our mortal belief system. Despite our resistance to honoring Him, God was committed to His choice to offer Christ for the salvation of the world. Although Jesus could have received the most royal welcome, accompanied by a host of angels, to show us how far He would go for mankind, God allowed the events preventing His birth to occur without any interference from Heaven. While the devil tried to stop Him from stepping into the battle arena, Christ’s entrance to the scene playing out between us and the accuser ended our hopelessness.
What a joy the shepherds must have had when the angels told them about Christ’s birth. On an unassuming day, under the clear skies, they received the good news of the Messiah’s birth. Right there, in the dead of night, watching their flocks, they participated in the glorious entrance of the Savior of the world.
Stepping down from glory to dwell among men, our king chose the humblest means to be born. Christ could have been born into the most influential household, but He chose a carpenter and a virgin girl. His birth could have been the headline story of the day, but it was in the backdrop of the brutal murder of the sons of wailing mothers. The echo of His birth could have been heard from across the world, but it was reserved for the lowly shepherd. Jesus could have been born with the sun shining on His face, but He chose to arrive in a manger at night.
The gift of Christmas is one that keeps giving. No matter what is going on around us or the backdrop of our world, the Christmas spirit is one that spreads joy across the globe. It is not tied to worldly wealth, jingle bells, the beautiful flurries of snow, or the highest towering Christmas tree. “CHRISTmas” is a gift from God that reminds us of the depth of God’s love. And, generation after generation, we are privileged to partake in the joy the shepherds must have felt in the wee hours of the first Christmas morning.
