Same Christmas, Different Guests

Christmas is often a time to get together with family. There might be family members we see at Christmas who we don’t see any other time of the year. This year, though, there might be a smaller crowd at the Christmas get-togethers. Older relatives may not feel comfortable with getting together in a large group, mandates might restrict gathering size, while health issues might cause others to stay home. Our guest list may look a little different this Christmas. When Mary gave birth to Jesus over two thousand years ago, in a barn, some different and unexpected guests arrived.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” (Luke 2:8-15)

Shepherds were not the highest ranking members of society. They spent most of their time with sheep, so they smelled like sheep. They were a tough crowd, as it was their job to not only herd the sheep but protect them from predators. They were considered unclean and people would more than likely not associate with them. Yet, shepherds are the first to hear of Christ’s coming to earth and they are invited to go and see Him.

“They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” (Luke 2:16-20)

Shepherds were certainly not the guests Mary and Joseph were expecting. Odds are they weren’t expecting any guests, but the shepherds faithfully went to see the newborn Savior. After encountering an hours-old Christ, the shepherds had to go and tell everyone about Him. We see this as a common response throughout Jesus’ life: after people have met Him, they can’t help but tell others about Him. That’s the task given to us as His followers: to go into all the world and tell them about their Savior. You may not be able to get together with everyone you normally do at Christmas this year, but remember that while there may be different guests, it’s still the same Christmas.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed