Confession: I do not enjoy Christmas music. You know, the “…jingle all the way…” and something about Batman smelling, and the repetition over and over and over and over… You get the idea. It’s even worse when you have kiddos. Not only does Batman smell, but Joker takes ballet, Robin lays an egg, and wheels are popping off the Batmobile… and they laugh and laugh and laugh! Over and over and over and over… My halls are not decked, but these short people (aka children) keep telling me to deck the halls with bells and holly. They don’t even know what holly is and bells just add to the cacophony that has taken over my home. Fa. La. La.
I’m really not a scrooge about Christmas. While it’s not my favorite holiday of the year, I still enjoy the festivities. I have friends who will listen to Christmas music in May if they’re feeling down, they wait till after Halloween to put up their tree (or multiple trees – one for each room) so they’re not judged too harshly, and they convert their home to looking like elves live there instead of people. I suppose I’m partly jealous – I want to be someone who goes all out for Christmas. I want my decorations to go beyond the tree and the stockings (guys, I don’t even have a wreath for the front door!).
My husband just kind of shrugs and says that he prefers to not have the extra stuff. It’s too much he says. And I have to admit (maybe not to him) that he’s right. In my mind, decorating for Christmas is not only fun, but it tends to usher in a certain anticipation. Notice how all the stores start playing Christmas music after Thanksgiving? It’s a pretty successful ploy to urge shoppers to spend more because they’re in the “Christmas spirit.” And it’s not just Christmas that I want to decorate for. I want to be able to decorate for Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, and for the Spring season (Easter is in there, but I’m not interested in hanging a bunch of eggs the way they do in Germany – no offense).
As far as decorating for Christmas, I also love who we’re celebrating. We’ve been really digging in that Christmas is not about Santa, but a day for celebrating Jesus’ birth. I love celebrating people I love! Planning the food, searching for the perfect gift, and decorating to express the explosion of feelings. Why should we be made to feel that we go too far? Look at that – I said we as if I go all out in decorating for the holidays. The reality is that my home is sparsely decorated, even though it’s a celebration for the King of Kings.
With all of the prophesies throughout the Old Testament (at least over 300), you’d think that every Jewish home would be decked out – halls and all in preparation for the coming King. They’ve all heard that He was coming. They were even told where it was happening (Bethlehem – Micah 5:2). Why wasn’t Bethlehem bedecked with garland and wreaths? Why weren’t they ready to celebrate? Why didn’t they see Him?
But some did see Him. They may have been helped out a bit by a host of heavenly angels singing their hearts out, but some did see Him. Interesting that it was a group of shepherds and not a group of Pharisees or Sadducees or scribes. The ones who were selected to receive the message were not who many would have guessed. But who were these shepherds? On first glance, we would guess (I’m part of the we) that these were poor, lowly shepherds. Or were they?
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, 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. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
The same way we have HOAs and regulations for living inside city limits, there were regulations for governing the Jewish people in and out of the city. The oral traditions that had been documented are called the Mishnah. One of the regulations states that all flocks were to be kept out in the wilderness except for those used for the Temple services (Bab K.7:7; 80a). Since these shepherds were in the fields surrounding Bethlehem and not out in the wilderness, they were probably priests who were doing Temple work. But why would priests be performing shepherd duties?
The shepherds (priests), lived in the fields. They were likely dirty and smelly – have you ever spent time with any livestock? But these shepherds (priests) had a very specific job description. They were tasked with overseeing and protecting the lambs that were used in the animal sacrifices done in the Temple. They used ceremonial cloth to protect the lambs and keep them clean and free from blemish in preparation for sacrifice. Imagine the significance!
An angel of the Lord appeared before these priests who were in charge of protection and preparations of the lambs used for Passover and other ceremonies and delivered the message that THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB had come. Then, to make sure they were heard correctly, a host of angels appeared to drive home the message of impending unemployment. Jesus, the long-awaited, long foretold Messiah had come, and the shepherd-priests were told right where to find Him… including the detail about the cloth they would find Him wrapped in. See? Significance!
Their silent night was broken, and no night after that would ever compare. What would you have done? We know from all the scripture readings, Christmas plays, and nativity scenes that they sought Him out and found Him just as the angels said. Then they spread the word (how could they not?). I wonder how they could have left His presence. I wonder where they were when this same baby stood before the people as an adult and was spat on, ridiculed, beaten, and crucified.
I can’t help but wonder what thoughts went through the minds of the shepherds as they gazed at the infant, Jesus. They knew the prophesies. They might have made the connection based on their job that this baby was to be the sacrifice that would bring us everlasting peace with God. There would be no more sacrifices needed. I wonder what their thoughts were when they saw Him. Scripture tells us they glorified and praised God (for all they had heard and seen), but what went through their thoughts as they returned to time in the fields?
Did they know what His birth meant for them? Do you know what His birth meant for you? Yes, enjoy this time of year – gatherings with friends and family, gift giving and laughter over delicious meals – but take a moment to ask yourself how His birth has impacted you. Deck your halls in celebration of His birth, shoot, light up your entire home! And glorify and praise God for all He’s done for you.