What Difference does Christmas Make?

Of course Christmas makes a great deal of difference to a merchant. Most of his sales are at Christmas. But if Jesus' birth was so important, and I believe it was, how did those who were close at the time respnd to it? How could some of them miss it?

The Innkeeper - He was a very busy man trying to fit as many of the people who were visiting Bethlehem into his inn. By the time Mary and Joseph arrived and the birth of Jesus was imminent, he was just too busy to think they could be anything other than just another couple, albeit she was pregnant. So he provided what he could in the way of lodging, but he missed the blessing of Christmas.

How often I've also been so busy that I miss the blessing of Christmas!

The religious leaders ie. chief priests and teachers of the law - When King Herod was confronted by the wise men seeking a new baby king, he consulted with these leaders to find out exactly where the Messiah would be born. The leaders knew. They were well aware of the scripture that pinpointed Bethlehem as His birthplace. Even though they knew this, they didn't bother to check out the report of the wisemen or even ask Herod why he wanted to know. Their indifference caused them to miss Christmas, too.

Am I so preoccupied at Christmas that I become indifferent to the wonder of the miracle?

Herod - He didn't want Christmas! He was the king and didn't want anyone usurping his throne. He was bah-humbug personified, but more than that he was afraid: afraid he'd lose his position and power, afraid of being associated with anything or anybody that might be considered fanatic, afraid of losing his autonomy if this really proved to be the Messiah.

How do you feel about Jesus?

The shepherds - Would you announce the special birth of the Savior of the world to shepherds? There's nothing wrong with being a shepherd but it's certainly not a stutus occupation. Men were shepheds but so were children and women. These were very ordinary people following a simple lifestyle. But suddenly God parted the sky and a glorious angel announced to these startled shepherds that the Savior had come. Did they care? You bet they did! They may not have been scholars, but they did know there was a God who had created the earth they traversed and the stars they camped under each night. They knew He provided for them and they were accountable to Him, and they were terrified!

But they left their flocks and ran to find the Savior, the newborn king, and when they did, they returned to their flocks, telling everyone on the way what they had seen and heard!

Christmas is coming in only 127 days. Will we be too busy to notice that it is Jesus' birth? Will we treat the miracle of God's gift to us with indifference? Will we be afraid that if we acknowledge Jesus is the Savior of mankind we'll also have to acknowledge that we need Him? Or will we readily hear the angels' voices, greet Christ's birth with joy and thanksgiving, and tell everyone we meet during the season the Good News?

Merry Christmas,
Paulita