Christmas Heroes
In the last several weeks, we have seen the Christmas story through the eyes of several Christmas heroes: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi. These were people living their daily lives unaware of how they would become immortalized in the coming of their Messiah. Yet, it was not without hardship. They had to allow their belief to overcome their fear.
Mary yielded to the offer of giving herself to be the vessel of bringing their Messiah into the world at the potential cost of her very life. She believed God would take care of her even when it looked like her world would cave in around her. Because of her sacrifice, the world has never been the same since.
Joseph yielded to the guidance he received from God and risked his reputation and possibly even his livelihood so that he could assist their Messiah to be part of their lives. He had to overcome his doubts about whose baby Mary was really carrying. This took faith in believing that not only was Mary telling the truth, but that his so-called dream was truly the voice of the Lord to him. He had to love a son that was not his own and transfer the love he had for God to his now adopted son. He sacrificed much to be a part of God’s plan for mankind. Because of his sacrifice, the Messiah was born into a home of love which reflected the love God had for the world.
The shepherds had to suffer ridicule from the priests when they told what happened to them that night on the hills outside of Bethlehem where angels announced their Messiah’s birth. They likely had to continue doing a job they knew was soon to be obsolete. Yet, they could now see a deeper truth in their profession which they did not realize before. Because of their sacrifice, the news of the Messiah’s coming was spread throughout Bethlehem and Jerusalem even if not many believed them.
The Magi were willing to go into enemy territory to find the one whom they had looked forward to for so long. They risked an international incident so they could come and worship the long-awaited one. And, indeed, we are told that another détente treaty had to be established between Parthia and Rome around 1 AD, only two years after their arrival in Jerusalem. This may not have been the only reason for the treaty but may have precipitated the realization for its necessity. Their sacrifice created a peaceful time between the two empires while Christ was on the earth to achieve his public ministry.
Each of these individuals had a tough decision to make but if you would ask them if they would do it all over again, I’m sure they would say ‘yes.’
But what about the rest of society? How did they take part in this monumental event? While these few and the host of heaven were rejoicing in the Messiah’s birth, the majority in Israel were totally oblivious to the event. Some even refused to believe the event even when they were presented with evidence.
The village of Nazareth chose to believe impropriety by a godly woman over the truth of her words. Willing to slander and gossip rather than believe their long-awaited Messiah was now so near.
The priests refused to believe the words of the Magi because they did not fit into their preconceived ideas about the coming Messiah. Rather than check the scriptures fully for the truth of the words of the Magi, they simply ignored them. They were not even willing to travel ten miles with these men to see if what they said was true. They were so adamant in their false beliefs that inconveniencing themselves in the slightest was out of the question.
And Herod? It’s obvious he was unhappy with the Magi’s claim that a king had been born. It is unclear who started this unrest between Rome and Parthia that had to be quelled by the signing of a new détente treaty agreement. Perhaps it was he who raised the issue with the Emperor—all because he felt threatened. And likely because he knew he was not the rightful king of the Jews, but he was determined to keep the title at all costs—no matter who had to pay, including the deaths of so many innocent children in Bethlehem.
And what about the others in Israel? All was routine. While the angels proclaimed the birth of Christ, everyone else slept, went about their normal routines and chores, and maybe even worried about how they would pay new taxes imposed upon them. No one had the time or interest to see the meaning of a bright star in the night sky or give comfort to a weary pregnant woman in a crowded town. After all, they had problems of their own to solve.
And what about us today? Do we have time to go out of our way to see the need in someone else, to let God do something impossible according to our thought process? Are we ready for God’s next big thing in our lives? Will we turn over our doubt and disbelief to the One who can accomplish the impossible and do it in ways we never considered or ways that may go against our preconceived ideas or how we think or feel they should be done? We all want the impossible, but often the impossible requires sacrifice. That was true for Mary, for Joseph, for the shepherds, and for the Magi. And certainly, true for Yashua, the Christ. He had to reconnect our broken relationship which required him to make a huge sacrifice. Maybe our sacrifice is not as great, but it still requires the same humbleness on our part, the same willingness to set aside our pride, and to allow the God of impossibilities to do the impossible for us and through us. The result is something truly remarkable. Something beyond our wildest hopes and dreams. Something far greater than we can ever conceive.
Come, step into the shoes of these heroes of Christmas and see what God can do for you and through you this Christmas season. He’s waiting. You, too, can be a Christmas hero. ‘Tis the season for impossibilities.
____________
Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens