It might seem odd to start a Christmas Eve devotion with a passage referring to “the ancients.” We talked about the prophets for the first two devotions, but since then we’ve been focusing on New Testament figures: Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, angels, and wise men, even Herod and the Jewish leaders. What do “the ancients” have to do with Christmas? Quite a lot, actually…

Ever since the fall into sin, Old Testament believers lived in hope. They hoped for the Messiah as promised to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They hoped to be a great nation as promised to Abraham before he fathered even a single son. They hoped to live in a land flowing with milk and honey as promised to Moses at the burning bush. Sadly, there were also times when all hope seemed to be lost. God’s chosen people disobeyed him again and again, forsaking their commitment to worship the Lord and serve him only. The Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and the return of only a remnant to a decimated land left God’s people with very little to be hopeful about.

But as is so often the case, a small and seemingly insignificant event sparked a new hope. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and promised that he would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah. God had not forgotten or deserted his people. Hope sprung anew—hope that this same angel also announced to a young virgin, hope that came to pass with the birth of a baby boy on an otherwise insignificant night in Bethlehem. This baby boy was the fulfillment of thousands of years of prophecy, the One in whom the ancients put their hope, the Son sent to this earth to undo the curse of sin and perfectly live under his Father’s law.

In one sense, we as New Testament believers no longer live in hope. We can see the whole picture—not just the coming of the Messiah as a baby in Bethlehem, but the entirety of his work and ministry, sufferings and death, resurrection and ascension. We can speak with confidence of our Savior coming to this earth. We can tell of the perfect life he lived in our place. We can proclaim with certainty that because he rose, we too will rise to live with him in heaven someday. And so in another sense, we do still live in hope: hope of our own resurrection and life eternal with our Lord and Savior.

This hope is not just wishful thinking, not something that may or may not come to pass. It is a sure and certain hope, a hope promised from the very beginning of time, a hope that will continue for eternity. It is a hope that gives our lives meaning and purpose. It is a hope that a lost and despairing world desperately needs. And—most importantly—it is a hope that is too marvelous to keep to ourselves.

This year, in the midst of so much hopelessness, make it your priority to share the hope that the ancients were sure of and that we can be sure of too. Share the hope of promises kept and sins forgiven. Share the hope yet to come of a perfect life forever in heaven. Share the hope of the baby born in Bethlehem, a hope that sustains us even in the midst of so much chaos and uncertainty. This Christmas share the hope of your Savior with those around you.

Shepherding. Not the most glamorous job. Caring for animals at all hours of the day. And not beautiful steeds that follow every command, but slow, dirty, dumb sheep who would wander away from the flock and get caught in thorny bushes. Being a shepherd was burdensome work, considered unskilled labor and usually relegated to the lower strata of society.

Yet, shepherds were the first people to hear that the Messiah, the Savior of all the world, was born. God chose some of the lowliest people by the world’s standards to be witnesses of the holy choir of angels announcing the Savior’s birth. The shepherds left their flocks, entrusting them to God’s care and went to see for themselves. So, they were not only the first to hear about the Savior, but the first worshipers to see him with their own eyes… from the fields of Bethlehem to the cradle of the Savior of the world!

Then in stark contrast, we see some others God chose to be among the first from a distance to learn about the Savior’s birth.

After [the wise men] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11).

Wise men. Influential advisors to the king, knowledgeable in astronomy. These wise men knew that this was no normal heavenly body in the sky. They were well versed in Scripture’s prophecies to know that this was the star that was leading them to the Savior. When they arrived at the place where the Christ Child was, they presented him with their very costly gifts. They too, like the shepherds, worshiped the Savior. They understood that this little child was more important than any earthly king they served. They knew this child deserved their worship and praise.

What about you? Have you been called to a high position in life, or would the world consider you to be of lowly status? No matter who you are, what you do for a living, where you live, your age, race, or nationality—none of it matters. God sees you as his child. You are worthy of his salvation, not because of who you are or what you’ve done, but because of his mercy and love. When he sees you, he sees Jesus, the babe who humbled himself to come to earth, live a perfect life, and die the death you deserve. When he sees you, he sees a white robe of righteousness.

You are part of God’s story as much as the shepherds and wise men. You are chosen. You are part of God’s royal priesthood. You are God’s treasured possession. What high status he has given you! Live in confidence knowing that Jesus came for you!

Most of us have a list of missed opportunities we can easily recall. Years ago, my husband and I looked into buying a 5-acre lot a few houses from ours. We ultimately decided to pass on the investment. A year later a contractor bought it and put five houses on it, two of which, after he cut out all the brush, have a beautiful view of the city. It would have been a gorgeous site to build one house and have a large yard, but we missed out because we didn’t have the vision.

The wise men followed the star as far as Jerusalem before stopping for directions. Unfortunately, Herod wasn’t one to share his glory or his kingdom. His distress at the news of a new king sent the whole city into a panic. He called for the Jewish leaders to identify where this king, who Herod, prompted by the wise men, identified as the Messiah, was to be born. They reported the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, a mere five and a half miles away.

Had the chief priests and teachers of the law heard the rumors from Bethlehem a year or two earlier? How far did the shepherds’ report travel? Did these leaders leave Herod that day wondering anew if the long-awaited Christ child had arrived? Did they humble themselves in prayer, pleading for open eyes to see God’s plan? Or did they let knowledge of the birth of the Savior slip through their hands?

If I’m honest, too often I am just like those Jewish leaders. I miss out on opportunities to spend time with Jesus as I fall for distraction. An hour or two slips away on social media or watching news and gathering facts rather than going to the source of truth. Too often I fall into senseless and divisive quarrels instead of being consumed with God’s love. God’s abundant grace should motivate me to unyielding love. More often than not, grace goes unheeded and, consequently I fail to follow through with a life of worship.

We have unprecedented access to God’s Word. Bibles are easily available. Apps provide the Word at our fingertips. Sermons and studies have never been easier to access. Even in a pandemic that made getting together in person difficult at times, God prepared technology for such a time as this.

How tragic to miss the opportunity to know our Creator and Redeemer by letting time with him slip through our hands! Jesus was not just the baby in the manger, but the Son of God who carried our sins and paid our debt. And while we too often neglect our relationship with him, he is never too busy or unconcerned to meet with us. Jesus said, “…whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

I don’t want to miss the chance to know what God willingly reveals about himself in his Word. And I certainly don’t want to miss all he would give me if I only took the time to meet with him in prayer. Kindle in us a desire to seek you, Lord!

When we arrange our manger scene, we typically place the wise men with the shepherds worshiping Jesus in the stable. Although this serene scene serves as a beautiful reminder of Jesus’ early life, it is not historically accurate. Angels appeared to the shepherds in the field the night of Jesus’ birth. The Magi or wise men visited Jesus much later. We can’t be sure exactly how much later, but we know the young family was no longer in the stable but living in a house. And we know that after the wise men returned to their country without reporting back to Herod, he ordered the death of all children two years-old and younger living in Bethlehem. So, it seems likely the wise men arrived sometime within two years after Jesus’ birth. Scripture mentions three gifts, so we often picture three Magi, but like the manger scene, that’s more for our convenience than Biblical accuracy.

Where did these Magi come from? Many scholars believe they came from Babylon. In the Old Testament, Daniel served as chief of the wise men, astrologers, magicians, and enchanters during Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Might he have told of the coming Messiah? Could that be how these men living in a foreign land hundreds of years later would follow a special star they were led to believe signaled the birth of the Messiah? Had the seeds faithful Daniel planted produced fruit centuries later?

Fast forward to when Scripture allows us to witness the Magi going to a large foreign town and boldly asking for help locating the Messiah. Word spread quickly until it reached a very jealous, insecure, violent King Herod. Have you considered how foolish these men may have looked following a star to distant lands and inquiring about a new king? They could have changed their story for fear of incurring Herod’s wrath. But they didn’t. They were bold and eager to share without fear what they knew to be true about Jesus. They were, like Daniel, unabashedly planting seeds, even on the hardest of hearts.

Can we do the same? Can we follow the example of these wise men by faithfully searching for Jesus each day, and never being ashamed or afraid to share what we know to be true?

God could have guided the Magi away from Jerusalem and directly to Bethlehem, but instead he allowed them to go right into a potentially perilous situation. Herod’s jealous rage and violent anger could have snuffed out not only the Messiah, but these wise men as well. When we plan our life, we want the path of least resistance. We’d prefer to hang out with friends and people who believe as we do. But the Lord’s ways are different than our ways. He often takes his people on paths that call on us to trust his wisdom and purpose. He often puts unbelievers in our path. Don’t shrink back, and don’t avoid them! Like Daniel and the wise men, use it as an opportunity to tell them what you know about Jesus.

The pounding on the front door shatters your sleep. Flood waters are rising—you need to get out NOW! Besides your loved ones, what will you grab before leaving? Photographs? Heirlooms? Important documents? What treasures are worth saving?

Mary, throughout a flood of unexpected circumstances, collected, treasured, and pondered everything surrounding the life of her baby boy. Perhaps “all these things” included:

• A life-altering visit by an angel, a mighty messenger of God.
• His amazing proclamation: 1) Mary will become pregnant; 2) God will be the baby’s Father, not her fiancé, Joseph; 3) God’s already named the baby Jesus; 4) Jesus will inherit David’s throne and an eternal kingdom.
• Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, decides to quietly “divorce” his apparently unfaithful bride-to-be. Instead, after his own angelic visit in a dream, Joseph risks his reputation by marrying his virgin bride.
• A forced trip to Bethlehem for a census and taxation. Mary goes into labor, finds no room in the inn, and must tuck her baby into a feeding trough. (A “rustic nursery” before farm chic was a thing!)
• Mary’s barely done laboring, when shepherds rush in with a wild story of a night sky filled with an angel choir and the joyous news that the Savior has been born.

“All these things” were part of Mary’s treasure. More would follow: Simeon and Anna prophesied in the temple. Wise men brought expensive gifts. The family fled in the night, bound for Egypt to escape a murderous king. Fast forward to when Jesus was 12 and stayed behind at the temple in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph returned, searched frantically, and found him calmly sitting with the religious teachers who were amazed with his insight. Again, we hear, “But his mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51).

The Greek word for “treasured” includes the idea of intentionally, faithfully, persistently preserving something—keeping it safe—through all circumstances. Mary couldn’t post on Facebook or Instagram, relying on electronic memories to pop up yearly. She worked to remember and preserve all the details of her life with Jesus. “Pondered” in the text involves putting the incidents all together, comparing them and weighing out the facts. Mary intentionally reviewed everything she’d heard and seen, tucked those memories deeply into her heart, and considered them. She focused on what God had promised in the Scriptures and was revealing in the life of this baby, her son… our Savior.

Life can be hard. It often was for Mary! Rather than complain and long for a different plan, Mary humbly and purposefully weighed out what God had placed before her. She had discomfort and joy, heartache, and peace. And all were tucked safely away, pondered, and treasured, as gifts from her loving Father.

What will we choose to focus on, to ponder this Christmas season? The uneasy dread of a possible illness? The sad reality of fractured traditions and missing family members? Or will we humbly pray, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). Please focus on Jesus, the ultimate Servant, who intentionally came to seek your good through his life of love, death on the cross, and triumphant resurrection. May God help us cling to and ponder the treasure of our salvation today and always.

I like to imagine the shepherds spreading the news of Jesus’ birth that first Christmas. After seeing for themselves that the Messiah had indeed come, they served as God’s first human witnesses that he had fulfilled his promise. Was it still the middle of the night? Did they rouse friends and acquaintances from their beds? Were they singing in the dark streets of Bethlehem? Whatever the circumstances of their telling, the results were the same: all who heard the message were amazed.

Shepherds were an unlikely choice for such a mission. They are not the group that first-century Jews would have chosen for any type of announcement, let alone news that was truly earth-shattering.

In Jewish society, shepherds were low men on the totem pole. They had a reputation for dishonesty and thievery. Rabbis instructed their fellow Jews not to buy wool or milk from shepherds, but rather assume these were stolen property. Shepherds were also barred from testifying in court.¹

Think about it. That first Christmas, God chose men with so little social standing that their testimony was inadmissible in court!

It reminds me of another unlikely choice for witnesses. This group also lacked social clout and also were not permitted to testify in court. Thirty-three years after the shepherds heralded Jesus’ birth, a small band of women rushed to Jerusalem with another amazing message from angels: the crucified Jesus had risen from the dead!

God bookended Jesus’ saving work with witnesses that no human would have chosen.

But God’s ways are not our ways. God calls witnesses independent of their social standing, perceived speaking ability (Exodus 4:10,11), education level (Acts 4:13), checkered past (John 4:17-30), terrible reputation (Luke 5:27-30, Luke 19:1-7) or any other reason that human reason would use to disqualify such choices.

And, in his wisdom, God calls you. You are God’s witnesses, whom he has thoughtfully situated in your own unique sphere of influence.

Perhaps, though, you are thinking to yourself that you really are like the shepherds… not very influential at all.

Are you a college student wondering what you possibly could say to the professor with a string of letters after his name? Are you the “low person on the totem pole” at work, thinking that no one would listen anyway if you spoke up? Do you say to yourself, “I’m just a layperson.” Or “I’m just a grandparent.” Or “I’m just [fill in the blank].”

You are not the reason people receive the message with amazement. Neither am I. Isn’t that one of the truths God seeks to highlight with his unlikely choices? It’s not about the witnesses; it’s about the Word.

This Word is a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It slices through the pretensions that sinners have constructed, cutting to the heart and judging it with authority. This Word is dynamite (Romans 1:16). Its explosive power blasts away the hard rock of unbelief and fills the heart with awe. All God calls us to do is simply unleash that awesome, authoritative power.

This Christmas embrace your mission as God’s own witnesses. Take the angels’ message into your Bethlehem with renewed confidence. Wake the spiritually asleep with joyful news. Sing in the streets, or your workplace, or the grocery store, or wherever your daily tasks take you. The Messiah has come! The Savior has been born!

Some Christmas Eve services go like this: You and your fellow members start preparing for the biggest service of the church year in November. The choir puts in extra hours of practice. Sunday School kids, or the congregation’s grade-schoolers, first mangle and finally memorize their passages. The sanctuary gets a Christmas makeover. Invites are designed and printed. Doors are knocked, pavement pounded. So much effort is invested in this one service, because it is an event that draws the unchurched, the drifting, and the doubting back through the church doors.

Christmas Eve finally arrives. The service goes flawlessly. The kids were cute, but not too cute. The tiny choir sounded angelic. But, oh the disappointment! Whole pews were empty. You wonder, was it really worth all the effort?

Well, let’s ask the angels, shall we? On that first Christmas Eve, God didn’t send a barbershop quartet to the shepherds. He sent thousands of messengers—an angel army! An army to announce peace. An army to erupt in praise. Their glorias shook the sky. But now check out the angels’ audience. They weren’t much to look at. There was just a handful of them. They weren’t strategic members of society who would bolster the angels’ outreach efforts. They were shepherds—smelly, scruffy, sidelined. But the size and social connections of their audience did not dismay the angels. That’s because their praise had nothing to do with their audience and everything to do with their God of grace. He had gifted earth with his Son, and the angels simply couldn’t contain their praise.

This Christmas, as you prepare to share the awesome story of Jesus’ birth with your community, don’t think about who or how many will be in your pews. Chances are many seats will stand empty in the continued pandemic. But God’s peace was won for that guy in the stained coat, sitting by himself with his head down. The end of fear was won for that small but faithful row of widows in the back. Heavenly joy was won for that neighborhood kid who wandered in because he saw the pretty lights. God’s grace was won for you.

So, prepare to share the wonderful message of a Savior with whoever comes to hear. Keep your heart fixed on God’s amazing gift—and you simply won’t be able to contain your praise.

Angels appear several times in Luke’s account of the Christmas story, and each time they are greeted by the opposite of peace. Zechariah was startled and gripped with fear, Mary was greatly troubled, and the shepherds were terrified—or “sore afraid” if you prefer the King James Version. These emotions are completely understandable. Angels are holy messengers of a holy God, and sinful human beings have no right to stand in the presence of these heavenly beings or hear the tidings they came to proclaim.

But the first words of assurance spoken by the angels powerfully convey the emotion they sought to instill in Zechariah and Mary and the shepherds: “Do not be afraid.” The message the angels brought that first Christmas was a message of peace, not fear. On the surface, the circumstances surrounding that first Christmas night were anything but peaceful. Mary gave birth to her baby far from home and in unfamiliar surroundings. The Roman government controlled Israel and was not always supportive of Jewish customs and practices. In the near future, Herod would murder the baby boys of Bethlehem to eliminate a perceived challenger to his throne. According to the world’s definition, these were not peaceful times.

Although the world did not recognize it, the birth of this child did bring peace. Ever since the fall into sin, God’s creatures had rebelled against him. By their thoughts, words, actions, and their very existence, they stood in opposition to a just and holy God. The animal sacrifices prescribed by the law could not restore the broken relationship between God and his people. A perfect sacrifice was needed, and that perfect sacrifice was born that night in Bethlehem. Through his death on the cross—the ultimate act of violence—he brought peace and reconciled God and man once more.

Today our world is full of conflict and devoid of peace. From quarrels with those we love to large-scale acts of violence, from worry and strife about the small everyday things to global illness and disease that have turned our lives upside down, peace is sometimes the farthest thing from our minds. We don’t have an angel telling us “don’t be afraid,” but we do have a peace that comes from the Spirit-worked faith in our hearts. We are no longer enemies of God but now are his dearly loved children. No matter what struggle and turmoil we encounter on this earth, we know that the day is coming when we will be at peace forever in heaven. And until that day, we can take comfort in God’s promise that he will work everything for our good—a promise that brings peace even in the midst of conflict and strife.

This peace is not just the absence of trouble and anxiety. It is a way of life, a peace that permeates every fiber of our being, a peace that passes all understanding. It is a peace that reminds us God is in control of every aspect of our lives, even during the most difficult circumstances. It is a peace that a lost and despairing world around us desperately needs. It is a peace too marvelous to keep to ourselves—a peace we are compelled to share with others.