Celebrate the Spectacular Wonder of Christmas
Photo image courtesy Pixabay
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. -- Luke 2:17-18, 20 (ESV)
“Oh, Char. It’s so beautiful!” Mom exclaimed, captivated by the huge Christmas explosion of bright twinkling lights, spectacular displays, in Frankenmuth, Michigan's rich traditional Bavarian atmosphere. As I pushed her wheelchair through Bronners, the world’s largest Christmas market, Mom couldn’t resist touching an ornament, gently looking it over. As if in a Christmas panorama, Mom's eyes scanned her surroundings like a child on Christmas morning. Her amazement at the life-sized nativity and the Silent Night Chapel brought a newness I sometimes forget when considering our Savior’s birthday. My almost 90-year-old mother had never experienced such spectacular wonder surrounding Jesus’s birth. I was thrilled to give her a glimpse into this rich Christmas tradition.
Like my mother's awe-filled wonder of Christmas, others had a more divine experience with Christmas over 2,000 years ago. In Luke 2, we discover some shepherds, usually young men or boys, tending sheep outside Bethlehem on a seemingly ordinary night. It was dark and quiet, with a fire giving them light while
protecting them and their sheep. God had a special plan for them that evening.
Suddenly, the radiant glory of the Lord appeared as an angel, illuminating the
shepherds’ lives. He proclaimed, 'Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you
tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this
day in the city of David, A Savior, who is Christ the Lord.' (Luke 2:10-11, RSV)
Following that proclamation, an angelic choir filled the night air with an awe-inspiring song, “Glory to God in the Highest!” Afterward, they hurried to Bethlehem, King David’s hometown, where the first witnesses to our Savior, wrapped in rags, lying in a hand-hewn stone trough, peacefully sleeping with Mary, Joseph, and the animals inside the serene backdrop of an inn’s hillside cave. The King of Kings was born! These shepherds’ lives changed that night, so much so that they told everyone they saw about Jesus. They were the first evangelists.
Their experience, while unique, isn’t beyond our reach. We can also experience the spectacular wonder of Christmas, not just as a holiday, but as a celebration of our
Savior's birthday. Their awe-filled amazement can be ours if we open our hearts
to the genuine meaning of Christmas. Their experience makes me want to see that
first Christmas burst on the scene. What was it like to be led by the light of
a luminous star to find baby Jesus? We relish the gorgeous light displays that
pale in comparison to the angelic radiance of God's glory and that night. May
you relish the spectacular wonder of Christmas as you celebrate Jesus's
birthday.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Do you see just another Christmas display of lights as ordinary commercial fare?
2. Do you get caught up in the excitement of seasonal merriment and forget why we celebrate?
3. How can you turn the pageantry of Christmas into a celebration of Jesus’s birthday?
