The Celebration

Luke 2:8-15
Christmas is about the birth of the Christ child.  When a baby is born, there is often a birth announcement that goes out.  Friends and family may come together and celebrate with a shower of gifts and food – sometimes even champagne and cigars. But looking at the birth of Jesus, this was not an ordinary child, it was not an ordinary birth, and the announcement and celebration reached from the heavens. 
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The shepherds were abiding in the fields keeping watch over flocks, and then the angel appeared, announcing the birth of Christ the Lord.  The shepherds were the first ones to know about the birth.  The angels did not go to the Herod’s palace with this Royal announcement, nor did they go the priest’s house; they came to shepherds. 

In verse 13 it tells us “and suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the Highest…”

I can imagine what it was like for the shepherds, after the angel left making this announcement and the multitude displayed this great celebration.  I can imagine how those shepherds must have felt, those shepherds were excited! I can see the exhilaration, the excitement on these shepherds’ faces.  After the angels went on to heaven, these shepherds said “Let’s go see.  We’ve heard about this, but let’s go see”.

This was no ordinary child, no ordinary birth, no ordinary announcement.  This was the coming of the Christ child/the promised Messiah, and a virgin birth, foretold 600 years before. The Birth Announcement was given by an angel on a hillside, and a heavenly host began the celebration singing “Glory to God in Highest”- this is way beyond champagne and cigars. It was an extra-ordinary Celebration and we are all called to join in.  As it is said, Jesus is the Reason for the Season.  So we set this time aside to celebrate His birthday – not just a day, an entire Season of Celebration.  How fitting it is that the whole world would give gifts, prepare feasts, and sing Him songs of praise.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us not forget WHY we celebrate. It’s Christ my brothers and sisters, it’s because of the birth of Christ.
Merry Christmas!
~J. T.