Isaiah had prophesied that a virgin would conceive and bear a son. Immanuel means, “God with us,” which is why Jesus was born. Jesus was born to Mary, a virgin, because he was born of the Father in heaven. He could not have been born of “the seed of man” and be completely holy, completely God.

The Lord, through Isaiah, told his people what to look for in their Messiah. He said they would be given a “sign” that would indicate God had come to be “with them.” That sign would be a miraculous conception. 

Every Christmas we read the verses from Luke that describe the circumstances between the Lord, Mary, and Joseph relating to the conception of Christ. The birth of Christ cannot be understood apart from his miraculous conception. 

People have always struggled to believe what cannot be explained. Christianity requires faith for those who follow. Joseph didn’t believe it either. He received a vision from God so that he would be able to take Mary as his wife, protecting her from unbelief. Elizabeth felt her baby jump in her womb, and her words of encouragement to Mary produced the praise we call her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55).

Isaiah prophesied that the virgin birth would be a sign from the Lord himself for the coming Messiah, but that truth would be slowly and carefully revealed to the world by the people involved. It would take faith to fully understand and accept the divinity of Christ Jesus. It still does.

Those who need a scientific explanation for the events in Scripture will be disappointed. Those who will only accept the parts of Scripture they can understand will find it difficult  to trust the Christmas story. Those who understand that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith” will be able to accept Jesus as God’s Word in the flesh. Believing the biblical Christmas story requires faith, and the ability to trust God’s ways are higher than our human understanding.

Trusting the virgin birth is simply trusting that God’s ways are higher than our own. Why would we ever think that the holy Son of God would be born in a normal, human way? Jesus was fully God, yet fully man. Nothing about Jesus should be limited to human understanding. Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Immanuel was, is, and always will be the “miraculous, eternal” gift of Christmas. 

Some people have wrapped up their gifts and wrapped up their plans. They are ready for Christmas. Others are still thinking about what needs to be done. Most are probably somewhere in the middle. It’s about two weeks until the big day. What is on your mind as you consider those words?

Our Christmas season is significantly different from that night when the skies lit up with a host of angels. Shepherds today are scheduled to clock in, clock out, and finish their personal Christmas plans on their personal time. Today’s shepherds may be off on Christmas Day, or they may be scheduled to work a shift on the twenty-fifth.

Even today, shepherds work in the fields while others are home sleeping. God chose the shepherds of the day to be the first to hear the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The shepherds were the first to see the newborn king wrapped in swaddling clothes. The shepherds were also the first to announce the birth of Christ to others. 

Shepherds were considered to be the “least” important in first-century culture. Who are the shepherds today? Jesus chose them to be first that night as they were watching their flocks just outside of Bethlehem. From the very beginning, Jesus taught us to think differently about people than the world thinks of them.

If Jesus were born today, a group of cab drivers, night shift workers, or truck drivers parked in a rest stop might have experienced the angelic host. Jesus chose the shepherds for a specific reason. He blessed the humble, who wouldn’t easily assume they deserved a Savior. All of us should be able to list reasons why we are grateful for God’s miraculous gift.

Jesus was born to lay his life down “for his friends.” Everyone can be a friend in return. Jesus told Peter, “Do you love me? . . . Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Peter betrayed Jesus three times yet Jesus laid down his life for his friend. All Jesus asked in return was that we follow the examples of those early disciples and feed his sheep.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. We are God’s shepherds called to shepherd others. They deserve to know Jesus is their treasure too. 

What is your favorite thing this time of year? There are so many things to choose from. Most love the music of the season. The food is wonderful. The lights chase the darkness away. The kids are happy and excited. We spend time with family and friends. We remember why we are grateful for the baby born in Bethlehem.

The Christmas season is a joy-filled time, but what are you most grateful for today? Chances are, it is something you are most grateful for almost every day. If Christmas fell off our calendars and there were no special moments, no special parties, and no special decorations, we would still have so much to rejoice and be glad about.

Sometimes we put too much expectation into a holiday that, truthfully, is just another season of another year. The best things about today will probably be the best things about your life one or two months from now.

“This is the day that the Lᴏʀᴅ has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is a day to be joyful—and so is the tenth of every month. Why is that? Every day is a day the Lord has ordained. God literally created each day for a reason, including these special days of the Christmas season.

We should make these days special in our hearts and be glad for the chance to celebrate all we love and enjoy. But, for what joys did God create and give you “this day”? Only God has the answer, uniquely designed for each of us.

Why did God make this day for you? How will you rejoice over it when it is done?

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Every day with Jesus is a gift of the Christmas season. Rejoice and be glad. 

Long ago, churches used the Christmas season to fill wooden barrels or crates with gifts and provisions they shipped overseas to their missionaries in foreign fields. For many, placing things in the barrel meant those here had sacrificed their own wants and needs for the sake of others.

We can only imagine what those barrels meant to the missionaries so far from home. Christmas was probably a time when they keenly felt their separation from friends and family. Their families celebrated the holiday with a few empty places at their tables. 

What did the Creator God feel when his Son was being held in the arms of Mary? What did God give up in order to give us his Son? We often think of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, but his Father also made a sacrifice. Both felt the pain of that day.

Under the old covenant, God allowed sin to be covered by a number of different sacrifices. A lamb was the required sacrifice for Passover. It was given to remember and honor the time when God’s people had covered their doorposts with lamb’s blood so the angel of death would pass over their household. The Passover lamb was asking God to offer that same forgiveness again. Jesus became a sacrificial lamb so that anyone “covered” by his blood would never be harmed by the angel of death.

Paul wrote, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Why did God sacrifice his Son for us, and why should we think about that at Christmas?

God wanted us to become the righteousness of God so he gave us Jesus. Later, God would allow his Son to take the blame for our sins. How, then, should we live this day?

We can live a righteous life, a life right with God. What is God’s will for your day? What is God’s will for tomorrow? If you live a righteous life, others will know the reality of Christ as they witness him in you. That is what God wants for our life eternal as well as for our life on earth.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. What sacrifice will you make for the sake of living a righteous life with God? How will you express your gratitude for the treasure God gave you? 

Radiance is a good word to describe the Christmas season. Jesus is the light of the world, and we have lit the world for Christmas to remember that truth. The questions in the Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know?” are profound.

Did Mary know she was kissing the face of God? Did Mary know that her sleeping child was the Great I Am?

The author of Hebrews fully understood what Mary probably could not. He said Jesus was “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” We look back to Christmas with knowledge Mary could only have “pondered in her heart.” The best way to know God is to know his Son.

When you study the life of Christ, you study the character of God. Jesus chose a cave, a stable, as his birthplace. Jesus chose to wash the feet of his disciples. Jesus chose to allow soldiers to mock and beat him. There is no sin that Jesus won’t forgive. 

Jesus showed compassion to the young, old, sick, and well. Even the lepers could come to him and be made whole again. When you see the compassion of Christ, you can know how you are loved by God. When Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, you can understand what grieves the heart of God today.

Everything about the Christmas story points us to God the Father. “He upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Yet, God chose to send his Son to a world that would ignore and mistreat him. When we see the way Jesus was treated, we understand the depth of God’s grace.

Now, God the Father and God the Son are side by side in heaven. One day God will tell his Son, “This is the day.” When we see Jesus, the radiance and glory of God, we will see God, “the Majesty on high.” What if that happens this Christmas?

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. And wisdom is understanding that our treasure was and is the exact imprint of God.

I was asked to play Mary in the Christmas pageant more than once. I had long brown hair and my age fit the part. Only once did I have to hold a real infant in my arms, and I remember working hard to discreetly cover the baby’s ears so the orchestra and choir wouldn’t cause him to cry. I hoped it was a sweet time for the crowd, but I was relieved to get through it with no problems. I only played a small role in the pageant, but I remember thinking later how incredibly difficult that first Christmas truly was for Mary. 

The angel told her that she, a virgin, would give birth to a son. She had all the questions any young woman would have, then said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Jesus chose Mary because she understood that the highest purpose for her life was to live as a servant of the Lord. 

Mary would have cared about how her family, friends, and community would be impacted by her news. She was surely worried about telling Joseph. She had every reason to say no except one: she was called to serve the Lord. So, she said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Later, when Mary saw Elizabeth, she received her first encouragement. Elizabeth, filled with God’s Spirit, confirmed and affirmed Mary’s pregnancy. The Magnificat is Mary’s song of praise and begins with the words, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47). Mary was honored to be chosen and used by God.

Jesus chose Mary to be his mother because she knew how to serve. Jesus chose Mary because she knew how to put God’s calling ahead of anything else, even those who were most important to her life. Jesus chose Mary because her soul rejoiced at the chance to serve. Mary is one of the finest examples in Scripture of what it means to trust the Lord with all of our heart, not leaning on human understanding but in every way knowing and accepting God’s calling. It is then we will allow God to direct our path.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. I wish I had known more about Mary before I was asked to fill her role in the Christmas pageant. If I do that again, hopefully it will be with her heart, the heart of a servant.

Enjoying the Christmas season with the peace and joy God wants us to have takes effort. We can know that our desire to be godly during these days is an effort God will reward. 

If we want to experience the holiness of this season, we simply need to allow Paul’s words to the Ephesians to be our great advice for these days. We shouldn’t be running around trying to do everything that seems important. If we do, we will likely miss what God has told us is important.

There is an amazing power that has been invested into each Christian’s life. When we received God’s Holy Spirit, we received the person and power of his character. First John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” When Christians are yielded to God’s Spirit, we are filled with God’s character. And God is love.

Paul told the Ephesians, and each of us, to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” If we were standing with Christ each day, how would he feel about our patience with others? If we were seeing people with the compassion of Christ, how would our thoughts and actions change? Paul told the church to “walk in love, as Christ loved.” That is the goal we should set for this Christmas season and every day that follows.

We can walk in the love of Christ if we will walk with the Spirit of Christ. Jesus sacrificed his life so that we could live filled with the character of God, the character that is love. Our effort isn’t to love others; it is to rely on the power of God’s love within us and give his love to others. 

Jesus became a “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Now, through his Spirit, we can carry the fragrance of Christ to those we meet as our sacrificial service to God. We can see others and love them as Jesus would. That can be our Christmas gift to the One who gave everything to us.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. We are greatly blessed. May the love of Jesus be the treasure we share with others.

Shepherds are a favorite analogy in Scripture. In biblical times the shepherds were key members of the culture, caring for the flocks that provided for the needs of the communities. The shepherds led the sheep to water and green pastures while protecting them from their natural predators. David was a good shepherd who grew to become a great king.

Jesus told his disciples, “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus was born to care for God’s people and lead them through life. Jesus described himself as the good shepherd and then said, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus is the good shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one. Jesus is the good shepherd who will fight Satan, the wolf who “seeks to kill and destroy” (John 10:10). 

The baby of Bethlehem grew up to be the good shepherd. Bethlehem is located about six miles from the city of Jerusalem. The fields were used by the shepherds, especially during the Passover season, to provide pilgrims with the lambs they needed to bring to the altar for sacrifice.

The first Christmas most likely occurred during the spring when the shepherds were in those fields near Bethlehem, watching their flocks by night. There were a lot of shepherds in the fields that night when the skies were set ablaze with angelic light. Those shepherds were the first to go and see “the good shepherd” lying in that stable.

All of us have people in our circles of influence whom God has called us to “shepherd.” Are we willing to guide them to those still waters where God can restore their souls? Are we willing to chase after the one who has wandered off? Will we do all we can to shepherd them and bring them to the good shepherd, the One who laid his life down for them?

We might need to “lay down” some plans tomorrow to go after one who has wandered away. We might need to put our own lives on hold in order to lead others to a safer place. Shepherds are called to care for the flocks, for the good of the community. How will God put you to work tomorrow?

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Wisdom is allowing the good shepherd to lead us and use us to care for his flocks. It’s an honor and privilege to serve the One who laid down his life for his own.

Christmas is a unique aspect of our Christian theology. An in-depth study of the Christmas story tells us so much about why our world needed a Savior and why Jesus was the Savior the world needed.

We are blessed to have access to biblical theology in the countless volumes written by theologians from around the globe. We have access to the strengths and weaknesses of the Christian church through the historical and biblical records that date back thousands of years. We have been “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” that we can easily find examples and encouragement for our faith from their lives.

This life is a race, and we are called to run it with endurance. Every Christmas has sweet memories of past Christmas seasons and hope for all the celebrations to come. Every Christmas sparks a bit of sadness because of those whom we will miss and sparks joy because of the new lives who have joined our families.

If something is heavy on your heart this Christmas, the author of Hebrews would encourage you to “lay aside” that weight so you can “run” your race. If there are unconfessed sins, he would tell you to repent so you can throw the burden of it to the side and run with endurance. We have been given a perfect example in Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. How would Jesus perfect your Christmas this year?

Jesus endured the cross so that we could run our race with joy and with hope. We can live with gratitude to him by running the race, that is, living our lives with spiritual endurance. If Jesus walked up to you right now and held out his arms, what burden would he ask you to give up by giving it to him?

Jesus, and so many of those biblical heroes, encourage us with their stories. None but Jesus were perfect people, but many allowed God to use their lives for his good and holy purpose. We can too! Jesus is the founder and perfecter of our faith. How does he want to perfect your Christmas season and your life today?

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. We can run our race with endurance and joy if we run our race led by his perfection. 

he kings from Persia were probably a very large group of travelers. The magi presented Jesus with three gifts, which is why tradition has whittled their number down to three. The story of the magi is only found in Matthew’s gospel because his audience was Jewish. This story was a link to Jewish history, and only they would have been able to see the connections.

Matthew 2:1–12 tells the story. These “wise men” came from the East in search of a newborn king. Their arrival in the city of Jerusalem would have caused a commotion. A group of this size and this importance would have had quite an entourage. Their status is indicated by the fact that they went to Herod expecting him to give them an audience. Their status is also indicated by the fact that Herod was less than candid about his plans for that “newborn king.”

They went to ask Herod their question, knowing him to be of Jewish lineage. Herod had been raised as Jewish, which is why the Romans chose him to be their leader in Jerusalem. The magi asked Herod where they should look for the newborn king, and he consulted with the Jewish leadership. Micah 5:2 is the verse the Jewish leaders quoted and the reason Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was home to King David’s family at one time. It was “little . . . among the clans of Judah.” It was a small place, home to farmers and shepherds. But, just as King David in “ancient days” had come from Bethlehem, so would the Messiah, the One who was to be the “ruler in Israel.” That verse would have led the magi to their king and was also the reason Herod plotted to kill all the young baby boys who had been born there. 

Bethlehem was a small town, so the number of baby boys born there would have been small, probably less than ten. That number wasn’t significant to Roman history, but it was significant to those who were Jewish. That’s why Matthew included this story in his gospel to the Jewish people.

The magi were wise men, likely influenced by the faith that Daniel and others had taught when they were taken captive in the region of Persia hundreds of years earlier. Their faithful teaching during those days had likely inspired these kings to go in search of the new “ruler of Israel” hundreds of years later.

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. The timing of Jesus’ birth is a testimony to the wisdom, prophecy, and perfection of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.