A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

Scripture does not reveal to us the season of Jesus’ birthday, but December has been chosen by tradition as the time of the year to remember that Jesus was born. We rejoice to remember His birth, because His first advent has brought great changes in the earth; we know that Jesus’ Second Advent will complete the change, for then all the old will be gone and all will be made new. How marvelous it is that we can commemorate His birthday every day of the year.

This wondrous event is reported in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke; and surely it is a joy to read the familiar words over again and to say with Phillips Brooks in his beautiful hymn:

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shining, the Everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Yes, both past and future ages have one focal point in common: the coming of the promised Seed, the Dayspring from on High, the child born of a virgin, and the birth of the King. John puts it beautifully: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth “(John 1:14).

The vivid pictures presented by Matthew and Luke really sets our minds to thinking and we begin to see in the events connected with this birthday portents of all that was to follow in connection with the life of Jesus, truly the Greatest life that was ever lived.

Let’s look at a few of the events from this sublime story. Mary and Joseph, under an edict from the Roman Caesar commanding all subjects to be counted and taxed, must travel to Bethlehem, the city of David. Caesar undoubtedly felt himself master of the world, but God was working and Micah’s prophetic utterance was being fulfilled (Micah 5:2).

The Babe Laid In a Manger ~ Paul says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians. 8:9). Need we say more?

Shepherds and Angels ~ This was not a new combination of diverse elements in God’s sight. After all, God had called Abraham who was a shepherd, and the heavenly messengers appeared to him and reaffirmed God’s promise (Gen. 18). Jesus used the picture of the Good shepherd caring for his sheep as an illustration of His concern for His followers (John 10:1-16.) He was proclaimed the Lamb of God (John 1:36) when His ministry began and was spoken of as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The pictures are numerous; we could all cite many others. The angel said, “Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people…” In David’s city a Saviour is born ~ Christ the Lord! There is nothing to add to this sublime announcement. Hope has become a reality and this is not for a few people but for all. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

Wise Men Follow a Star ~ Balaam, spoke under inspiration, “There shall come a star out of Jacob…” (Num. 24:17). These were indeed wise men, for they followed the star and wise men of all ages are still following the star out of Jacob. Peter makes the relationship still more intimate, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

Herod Is Troubled ~ Evil is always troubled in the presence of good, and evil always seeks ways and means of destroying the good, but God is Supreme (Isa. 57:20, 21) and will one day destroy all evil.

The Followers of the Star Rejoice ~ So should all of Jesus’ followers ever rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). “Let all those that put their trust in You rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them: let them also that love Your name be joyful in You” (Psalms 5:11).

Wise Men Worship the Child and Bring Their Gifts ~ But what gifts have we to bring our King, our Lord, our Master? Only our own poor selves, and this what He has given to us in the first place. We can but echo Paul’s great statement, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). God gave the Greatest Gift, by sending His precious Son to earth for each one of us.

Many of us have mused over these things; what is written on these pages isn’t new, but we do love to tell this lovely old, old story over and over again. Especially “we love to tell the story, for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest, and when in scenes of glory, we sing the new, new song, ‘twill be the old, old story that we have loved so long.”

Henry Ahrens