What Kind of Christmas Would It Be?

What might have happened if you and I had been there at the time of Jesus’ birth? What if we were part of the story?

Like Mary, would we have trusted God to do the impossible? Would we have said as she did, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38)? As God’s plan unfolded, would we have “treasured up all these things” and pondered them in our hearts (Luke 2:19)?

The Bible calls Joseph “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19). Would it have said the same thing about us? Would we have obeyed God’s voice immediately and without reservation? According to Matthew chapter one, following the Lord’s instructions meant Joseph had to change his plans (he had decided to divorce Mary quietly). He had to overcome his well-founded reservations (“do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife”). He had to accept on God’s testimony alone the reality of an unprecedented miracle (“what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”). He had to surrender his paternal right to name the child (“you are to give him the name Jesus”). And he had to believe a far-reaching promise (“he will save his people from their sins”).

Would you and I have reacted as the shepherds did—our fear giving way to excitement

about Christ’s birth? Would we have been eager not only to see him for ourselves but also to spread the word to all who would listen?

Would we have praised God as the elderly Simeon did, recognizing in the Christ-child the “light for revelation to the Gentiles” God had promised long ago (Luke 2:25-35)?

Would we have been like Anna, another aging saint who “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38)?

Like the Magi, would we have recognized the messianic sign in the sky and followed where God led us, even if it meant a long and arduous journey? Would we have continued following in spite of Herod’s threats? Would we have laid our treasures at Jesus’ feet or spent them on our own pleasures?

Would we have recognized the Word who became flesh, the incarnate Deity, the Son of God and Son of Man? Would we have received him or rejected him, welcomed him or wounded him, befriended him or belittled him? Would we, like the angels, have longed to look even more deeply into these things (1 Peter 1:12)?

What kind of Christmas might it be today if we could place ourselves in the story? Can we look beyond the mall and see ourselves at the manger? Beyond the flashing lights to behold the Light of the World? Beyond the holiday parties to see the holy purpose of God? Beyond the presents we buy to the Presence only God can give? Can we see past the cradle to the cross and the empty tomb?

The prophet said he would be called Immanuel—“God with us.” He came not only for Jewish people, not only for first-century people, not only for “good” or “religious” people. He came for all of us. We were there, right in the middle of the story—a story authored by none other than Almighty God himself. And we’re still in the middle of the story, or at least we can be if we choose.

And that makes Christmas a wonderful time indeed.