This may seem like an odd Scripture passage for this study, but I believe the way that Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus has a lot to teach us about receiving the love of God. God’s love is comforting and protective, so what better way to illustrate that than through the care for a helpless infant?

Joseph kept the baby Jesus safe from the peril of Herod. Jesus was not an active participant in his being hidden from danger. His father did it. God wants to save us from danger as well. But for some reason, that is often hard for us to accept.

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The shepherds in the Christmas story are probably not as well known as the Magi from the East. But I think they should be. Their enthusiasm is a helpful reminder of just how vibrant and dynamic the love of God is.

There is nothing private about the jubilation these shepherds displayed. They were active in their response to the angels. They moved quickly to see baby Jesus. And their immediate response was to tell everyone they encountered about the wonderful sight they had seen. That is love. A love so full and consuming that they had to share it. 

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While Mary showed strength and courage, we can’t downplay the role of Elizabeth and her faith in the Christmas story. Not only is she important as the mother of John the Baptist, but she’s also vital because of her interactions with Mary. She serves as an example and an encouragement to her cousin. 

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Mary is a heroic figure in the Christmas story. She is strong. She is devout. She is resolute. And she is faithful. She deserves more credit than we already give her for being not just willing but gracious in the way she handles what God calls her to do.

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The wise men offering their riches to the Christ child is, of course, an act of generosity. They give these precious items to a newly born baby who has no real physical use for gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But Jesus’ birth is so significant to them that they had to offer something to him that was actually of value. Their generosity was radical which is a key component to living out the love of God, and one component that is often the hardest to do for many of us.

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To many people, Joseph is the least significant person in the Christmas story. He doesn’t naturally contribute to the birth of Jesus, yet he is a central part of the entire ordeal. There are choices that Joseph makes that allow the rest of the story to happen.

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The story of the world is a love story. It’s a tale about the Creator and his love for His created. And smack dab in the middle of that story we see the Creator’s love wrapped up in human form and enter the world as a baby. This is the Christmas story.

While it is easy for most of us to acknowledge that love is the central theme in this scene, it’s typically difficult for us to define what love really is. Our finite minds and our life experiences make it hard for us to fully grasp the power of God’s love. It’s also hard for us to figure out how to display that love toward others.

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After Mary discovers she is miraculously pregnant, she travels to visit her elderly relative (probably cousin) Elizabeth, who also happens to be miraculously pregnant.  What a bizarre and marvelous moment in history. Two unlikely mothers, a virgin and a barren old woman, unite together to share with each other the shock and wonder of their world being turned upside down by God’s grace.

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The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom.  Theologian Cornelius Plantinga helpfully writes: “The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom.  We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or ceasefire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights.  Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”

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The shepherds of Luke 2 had to have had a wild roller coaster of emotions that night.

Their night begins like any other.  Keeping watch over their sheep that night to make sure thieves or wolves do not take their hard-earned investment.  It is relatively boring and quiet. There is the soft rattle of locusts’ wings and the distant bleating of sheep. Perhaps they are fighting off the heaviness overtaking their eyelids.

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After Mary is informed that she will bear in her womb the Savior of the world (no pressure!), she erupts into song.  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Her song is a joyful overflow of praise from a heart that has been touched by mind-boggling grace.

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Zechariah was an old man.  He felt the aches in his joints and bones that only come from a life that has been well worn.  Perhaps his vision was growing a bit blurry and his hair a bit whiter. He was a dutiful priest, regularly serving in the temple to offer prayers and sacrifices.  Maybe he considered it an honor to publicly identify with the Lord and a privilege to labor on behalf of God’s people. He was also happily married; Elizabeth was a godly woman who was faithful and lovely.  He lived a normal Judean suburban life - church, work, marriage.

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The first explosion of joy in the Christmas stories comes from the magi, or the ’wisemen from the East.’  Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” To “rejoice exceedingly with great joy” sounds like a lot of joy.

It’s fascinating that the magi are even included in Jesus’ birth narrative.  They don’t belong. They are odd characters that don’t fit in any real way.

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There are two seductive lies that surround joy specifically when it comes to the Advent and Christmas seasons.  The first lie is - Joy will be found in consumption.  We are prone to believe that maybe the latest gadget, that expensive outfit, the new car, those books, etc. will make me happy.  Americans tend to make New Year’s Resolutions every January because we took a month and gorged ourselves with family dinners, parties, and pastries.  Our indulgence ramps up every December because we believe that if we just acquire and consume enough stuff, we will finally get in on the action of joy.  And every year, joy slips through our fingers sandlike.

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Simeon and Anna, both prayer warriors and faithful, long-term servants of the Lord, are blessed to be the first witnesses of Jesus as a baby presented in Jerusalem.

Simeon’s account is focused on the present. We learn very little about his life, as scripture tells us only that he was a good man who served in the Temple.  The Holy Spirit had promised him that he would get to see the Messiah before He died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple at exactly the moment Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in.  We get many details of his embrace of that beautiful baby; we read the words of his prayer and his prophecy to Jesus’ parents. We step into Simeon’s praise and understand his excitement; he received his promise and that’s the end of his story.

In contrast, Anna’s account is focused on the past and looks to the future.  It seems like she only got to see Jesus on this day from a distance. We don’t hear about any direct interaction, but in three dedicated verses, we learn a lot about Anna’s life journey.  She was from Asher, one of the lost, scattered tribes. Her father’s

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The angelic hosts were singing.  The Magi and shepherds had traveled to bring gifts and worship and praise Him.  Surely Mary and Joseph were overjoyed. The prophecies and promises had all been fulfilled.  The Savior was born to reign in Judah, and God’s kingdom was about to be established and restored.

The scene was set.  Jerusalem should have been ready for the celebration!  What a joyous occasion for everyone. Well, everyone except King Herod.  In Jesus’ birth, Herod knew that his rule was threatened, and according to Matthew 2, he progressed from being disturbed by the news to being murderously angry at the possibility of being unseated from his throne.

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They left their home, their comfort, and traveled 90 grueling miles along the Jordan and over the hills of Jerusalem to get to Bethlehem.  It was a long journey to Joseph’s hometown, a place where they could have been received with joy and welcomed in. After all, Mary was VERY pregnant by this point, carrying the Messiah!

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We often skip over the genealogies and “who begot who’s” in the Bible, but Jesus’ family tree is interesting and important.  With intrigue and scandals, outcasts and immigrants, redeemers and royals, this bloodline was full of both drama and destiny.  

Scholars argue over whether Jesus’ recorded genealogy was maternal or paternal, biological, adoptive, or legal.  Both Matthew and Luke trace the assumed family trees of Joseph, with different names, then - plot twist - announce that Jesus isn’t Joseph’s son at all!  

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Imagine, just for a moment, what it must have been like for Mary to hear the news that she was about to become a mother.  Young. Not yet married and still a virgin. At risk of being rejected and completely shunned. The angel of the Lord answered questions she didn’t get a chance to ask and confirmed that nothing is impossible with God.  Mary did not even think about what she’d have to suffer through in carrying the Christ. She responded simply, Yes Lord...let it happen just as you said it would.

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Have you ever believed God for something for so long that you stopped believing it was possible?  That was Zechariah and Elizabeth’s testimony. They righteously walked before the Lord but found themselves old in age, barren, without children. It is painful to serve God faithfully without seeing the fruitfulness of your labor.

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