December 24 Devotion

The “magic” of Christmas. Can you feel it? The excitement, the Joy, the anticipation.

Let’s look back for a moment. Back at the time of the first Christmas, they didn’t have a Christmas Season. They didn’t have excitement or anticipation of the holiday. They weren’t preparing to celebrate a life-changing event. They were in the midst of 400 years of silence from God. There were no new prophets speaking. The priests were simply still giving sacrifices, following the rituals and feasts and reading from the Word of God, but they had no suspicions that this year would be any different in any way. There was no Christmas yet and no season leading up to it. Only Mary and Joseph had any inkling that this year would be different. They certainly felt some excitement, anticipation and most definitely, anxiety and fear as the day approached. Perhaps Simeon felt the Spirit stir up some excitement in him. John the Baptist was too young to express any anticipation at that point. So in the hearts and minds of most people alive at that time, it was just another day, another month, another year.

Christmas Eve, was just a regular day. The anticipation, excitement and anxiety that we all get to feel today and on every December 24th, they missed out on, totally. That’s a little sad. But, it is a tradeoff I guess. They got to be there when the Savior of the World was actually born. The Shepherds, got to see the first Christmas lights, hear the first Christmas carol, AND got to meet Jesus in person! Imagine that as you read this part of the Christmas story again:

Luke 2:8-20 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

And for those who witnessed this event, I’m betting that after that it was one big long Christmas season as they waited for Jesus to grow up, anticipating the future, awaiting the revelation that He was the Messiah.