The Royal Son.

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7 ESV).

She gave birth; Mary, still a virgin, gave birth to her firstborn - a son. Any birth is a challenge but this must have been a traumatic event. This is her first child and her mother is nowhere near to help. She is not in her home but on the road in a strange place, the small hamlet of Bethlehem.

But this trauma is not a surprise for the Father. “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4 ESV). There are no mistakes in the birth of this child, the Son of God. This is not a “whoops, I should’ve planned better” event; Joseph was not at fault for this scarce setting. This is the plan of THE Father of Mary’s child; this is the timing of Heaven’s King sent to earth. 

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8 ESV). This event must be in order and well-prepared for the shepherds to know that this king is here for them. Divine preparation works this way. God’s character is consistently leaning into the hurt of our world so that balm and healing can be applied to the children of humanity. 

The lonely shepherds, watching their flocks at night, had a lonely, cold job, depending on the time of year in which it occurred. It’s a thankless job, even though Israel was once founded upon the role of a shepherd; now shepherds are disdained and often prevented from public worship in the Temple because of their harried schedules and dirty work. God knows; God cares; God acts and it is to them that the greatest gift is first announced.

Yet history and Jewish insight compels us to regard their watch over the sheep in their care with simply irony. They are custodians of the very same wooly creatures who would one day serve as sacrifices in the Temple. To them is announced the birth of a Savior, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us all. How ironic that their noble task, combined with their lowly worth, made them the target of Heaven’s love on that special night. God loves; God knows; God acts.

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:9-11 ESV).

Heaven’s birth announcement came first to these poor souls, stranded in the cold and the tiring work of shepherding. Cognizant of their plight I recall the words of a favorite Christmas hymn (While Shepherds Lately Knelt): “But there is room and welcome there for me. . .”

The tune is not amazing but its haunting melody frames the words that grab my very soul: “There is room and welcome there for me.” We all need to know that Heaven has thought of us and is still pondering our destination. Heaven cares and it is demonstrated in the announcement made to the shepherds. This King, this babe, this good news of great joy has been born “unto you.” He is for you! He is for many others, also. But if He is not for you, your life is incomplete and crumbles under the eternal weight of failure. But IF He is here for you, Heaven has a special place - there is room and welcome there for me!

This Christmas season, continue to enjoy the cookies and the lights on fragrant pine. Watch over the incoming cards and well wishes of neighbors and friends. But also peer deeply into the Bethlehem night. This is no longer a night of despair or forgotten dreams. No more will the shepherds sputter in their hope for eternity for they have seen their Savior, born and placed in shredded cloth so that they could know for certain that God cares. See the manger. Glimpse at the babe in tattered cloth. Let heaven embrace your hungry soul and fill you with the only true and lasting gift: Peace on earth, goodwill toward mankind!

Blessings to you this Christmas!