The Fun of Christmas

I want to read to you today the Christmas story.

Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Many of us have heard that story for years. Some of us read it every Christmas. I wonder how many of us stop to think about it every year. For instance have you ever wondered why shepherds? I have. I get it that kings and nobles would not have fit the scene. I understand hat God intended for it to be a humble scene but he had so many other choices. I am positive there were poor and humble people in town that God could have called. Was it because these men were somehow holier or more devout that most, were they especially Jewish or especially devoted to God. Why these men and not some other men?

Of course it is possible God chose someone outside of town so that when the choir of angels showed up it would not cause a big panic or a huge stir in the town and maybe that is true but I wonder if these particular men, these particular shepherds were not chosen for another reason as well. I wonder if it was because of the type of men they were. I wonder if it was not because of how simple they were and that their very simpleness allowed them to see what God wanted them to see and experience what God wanted them to experience in a way that other men could not. In a way that the personalities of over men or the sophistication of other men would not have allowed them to have the experience God wanted them to have. I wonder if that was not why these shepherds were chosen.

My youngest son Lee is pastoring a church just down the road right now. When he was a toddler I remember his favorite toy. He had lots of toys but his very favorite was an improvised toy. He would take an empty two liter coke bottle and a potato and he would bat that potato all around the house for hours. Then he would set it aside and in an hour or two come back and start all over again. He did this again and again day after day. Back then a bag of potatoes was only a dollar so it wasn’t expensive entertainment. He had a great time and he entertained himself. At the end of the day we would pick up that mushy, beat to a pulp potato and throw it away and the next morning he would get another potato and start all over again. I don’t remember him ever breaking the skin of the potato and making a mess although it could have happened. I do remember watching him and laughing at him time and time again.

One day my mother came to visit us and saw what he was doing. She was horrified. Here was her baby grandson playing in the floor with a potato and a piece of trash. She could not stand it. She searched and searched and found a miniature golf set. She wrapped it up and gave it to him as a gift. It may have been for his birthday but I think it was for Christmas because I remember him unwrapping it with her there. She watched him unwrap the paper and helped him get it out of the package She showed him how to use it and sat back to watch him play with it.

Of course you know what happened, after a few practice swings he put the new golf set down and went to find his empty coke bottle and potato and happily spent the next hour or so batting the potato around the house. Mom tried to get him interested in the golf set but he wanted no part of it. I don’t really remember him ever really playing with the golf set. But he loved his potato.

Most parents have probably had the experience of buying a big gift for their child and waiting to see their face when they opened it. Waiting to see the joy of having received their gift only to watch the child set the gift aside and spend a few hours playing with the box it came in. One of the greatest toys in the world is a large empty box. The last time Rhea and Kelly stayed with us we had saved a large box and they loved to climb in it and pull the top closed. We would say where is Rhea, where is Kelly, we don’t know where they are and they would just laugh and laugh. Eventually they would burst out of the box and we would say there they are and they would laugh and giggle and do it again. A box can be great fun.

I don’t believe that it is the expensive gifts and piles of stuff that makes Christmas special. I don’t believe that the most memorable Christmases are the ones where you got the biggest gifts or the most expensive presents. I think the best Christmases, like the best moments in life are the ones that are packed with giggles, laughs, hugs, good food and good friends. Whether it is the newest play station or just a coke bottle and a potato I thing what makes the best Christmas is your ability to enjoy and appreciate what is in front of you.

Maybe that is why God chose those shepherds. A king would have been worried about the political implications of the birth of the king of kings. A merchant would have thought of the things that the family needed and how he could profit from them. A carpenter might have talked shop with Joseph and a mother might have given advice to Mary. We all have our own lives and our own concerns. We think about the things that are important to us and we see the world through tinted lenses that filter out what seems unimportant and highlight what we are thinking about. God had many options of who to tell and who to send to attend the birth of his son. He could have sent nobles, kings, scholars, merchants or any number of others, he could have packed that place. He didn’t.

He sent a few shepherds from a nearby hill. Why them, why these men? I think I may know. I think God wanted to send someone without an agenda, someone without any immediate concerns about anything connected to this birth except the fact that it had happened. Someone who could truly experience the moment not for what it meant to their position, or their business, or their status or anything else. Someone who could just experience the wonder of the moment without bringing their own agenda to the table. Someone who could just be there and be happy. Someone who wasn’t distracted by the cares or the concerns of the world but could just experience the moment and enjoy it. Someone like those shepherds.

So as Christmas comes around this year, just like it has for over 2000 years I wonder if we are like the shepherds. It is so easy to get caught up in the gifts and the decorations, the lights and tree trimming, what food to prepare or to eat and where to have the family Christmas and who all will be there, it is easy to be distracted and even get lost in all of the preparation, the travel, the last minute things to do. Christmas is such a busy time that we can get lost in the busyness and forget the Christmas. I know there are people to see and gifts to buy and decorations to put up, I know that there are a lot things to do and to think about this Christmas, just like every Christmas before it.

I have a favor to ask you though. This Christmas, while you are doing everything you do and trying to get it all done, remember to set aside some time just to be there, to be in the moment, just to experience the joy and laughter of it all. To remember that we celebrate the fact that God came down to live among us, to save us, to give his life for us, think of those simple shepherds and take a moment to do what they did. To walk away from the busyness and the normal cares and concerns of life if only for a moment and celebrate the birth of God’s own son, to celebrate Christmas.

I think we have all been in the place my mom was in. She had seen something that she wanted to improve, she wanted to help, to do good. She had searched and searched for just the right gift. She had lovingly wrapped it up and presented it, she watched with care while he opened it up and then showed him how to use it and waited to see the joy of it in the life of someone she loved. She only made one mistake, she got so caught up in the perfect gift and the perfect giving that she forgot why she was giving it in the first place. She was giving him the gift because she wanted him to be happy and she wanted to show him her love. She wanted to see the joy on his face and feel some of that joy herself. Of course when he chose his own way to do things it broke her heart, but she really got what she wanted, he was happy, he was content and he loved her. She got exactly what she wanted she just couldn’t recognize it because she was so caught up in the way she had planned it to go.

Don’t get so caught up in the way you plan Christmas to go that you can’t appreciate the gift that you have been given. Don’t get so caught up in making it happen that you forget that it has already happened. Remember the simple joy of Christmas this year, remember to celebrate the birth of a baby, the birth of Jesus Christ and not just the successful conclusion of another Christmas celebration. After all, we may enjoy the decorations and the gifts and the parties, but the real joy of Christmas is in the saviour. Remember the shepherds and celebrate Christmas this year.