Dealing with the birth of Jesus.

Businesses and institutions have started to replace the traditional Merry Xmas with a “less offensive” Happy Holidays. What makes them “holy days” anyway? Is it not the birth of Christ, the Incarnation of God?

The replacement of the phrase is only one of the ways people use to deal with Christ’s birth. Acknowledging Jesus’ birth as the birth of the Messiah bring moral and spiritual responsibilities that men do not want to face. Therefore, they prefer to reject it.

How do you face Jesus’ birth? How do you deal with it? Let’s see:

How people dealt with Jesus’ birth?

Some faced it with surprise.

Mary was surprised.

Luke 1:25-35

Luke 1:28–29 NASB95

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Mary was surprised by the angel’s salutation.

She was also surprised by the news because she was a virgin.

Luke 1:34–35 NASB95

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

She was surprised by the description about the baby.

Luke 1:31–33 NASB95

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Joseph was surprised.

Mat 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18–19 NASB95

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

Put yourself in Joseph’s situation: Your bride whom you love so much, whom you have respected, and never touched, comes to you and tells you she’s pregnant. How would you react? What would you say? What would you think? He was really surprised!

If that was not enough, when he had made a plan to get rid of the problem and the shame, an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him: this child is the Savior of the world, this is God made man (Immanuel).

Some faced it as a threat.

A threat to Herod, the king.

Matthew 2:1–3 NASB95

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

He was troubled by the birth of the Messiah because Jesus was born “King of the Jews”. He saw Jesus as a threat to his political power and ambitions.

Herod was afraid of a revolt and its consequences.

A threat to the religious establishment.

Matthew 2:4–5 NASB95

Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

Priests and scribes represented the religion of the time. They managed all the spiritual affairs of the people.

Those who were supposed to be happy with the birth of the promised king, became Christ’s worst enemies. Why? Because Jesus’ teaching contradicted many of their teachings and practices.

Things have not changed much! Religion opposes the preaching of the pure Gospel: salvation by faith in Christ, not by works or by religion.

Jesus is still a threat to politicians and to religion.

Others faced it with joy.

The magi.

Mat 2:9-12

Matthew 2:10–11 NASB95

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

For them, it was the conclusion to all their Scriptural and astronomical investigations. Years of study and expectancy had come to an end. “They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” because of Jesus’ birth.

These were God-fearing men. If they were kings, they were some of the few in that political level who were not ashamed to believe in the coming Messiah. If they were wise men, they were truly wise. Those who call themselves wise nowadays, instead of accepting the Messiah, they try to deny Him, deny His deity, His claims, etc.

The shepherds.

Luk 2:8-20

At first, when the glory of the Lord shone on them, “they were terribly frightened”. They had never seen anything like that.

After hearing the voice of the angel giving them “the good news of great joy”, and hearing the multitude of angels praising God, they went right away to Bethlehem and beheld the new born king.

They were not afraid anymore, instead they rejoiced.

These were the poor, the oppressed, and the exploited ones. The sheep without shepherd!. They could represent the sinners, the prostitutes, tax gatherers, gentiles, sick, lepers, etc.

The angel was bringing good news: Now they had hope! There was no reason to be afraid anymore: Their Savior had been born!

Luke 2:20 NASB95

The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Are you weary and heavy-laden? Do you need rest? Are sick and hopeless? Jesus is the solution! Have you allowed Jesus to have a birth in your heart?