John Peet sheds light on the central characters in the nativity scene and explains their significance of their presence.
Last Christmas my wife and I were talking about those who were at Bethlehem. We found it most instructive to think on who and why.
The centre figure is the Lord Jesus
It is easy to forget Him if we miss the purpose of the occasion. One shopper in Croydon in the 1960s was overheard to refer to a nativity scene in a shop window: ‘They are even bringing religion into Christmas’!
I could make the rest of this article a meditation on the wonder of the occasion, that the Lord of glory, the creator of the universe had deigned to come to this ‘poor world below and wept and toiled and bled and died – only because He loved me so!’ I will leave you to think on this aspect!
There is, of course, Mary
We cannot – and should not – neglect to see her in the biblical context: that is the best way to understand her place in the history of Bethlehem. We need to read Luke 1 again and see something of the character of this lady. After all, our God chose her and no one else for this unique role.
Consider her humility and amazement that the Almighty God should choose her of all people for this amazing event. She submits humbly, even though she was going to be the target of scandalous gossip, even threats of stoning for her supposed adultery. But she says: ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ What faith! It was not an easy way. But she bowed to His will and His service.
But there was also Joseph
To many folk he was just an incidental, like a film ‘extra’. Not so, according to the Scriptures. The implications for him too were great, but he heard God’s message and accepted God’s will. Matthew tells us that ‘he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. … And he called his name Jesus.’ We are not told much about Mary, but even less about Joseph. Clearly, he was a godly man and a wonderful husband. See the comment in Matthew 2:13-15, where he heard the angel instruct him again: ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt … And he rose and took the child and his mother …’ Obedient! He seems never to have questioned the angel’s words. A man of faith who we have under-rated, I suspect.
There were the angels
Besides those who met with Mary and Joseph, we are told of the heavenly throng who descended on Bethlehem. They met with the shepherds and served as a choir of praise. (I am amazed at the ignorant comment I find circulated on the Internet which says they do not sing! How many pick up on such unbiblical comments.)
The angels are, of course, the Lord’s messengers. They have brought the advance news to the Lord’s earthly carers and now they announce to the world, through the shepherds, the ‘good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.’ They announce to the world who this baby really is. Surely we must follow in their footsteps?
That brings us to the shepherds
These men were very common in the country and they symbolise the ‘ordinary people’. They may be the owners of the sheep (and often were, as in the Old Testament accounts) or they may be hired hands. The Lord Jesus referred to both in John 10. And that also points to a special connection with the Christmas story: the Lord described Himself as the Good Shepherd. The sheep which they were tending were probably those used frequently for the temple sacrifices. Our Lord Jesus took on this aspect for Himself: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep’ (John 10:11). The purpose of His coming to Bethlehem.
Then there is the magi
If the ‘common people’ were represented by the Israeli shepherds, the wider community were represented by the magi. The foreigners. That was a purpose of His mission to this world, to bring the gospel and salvation to the whole world. We see this emphasised again in the gospels with the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:27) and the Greeks (John 12:20). Now, ‘the hour has come’, He said (John 12:23). No wonder the Pharisees said, ‘the world has gone after Him’ (John 12:19).
It is generally accepted that these men were from a religious group in Persia who would have been taught by the prophet Daniel during his exile there. Hence they knew the prophecy of the Saviour’s coming and so the significance of a bright heavenly object announcing this King of the Jews.
What about Herod?
Then I would suggest that Herod was there, not in person, of course, but he sent his soldiers with the sole purpose of destroying this One who was, he believed, a competitor for his throne. The enemy, Satan, was undoubtedly behind this and he repeatedly tried to defeat this Holy One who would defeat him. Herod, with all his power and army, was unable to destroy this small family in the village of Bethlehem. God cannot be defeated.
In the prophecy of Micah, one is amazed at our God’s plan. This King who was prophesied as coming to Zion (Jerusalem) was also prophesied to be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah: ‘But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth to Me one who is to be ruler in Israel …’
The relatives...
Inevitably we can be sure that the wider family would have been there. Bethlehem was the home base of Mary and Joseph’s families. The unborn baby in Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, reacted to the presence of pregnant Mary (Luke 1:41). How could she not have been there for this event? The Middle Eastern families are so close that we can be sure of their presence. Indeed, it is quite possible that the place where they were staying was a family home. There was no room for them in the upper guest room because of all the visitors to the village and they would, therefore, have been in the warm family room with the feeding trough as a cradle for the infant.
How the family must have marvelled as Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph told of the events of the past year and heard the angels’ message from the shepherds.
Isn’t that how we love to spend Christmas? Sharing with our family the good news of that first Christmas.
What about the villagers too? Can you imagine them keeping away when they heard the shepherds’ news (Luke 2:17-18)? Many will attend churches this Christmas, for a variety of reasons. Will they too hear the message there?
But, above all, YHWH, God the Father, was there.
We are told of the ‘glory of the LORD’ (Luke 2:9). We are also told that this was His gift to the world (John 3:16). He was truly saying to us ‘Happy Christmas’, was He not?
But, do you notice who were not there? Why were the ‘priests’ not there? They knew where the Messiah would be born; they told Herod. They quoted Scripture. This was their hope. Was this not what every Israelite was looking for?
They told Herod, presumably knowing what his reaction would be. Why did the people react so differently from their spiritual leaders? Eventually these religious leaders joined the Herodians in demanding His crucifixion! If they read their Scriptures, they would have seen this was what was predicted of them. It is interesting, and distressing, to hear that their counterparts today do not read and teach such passages as Isaiah 53.
Before we criticise them too quickly, let us remember that in many churches there will be a different Christmas message this Christmas. God forgive us.
May God be pleased this Christmas time to shine His glory again into this world. We truly have something to join with the angels in singing, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!’ Thank you, LORD.
