"Characters" of the Christmas Story

I know...3 posts in a matter of hours sounds crazy. My computer has been being worked on though & I just got it back & I've had all of this in my head ready to write. So here goes.

After my post awhile ago about Joseph, I've really been thinking about these "characters" (I don't like to call them that...they were REAL) of the Christmas story. After talking to Em about it the other day, I decided that I needed to write it. So this is kind of a rough draft from each perspective.

Jesus – the star. Sometimes we seem to forget that He really is the reason for this chaos that we call Christmas. We hear the cheesy phrases like “Jesus is the reason for the season” & “Keeping Christ in Christmas,” & we kind of laugh to ourselves…but they’re absolutely true. The day that He was born – whether the sun shone above or it happened during the wee hours of darkness, whether the stable was cold or sweltering – changed everything – past, present, & future.

Mary – Surely the most talked-about “character” (other than Jesus…though some would even place more importance on Mary, oddly enough) of the Christmas story. How would she have felt?

An angel just came & told me that I’m going to have God’s baby. That sounds totally crazy, I know…but I really believe him. As soon as he appeared, I was frightened. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I’m just average. But apparently God sees more in me than I even see in myself. So anyway, this baby – the angel told me to name Him Jesus. He said that Jesus is going to be the Savior of the world. I don’t know exactly what all of this means, or how I’m going to tell my parents, or Joseph, or my friends…but I know this is meant to be. I have this peace inside of me that reassures me – God chose me…ME! I still can’t believe it.

So much has happened since the angel came to me that day & told me about the baby that I now feel moving constantly. I went to visit Elizabeth & felt even more confirmation that this baby – Jesus – is special. I could feel Him jump within me as soon as I crossed Elizabeth’s threshold. She, too, is pregnant. I know – strange – she’s so old! But God is performing miracles all over the place these days! It was as if that baby that she carries recognized that he was in the presence of a King. Everyone knows now that I’m pregnant. Some have shunned me, others believe with a faith that is unshakable. Telling Joseph was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. At first when I saw how hurt he was, I thought he would leave me for sure. I couldn’t stand the thought of that. Though understandable, I love him so much and want him traveling down this scary but incredible path with me. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side. God really came through again, though. He sent an angel to Joseph, as well. After that things were much better between us. Though there are still hard times, we got married and are cherishing this time. I am carrying the Savior. What could be better? God chose me. And He chose Joseph. We long to serve Him.

Now I’m on the road to Bethlehem. Joseph has to go here for the census. It makes me nervous traveling this long way so near to the time when the baby should come. Not only that, but being only with Joseph. What if I go into labor on the road? We’re married now…but we haven’t been married all that long. We haven’t really had the relationship that a normal married couple would have right now. I’ve been pregnant the whole time. And now he may be the only one there when I have this baby. I know I can do what I have to do, but is he prepared for this?

Well, it happened. The baby came when we were in Bethlehem. At first I was so scared – we couldn’t even find anywhere to stay because so many people are traveling for the census. Finally, there was no time to keep looking. A kind innkeeper took pity on us & showed us to his stable. I never would have thought that I would give birth in a stable, but it actually was perfect. I was so scared about how Joseph would react. He is clearly called by God to be Jesus’ earthly father, though, because he handled the situation beautifully. His calm hands helped me as the baby was born. He was the first to hold Him – our son, God’s Son. He put Him in my arms, tears streaming down both of our faces – this baby that we held was the Savior. I have never felt anything like it in my life. What can replace knowing that the baby that I had carried, protected, nurtured, and loved for nine months, is now in my arms. Not only that, but that He is God’s Son – a miracle. When Joseph and I first decided to get married, we wanted only to serve God through our life together. We had no idea that this is where God would lead us – to a stable, holding a baby that would save us all.

Joseph – Sometimes his role as the chosen earthly father of Jesus is forgotten.

What am I supposed to do? Mary has just told me she’s pregnant. Not just that – but that she’s pregnant with the Son of God. This is crazy…am I really supposed to believe this? I can’t imagine her sleeping with another man, but I can’t understand how she would be carrying God’s child. What am I supposed to do? I love her so much, but we can’t start a life together if I can’t trust her. I’ve never felt like this – part of me wants to just believe her & go ahead with our plans to marry, but the other part knows that that can never happen. I don’t want to embarrass her any more than she already will be though. Maybe if I divorce her quietly, that will leave her with at least some integrity. I just can’t believe this is happening. How could she do this to me? She knows that I would do anything for her – I love her and want to start a life with her. I thought she was the one I would marry, start a family with, grow old with. I feel like everything is falling apart.

I can’t believe this…an angel just came to me. Mary really is telling the truth! This is so scary, but such a relief that I’m not going to lose her. For whatever reason, God has chosen us to be the earthly parents of His Son. I can’t believe I’m even saying this; it still sounds so unreal. I’ve always heard that the Messiah would come & I’ve believed in that wholeheartedly – but like this, as a baby? I had no idea! I can’t believe that God has entrusted me with His Son. I’m so thankful that the angel came to me. I so wanted to believe Mary, but until I heard it from the angel, it just sounded insane. I know this is going to be a long, hard road, but I’m honored that God has placed this blessing in my life.

I’m on my way to Bethlehem for the census. As I lead the donkey along, thoughts race through my head. Any day now Mary could have the baby. What if that happens along the road? I’m the only one around. I don’t know anything about delivering a baby. She may not even want me there for that! The way I always pictured the start of our family, we would be at home in Jerusalem – Mary’s mother would be there, I would pace, praying for Mary as I heard her struggle. Then I would hear the sweetest sound – the muffled cry of a newborn. Her mother would open the door, let me in, and I would see Mary, my wife, holding our child. But now, it could really happen here. I’m not prepared for this. Of course I love Mary and I love the baby that she carries & will do whatever I have to do, but that is just now how I imagined it.

So much for that picture perfect scenario I had always played out in my head. Yesterday the time came and Mary went into labor. Frantic, I searched for a place to stay. With so many people in town for the census, all of the inns were full. With tears streaming down her quiet face, I knew I had to get Mary somewhere soon. She would not complain, but I knew we were running out of time. Finally, I found an innkeeper who sympathized with us and gave us the only accommodations he could provide – his stable. At this point, we didn’t even care that the baby would be born in a bed of hay, with animals as an audience. I was so frightened that I wouldn’t know what to do, but God filled me with this incredible peace. The moment the baby was born, I knew my life would never be the same. I took him into my arms as he let out his first cry. Here, in the crook of my arm, was the Savior. I was moved to tears knowing that I had just witnessed this miraculous birth. I knelt beside Mary and put this baby in her arms. At that moment, I believe I loved her more than ever before. Without hesitation, she said ‘yes’ to God and carried His Son for nine long months. She traveled the long journey by my side, and she gave birth in a barn. There is no doubt about it; she is chosen by God. As I sat with Mary and Jesus, I thought of how my life would never be the same. Everyone changes when they become a parent, but the birth of this baby was going to change history.

Shepherds – the lowest of the low, the first visitors to kneel by the manger.

Tonight I was lying in the field with my sheep when suddenly, angels appeared in the sky. At first I thought I was dreaming. Angels…really? I’d always been sure they were real, but not creatures I would ever see in my lifetime. But, no…I wasn’t dreaming. Not just one or ten or twenty…but thousands of angels surrounded me. They told me the most incredible story – the Messiah had come. And He came not as a king or prince, a politician or a ruler – but as a baby! He had been born in Bethlehem and I was to go there & worship Him! My heart was pounding with excitement! Why would the Lord see fit to send angels to tell me of His birth? I’m a shepherd…I look after animals for a living, sleeping somewhere different every night, no place to call home, barely scraping by. For whatever reason, God chose to tell me. Next the angels told me to follow the star. I first didn’t understand. I follow the sun during the daytime, but how was I supposed to follow a star? But then the angel left & I saw the brightest star I have ever seen in my life. So I got up and began walking in its direction.

I’d been walking for awhile. I couldn’t believe what I was actually doing - chasing after a star instead of tending to my sheep, my one way to get by day to day. And then I rounded the curve that came into Bethlehem. I saw the bright star directly ahead, and underneath it, a small stable. At first I wondered if I was in the right place, but as I came nearer, I heard the soft sounds of a baby. As I opened the creaky door and entered into the stable, I saw a young couple holding a baby. They introduced themselves as Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus – the Messiah, the Savior. This was real. This baby had a name and earthly parents. I could hold Him, hear His cries. In a matter of hours, my life had changed. I felt like before, I was just an ordinary shepherd. But now, I have met Jesus. Jesus. I can’t stop repeating His name. The baby that I held in my arms is somehow going to save the world. I felt His heartbeat, and it was as if God Himself were whispering in my ear, ‘this is my Son, the Messiah.’ When I placed the baby back in the arms of His parents, I knelt to the ground and prayed, tears flowing down my cheeks. What else could I do? I, the lowly shepherd, was in the presence of royalty right here in a cave. My life will never be the same. I don’t know where my next meal is coming from, or if I will be able to survive at all on what little I can earn, but none of that matters anymore. I just met Jesus. Jesus!