Merry Christmas!

This Christmas season I've been pondering a quote from a little girl in my Sunday school class. I was telling the story of Jesus' birth and paused after the angel's announcement to Mary to ask the class what they thought Mary might have been feeling just then. The answer was, "Mary was probably freaking out!" That's probably not a bad modern translation!

But who wasn't freaking out in the Christmas story?

Zechariah -- certainly freaked out by the appearance of the angel in the temple and the fact that he couldn't speak for at least 9 months as a result of his unbelief.

Joseph -- who wouldn't be freaked out to discover your fiance is pregnant?

King Herod -- he might just be the most freaked out with a threat to his throne. He was someone who had killed his own sons (not to mention many others) in his jealousy to keep the throne of the Jews for himself.

Shepherds -- Scripture says they were "sore afraid" when the angels appeared to them.

Wisemen -- don't you think they were a bit freaked out by the warning in their dream not to return to Herod?

The only person who was never freaked out at any point in the story is Christ Himself. God (as manifested in the person of Jesus Christ) entered history "in the fullness of time", at the precise moment that was most fitting in God's eyes. Every minute detail was fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and pointing to the culmination of God's redemptive work on the cross. Christ's death and resurrection mean, for those trusting in Him, that we need not fear the most freaked out moment of all time -- when we stand before the judgment seat of Almighty God.

Christmas was the visible beginning of this great work of PEACE -- reconciling men to God. Rejoice in this incredible gift!