Christmas and the Bible

When most people think about what the Bible says about Christmas, they think of those well-known, beloved passages in the Gospels that speak of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, a manger, and angels.  This is not a bad thing, especially considering the alternatives people have to focus on during this time of year.  If this is what you think about BEFORE pictures of the North Pole, Santa, and holiday sales at the shopping mall, then you definitely are ahead of the curve.

On the other hand, the reason that most people (myself included) think about these passages is because they are the most well known and accepted, even by some of the same people advertising that holiday sale you just can't miss.  It isn't too uncommon to see Hallmark movies with nativity scenes, commercials quoting Scriptures about peace and goodwill, and department stores selling Advent calendars that count down the days until Christmas.  No, I'm not upset about any of this.  But the more I think about and celebrate the Christmas story, the more I am convinced that it consists of more than a few well-known characters and Scriptures.

For many of us (including myself for a long time) the story of Jesus' birth is not all that different than a fairytale.  We know all about the setting and the characters, but our perception is divorced from the significance this "tale" has in relation to the whole story the Bible is telling.  Just as Cinderella and Snow White lived in "once-upon-a-time-land," Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and they all lived happily ever after.

How do we broaden our understanding of how Christmas fits in with the rest of what the Bible has to say?  Well the short answer is: read it!  Read it with the expressed purpose of seeing Jesus at the center.  Believe it or not, one book that has helped me to do that is The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

Listen to what the introduction says about Jesus and the Bible:

No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescues the ones he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is–it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in the puzzle–the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

Yes, this Bible is for children.  You should buy it for them and read it to them.  But you might also be surprised when you read it for yourself, to see how "every story in the Bible whispers his name."

Another resource that has helped me to understand the Bible in this way is a musical score entitled Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson.

This one will not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you appreciate "folksy" sounding music, it is definitely worth checking out.  It is difficult to describe this album in words, so I will limit my comments to two important points: 1) It is not your traditional Christmas album.  2) It is intended to be listened to all the way through.

Regardless of whether or not you find either of these resources helpful, I pray that your understanding of the Christmas story is stretched this year, and that your appreciation for it extends beyond the familiar.

Merry Christmas!