The Joy of Christmas

Luke 2 is a profound chapter in the Bible. In the chapter’s first half, in just 20 verses, Luke describes the long-awaited and world-historical event of Christ’s birth. This is probably the most familiar version of the Christmas story, the one we all grew up reading and hearing. 

But have you ever taken some time to wonder at just how strange this account really is, as Luke tells it? The events of that night are rightly famous. But they’re also remarkably sparse. Inquiring minds would like to have an entire series of books about what happened on that incredible Christmas night! Why did Luke leave so much out? And why did he divide things up the way he did?

Just do some quick math with me, as you look at Luke 2:1–20. Caesar Augustus and Quirinius get three verses. Joseph and Mary get about four verses. The birth of Jesus itself gets one verse. But the shepherds get 12 verses! Why did God want it this way? Let’s see if we can figure it out together.

Notice that the final picture of the shepherds that Luke leaves us with is: “The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them” (Luke 2:20). 

Within the account itself, they receive an announcement of good news about the incarnation of Jesus, the long-awaited Savior and Messiah (verses 8–14). Then we follow along with them as they immediately go to see Jesus for themselves, finding the Son of God lying there in a manger (verses 15–16). After finding the angels’ words to be true and encountering Jesus, the shepherds then start spreading the news (verses 17–18) and they themselves praise and give God glory (verse 20). 

Luke isn’t just telling us what happened on that night. I think he’s introducing us to a pattern of how God works in us. First, the shepherds hear the good news about Jesus, the Savior. But then they actually experience Jesus for themselves. They meet Him. That is when things really change for them. 

The shepherds first hear about Jesus, which creates curiosity. But then they experience Jesus, which leads to praise. Christmas started with an announcement to the shepherds. But Christmas led to an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.

Isn’t this always how it is and how it must be? Hearing about something isn’t the same as experiencing it for yourself. 

You may hear a friend go on and on about how her grandma’s Christmas cookies are the absolute best Christmas cookies ever. Maybe you even take her word for it, and you choose to believer her. But you still have to open up the cookie jar and try one for yourself. When you taste something for yourself, that’s a different kind of knowledge. It’s not just informative—it’s transformative. You go beyond merely knowing about something, and you experience joy when you encounter it and experience it yourself. If the cookies really are that good, you won’t be able to help it—you’ll start praising grandma’s baking and telling everyone else how great those cookies are, inviting them to try a bite for themselves!

This is what happened to the shepherds, and this is what God’s Word intends to happen to us as well. 

For thousands of years, people had heard the promises made about the Messiah. But everything changed when He arrived. The joy the shepherds experienced was unlike anything that anyone had ever encountered before, on this side of Eden. They could share a room with the Lord. They could—and this is hard to even imagine—pick Him up and hold Him. 

They didn’t just know about the Savior. They knew the Savior. This is why the shepherds left that night “glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen.” The angelic proclamation made them ready to meet Jesus. But when they actually did meet Him, that’s when their hearts overflowed with joy. Meeting Jesus was life-changing. It was transformative. That’s why Luke doesn’t want to just play the role of a reporter, giving us a play-by-play of Christmas night. He’s inviting us into meeting and experiencing Jesus Christ for ourselves, so that we too can experience the joy of Christmas. 

Have you met Jesus? You won’t really understand Christmas until you do. The good news of Christmas is that Jesus took the first step by coming to dwell with us. He left the riches of Heaven and took on the poverty of human flesh. He did it to invite us into the joy that only He can give. 

Questions for Thought

1. Would you say that you have only heard about Jesus? Or that you have experienced Jesus for yourself?
2. Think about your relationship with Jesus Christ over the course of your Christian life. Has your joy in Christ been growing stronger lately? Or is it fading? Why?

Daily Challenge

Reflect on the joy of your salvation and your ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. Spend some time praising and glorifying God for all that He has done for you!