As Christmas was approaching this year, I took time to ponder the first Christmas, that day over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus was born.
There was no glamour.
There was no pampering of pregnant Mary.
There was no comfortable vehicle in which to travel in from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
There was no clean, sanitary hospital with trained professionals to deliver Mary’s baby.
There was no posh hotel for Joseph and Mary.
There was no clean and comfortable bassinet with safety features.
There was no toilet that was shiny and comfortable.
There was no electricity.
There were no….you get the point….
But God chose to send His one and only Son into that era to become the atoning sacrifice for all people’s sins.
What were people thinking during that first Christmas day? Luke 2 gives us some insight into what was taking place in people’s hearts and minds.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” People were thinking about submitting to their Roman authority, and traveling in primitive conditions. But God had faithful Mary and Joseph, who understood that He had them on an eternal mission for all mankind.
On that first Christmas, Joseph and Mary had to fend for themselves in primitive conditions. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
But God, sovereignly, was preparing for their baby to be worshiped as the Savior of the world. I doubt Joseph and Mary knew all this was coming their way! “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
On that first Christmas, poor, lowly shepherds were honored to be the first to hear the news that the Savior of the world was born. Imagine how they were shocked. I’m thinking that everyone believed that when God sent His prophesied Son, that He wasn’t going to be greeted first by lowly shepherds.
On that first Christmas there was awe and admiration for God, from the lowly, not from the Jewish leaders.
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
On that first Christmas, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Mary wasn’t concerned with buying gifts for others, because God had provided the best gift ever – Jesus!
The first Christmas helped lowly shepherds learn that God loved them, and communicated with them. They learned that they were valuable to God, and in return, on that first Christmas, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
What an amazing event! It was miraculous. It was something only God could do.
The first Christmas should do something in us.
The first Christmas should cause us to ponder the truths of God’s Word.
The first Christmas should cause us to admire God.
The first Christmas should drive us to our knees and bring us face down before our loving God.
The first Christmas should bring us hope!
The first Christmas should bring us hope because we know there is more to come!
Jesus will return…soon and very soon!
But God wants you and me to take to heart, NOW, the reason HE sent Jesus. It was for you and me! It was because we are sinners, and have absolutely no recourse of our own to do anything about our spiritual condition.
But God did, and still does. We can admit our sinful state. We can accept God’s gift of Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice. We can allow Him to bring transformative repentance into our lives. We can live wholly for Him!
What do you want your life to represent when you enter into God’s presence to give an account of your life?
Please, don’t let this matter rest until you have made a commitment to Jesus. I’d be glad to talk with you. Please email me at the address below.
How does the first Christmas compare to our modern day Christmas? That is next week’s topic.
Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!
Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.
Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.