Christmas Is More Than A Candy Cane Latte

Jiminy Cricket! It’s that time of year again!

The time of year when most of us bundle up in coats, sweaters, scarves, and mittens to ward off the frigid weather brought on by Ole’ Man Winter and Jack Frost. Drinks seasoned with pumpkin spice, peppermint mocha, nutmeg, and eggnog.

And every home is covered in lights, decorations, and the smell of pine and cinnamon filtering throughout the house.

We receive innumerable party invitations, attend complicated family gatherings, and rack our brain and pocketbook to find that ever-elusive perfect gift.

Although we all celebrate Christmas somewhat differently, we all probably could agree that The Most Wonderful Time of the Year often feels like the most chaotic time of the year!

But through the chaos, why not slow down for a minute, make yourself a Candy Cane Latte, and meditate on the following story of Christmas from the Bible’s perspective.

Where in the Bible can we find the Christmas story?

THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN GENESIS 3:15

To appreciate the true story of Christmas, we have to go back to the beginning—before A Charlie Brown Christmas, before Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, before the starry night when angels announced the virgin birth and shepherds worshipped the baby lying in the manger.

The tale of the Christmas story began in Genesis 3 when the only two human beings in the world decided to break God’s one commandment by eating from the one tree in the garden of Eden that was prohibited.

Satan, the father of lies, slithered up next to Eve and enticingly whispered, “Did God say you were not allowed to enjoy everything in the garden?”

“God gave us all trees in the garden to enjoy their fruits, except for this one,” she answered as she pointed to the tree in the middle of the garden. “He said we would die if we ate its fruit.”

Satan slithered a little closer, “You won’t really die,” he sneered (putting air quotes around the word die). “God knows that when you eat of this tree, your eyes will open, and you will be like Him.”

Adam and Eve Break God’s Commandment

Eve looked up at the tree, enticed by the low-hanging fruit just inches away from her reach. Adam, standing nearby, remained silent as she plucked the ripe fruit from its branch.

Sinking her teeth into the sweet flesh of the forbidden fruit, the bitter juices of rebellion tantalized her tongue. And then Adam reached out to take his part in the lustful act of disobedience.

Satan’s trap had sprung. The fruit that had moments earlier been so desirable and appealing began to turn in the stomachs of Adam and Eve.

The pleasurable feeling they had first experienced was replaced by guilt and shame. Man had died, not physically, but spiritually. Their spirits withered inside them and tasted death–they no longer had that special connection with their Creator.

God Judges Sin

There were consequences to the disobedience of Adam and Eve; they were banned from the garden of Eden. All future generations would share their punishment: the work that was set up for to be enjoyed would not become laborious and tedious, and through much struggle would children be brought into the world.

But as God spoke to the serpent, He foretold of the coming Redeemer that would one day crush the head of Satan.

“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 3:15

God did not abandon Adam and Eve, even though they disobeyed. With the sacrifice of a lamb, He provided them with clothing and the promise that a Savior would one day redeem them back to Himself.

The Christmas Story in Luke 2:1-7

Zechariah had served the Lord all his life. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were both good-hearted, godly people. Unfortunately, Elizabeth was barren, and at their age, they had given up on having children.

At the appointed time of Zechariah’s priestly service, he had been chosen to burn the incense. Entering the temple, Zechariah prepared his duties.

Suddenly, at the right side of the altar of incense, an angel appeared to him, and he was afraid. But the angel sensing his fear assured him that no harm would come to him. In fact, it was better than that. The angel informed Zechariah that he and Elizabeth’s prayers would be answered. She would give birth to a son, and he was to be named John.

He will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:15

The angel continued to speak, but Zechariah had a hard time accepting the prophecy. As a sign to him, God took away Zechariah’s ability to speak until the baby was born.

Elizabeth kept her pregnancy private until she was five months along. Soon afterward, Mary, her cousin, came to visit. As soon as she heard Mary’s voice, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in the womb with the Holy Spirit!

Mary had come to tell Elizabeth the news of her pregnancy, but God had already been there.

Joseph and Mary

The couple entered the crowded little town looking for shelter. It had taken them several days to track the long and treacherous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and now they needed a place to stay. Mary was about to give birth, and the only shelter offered was the stable behind the inn.

Joseph knocked on every door he thought would be available, talked to numerous people on the streets to find an appropriate place for Mary to be cared for, but he had failed. With great despair, he approached his wife to tell her the bad news.

She was so young, so beautiful, but the trip had worn her down. Now looking at her, thoughts of their engagement came to mind. Many women had been available to Joseph, but he knew when he first met Mary that she would be the one he chose. Besides her obvious beauty, Mary had charm.

She was known for her honesty, her loyalty, and her kindness. So when Joseph had found out that Mary would have a baby that didn’t belong to him, he was devastated. Aww! But the miraculous happened!

An angel appeared to him in a dream and told Joseph that he should continue with his promise to Mary. And that what had happened to her was a working miracle of God.

Joseph immediately obeyed God and took Mary as his wife. He didn’t understand God’s plan, but he was going to be faithful to Him no matter what the cost. (Matthew 1:18-25)

The Birth of Jesus

Mary was feeling so tired. The pains of childbirth had been coming steadily ever since they entered Bethlehem. And now, she was headed to a cave just outside the city limits.

The innkeeper was kind enough to offer what little he had, and Mary was grateful for anything at this point. She watched Joseph as he hurriedly prepared the stable for her to rest. The pain of childbirth once again stabbed her abdomen; Mary thought back to that special day when the angel appeared to her.

She was so afraid when the angel greeted her. The sound of his voice boomed in her ears. The size of his stature overwhelmed her senses. She felt like she had entered another dimension as the fear stunned her into silence.

But then peace began to flow through her very being as the angel encouraged, “The Lord is with you, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will conceive and bear a son and call His name Jesus.”

Mary questioned the possibility of this because she knew she had never been with a man. But the angel continued, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. The child that you carry will be the Son of God.”

And the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

Luke 1:30-31

Everything happened just like the angel said it would. Jesus was born, wrapped up warmly against the cool evening, as Mary laid Him in the manger.

The Shepherds and the Angel

The sound of bleating sheep filled the air as the shepherds began to settle down for the night. They feasted on bread and herbs for their evening meal, and in the distance, they could still hear the bustle of travelers entering the nearby city of Bethlehem.

“I’m glad we’re out here in the quiet,” one of the herdsmen commented. “The city is going to be crowded for the next few days.” As they sat around the campfire, the men all agreed. “I heard talk that the city was so crowded, they were running out of places for people to stay,” remarked another.

With darkness settling in, the long workday began to catch up with the men. They reclined on their bedding, and as the sheep lay down to rest, the evening fell soothingly quiet.

They continued the small talk of the day’s activities and tomorrow’s plans, family problems, worldly affairs, and future dreams. And the night continued; the stars showed brightly in the sky. The moon was so large that it seemed like one could reach up and touch it.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a strange man standing before them! But he was no ordinary man. His stature was abnormally large, and there was a glow about him as if the sun was shining down through him, but it was still night. When he spoke, his voice boomed so loudly that the sheep should have been startled, but they lay quietly.

The shepherds trembled at the sight of this strange being. Huddling together in fear, they cowered as the man began to speak.

” Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 

Peace overcame their fear as the shepherds listened intently to the angel’s message. They had heard of Christ, the coming Messiah, all of their life. He would be the Savior of their people. But He was a baby? Here? Now?

As the men pondered the message, the sky above burst open with a brilliant glow of light shining down around them. Covering their eyes, they looked up and saw thousands of angels in the sky hovering over their fields. Their voices boomed as the shepherds listened.

 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Luke 2:14

The shepherds looked at each other in amazement. They had to go to Bethlehem and find this Child! Together they ran the few miles into the city.

Not knowing where this baby would be, they searched the city, telling everyone they saw about the wondrous message they had received from the angels.

And then they came to the innkeeper’s stable. Quietly they approached the opening of the stable. There wasn’t much light, but they could see the silhouette of a woman holding a baby, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. As the woman laid the sleeping baby in a manger, they stepped closer and bowed to worship Him.

Mary was amazed as she watched the men approach her newborn baby and recognize Him as the Son of God. She knew who He was, but she had no idea how the shepherds knew who He was until they told of their wonderful visit from the angels and the message they had heard.

Pulling themselves away from adoring the babe, the excited shepherds ran through the streets of Bethlehem, announcing the news of the birth of the Messiah!

The men who were trembling in fear a few hours earlier were now boldly exclaiming the good news of Jesus’ birth; the long-awaited Christ; the promised Savior. (Luke 2:8-15)

Simeon and Anna at the Temple

Simeon was a priest in the temple in Jerusalem. He had served in the temple for many, many years. Being fervently devoted to God in his duties, he had prayed that God would allow him to see the Deliverer of Israel.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, Simeon knew when Joseph and Mary walked into the temple for the ceremonial circumcision of Jesus that God was bringing that request to fruition.

Anna, a prophetess in the temple, was also awaiting the Deliverer. She had faithfully served in the temple after losing her husband of only seven years. Being eighty-four, she had devoted many days and nights fasting and praying for the deliverance of Israel.

And as she entered the temple and witnessed the blessing of the child that Simeon was holding, she knew that the Deliverer was here. She quietly listened as Simeon began his blessing.

“Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word: for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of the people of Israel.”

The Christmas Story in Matthew 2:1-12

Joseph was heartbroken. He had agreed to betroth Mary, but now he found out that she had been untrue to her commitment. He felt betrayed and confused because the burden of making her sin known to their friends and family turned his stomach.

Even though he was hurting, he didn’t want to hurt her. He had lived his life obeying Moses’s Laws, and his family’s name came with a good reputation. He was a direct descendant of King David. Joseph knew that the Law allowed him to divorce Mary, but he wouldn’t make her a spectacle. He would do it quietly.

She would still be shunned and ridiculed for her unfaithfulness when others found out that she was going to have a baby out of wedlock. Although this thought made Joseph’s heart ache, he would do what he could to spare her embarrassment.

As he considered these options, Joseph fell asleep. Joseph began dreaming, and an angel appeared to him and said, “The Holy Spirit has conceived the child that Mary is carrying. Take her as your wife, and when the child is born, name Him Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Joseph knew this was the Lord. He did not understand the whys and the what for, but he knew that the angel’s appearance was real, and God had called him for a purpose.

Joseph and Mary married right away, and then came the call for them to take the long journey to the little town of Bethlehem, where the baby was born.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

The Wisemen from the East

The caravan from the east continued another day across the miles. The excitement built as they all drew closer to their destination. From their many studies, they knew that a king was to be born at this time. He would be King of the Jewish people and his reign would have great power.

The next day they entered the gates of Jerusalem. They surmised that this great King would be born in Jerusalem, so they went into the palace of Herod to inquire. But Herod knew nothing about the prophecy of the birth of a king.

Herold called his historians together, and they told him what the prophecy said.

And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

Matthew 2:6

The magi resumed their travels towards Bethlehem, and they rejoiced to see the bright star once again. The star led them to where the child and his parents were staying. The house was humble, ordinary, and small. Nothing fit for a King.

But the star rested over this place, and they knew the King was inside.

They created quite a stir in the town as they came to the house. One by one, they brought in their great offerings for the King. Many gifts were given in honor of this little King–gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As they traveled back to the Orient, they told others of this miraculous birth of the newborn King!

The Christmas Story Is Endless!

The real Christmas story doesn’t end with a baby sleeping in the manger or the shepherds spreading the good news of a Savior’s birth. It didn’t end months later when the magi showed up with their many gifts.

The real Christmas story is endless. It is as old as time itself. God created us for His glory and desires a relationship with us so much that He paid the ultimate price to redeem us back to Him.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

When God sent His Son into the world, He did not send a conquering warrior. He did not send a ruling king; He sent a vulnerable newborn baby.

He didn’t come to destroy but to fulfill the promise of God spoken back in Genesis 3:18. Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, death, and resurrection crushed Satan’s hold on humanity.

Becoming man, our God showed His love to us, living sinlessly, He showed His compassion and dying sacrificially, He showed His forgiveness. And when Jesus rose from the grave, He showed us our future!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

John 11:25-26

Do You believe this? Have you taken your part in the Christmas story? If you haven’t yet accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, He’s waiting for you.

Our Part in the Christmas Story

If you are a Christian, I’m sure you have been encouraged to tell others about your experience of salvation. As soon as Christ entered your heart, you took your part in the Christmas story. 

God has called each of us to share the good news of Christ’s deliverance in our personal experience. 

But sometimes, it’s hard. We get tongue-tied, embarrassed, or afraid of rejection. We can blame our fear on Satan, we can blame it on others, or we can dismiss it as non-essential, yet, you are the only one who can tell your story of redemption. 

We all have a story to tell. If you struggle with telling your story of redemption, let me encourage you to sit down, write out your story, and practice telling it.

Take courage knowing that someone is waiting to hear your personal account of the Christmas story.