Jesus’ Birth: Witnesses and Worshippers

​Luke 2: 8 – 20; Matthew 2: 1 – 23.
 
Announcements of births are usually celebrative familial affairs, but the birth of Jesus went against the norm. Joseph and Mary were very much on their own, in an unusually strange environment to have their first child – an empty barn. Their predicament ensured their privacy, which allowed them space and time to recover from their earlier journey from Nazareth. They never anticipated a succession of total strangers to appear literally out of nowhere, lingering over them.
 
The abrupt appearance of angelic beings announcing the birth of a Saviour terrified the drowsy shepherds. The angels' subsequent chorus over the fields of Bethlehem did not reassure them either (Luke 2:8-14). It is ironic that a few shepherds were privy to this critical divine incarnational incident, rather than the Pharisees, who were the predominant religious intelligentsia of the Jewish establishment (c.f., Matt 2:1-6). They were not unacquainted with the Messianic prophecies. However, at this turning point in human history, God chose to celebrate His Son’s birth, with a group of nondescript men, who possessed a simple trusting faith. They came, saw the Child, worshipped Him (Luke 2:15-20), and got extremely excited about it.
 
While the shepherds were witnessing to Jesus’ birth after leaving Joseph and Mary, far beyond Bethlehem, towards the east, astrologers were on their way to pay their respect to the King of the Jews. The unusual star disappeared as they approached Jerusalem, and unknown to them, their quest stirred up a hornet’s nest in King Herod’s court (Matt 2:1-8). Leaving Jerusalem, the star reappeared and guided them to the stable where the Baby lay. They paid homage to Him, offering gifts normally accorded only to royalty. Then being warned in a dream, they returned home by-passing Jerusalem (Matt 2:9-12). It is not uncommon that when the religious elite are spiritually unconcerned about what God is doing in this world, He would disclose to others to carry through His purposes. 
 
What are we to make of these two extreme groups of diverse characters, who were the only ones privileged to witness the arrival of God into time and space? God sovereignly chose the underprivileged, scruffy Jewish shepherds and the wealthy, learned, and probably non-Jewish stargazers, because the latter correctly anticipated His arrival, while the former simply believed what they heard and saw (Luke 2:15; Matt 2:2; c.f., Matt 24:42-44; Matt18:2-4). The unqualified worship accorded to the King of kings and Lord of lords contrasts with our modernistic individualism, where the absolute power and authority an ancient king or lord possesses over his people, in eliciting their unreserved obedience, loyalty and honour is often questioned (c.f., Isa 9:6-7). This may explain our muted reaction and inability to fully identify with the Nativity events. In view of this Divine intervention when God became man to save us from our sins (Rom 6:23), how we worship Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt 22:37), and remain as faithful witnesses to Him becomes significant; revealing our genuine trust and faith in our Lord and Saviour (c.f., Gal 4:4-7).