All of the following Scriptures are taken from the New International Readers' Version of Luke 2:8-18.
"There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep."
It was just another night. There was absolutely nothing special about it. It was just plain ordinary, almost boring if you really think about it. Another day had passed, likely without anything other than the usual chasing off of would-be predators. Day turned into night and life continued on as usual as these men gave very little thought to what was going on around them.
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.'"
"Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said, 'May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!'"
"The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified."
Suddenly things changed. The atmosphere shifted. Ordinary quickly became extraordinary. Regular turned into radiant. A form shining brighter than the sun, moon and stars combined appeared to them out of nowhere. Having never seen anything like this before it scared them, more than that, it absolutely terrified them!
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.'"
At the same time fear was gripping thier hearts there was a sense of calm and wonder at what they were about to experience. Finally the being spoke. Those in attendance listened intently as it told them of an event that would change the course of history. An event that had been foretold long ago by the prophets but brushed to the side as mere myth. But those prophecies had come true. Emmanuel had come.
"Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said, 'May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!'"
Things were really getting interesting now. The sky became so bright that it looked like day. A whole host of beings just like the first filled the sky above them. They marveled at the scene as hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of creatures flew around and sang songs of praise to God.
"The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
As the beings faded away, the men scrambled quickly to their feet, excited by the news that they had heard. They could barely contain themselves as they traveled and when they arrived in the town they found everything just as it had been told to them. As they watched this miracle unfold there was a sense of awe and wonder at what God had done in thier midst that night and they knew that they couldn't keep it to themselves.
This is the true story of Christmas. No great celebrations. No long parades. No strings of lights. No decorative figurines. No instrumental fanfare. As I rode home from celebrating this event with the men and women of my squad it suddenly hit me. This day had been just like any other on The World Race much like that day 2000 years ago had been just like every other before it. Please understand that I'm not undermining the significance of the event that happened that night. I'm simply asking you to shift your focus. Living here in Thailand, a nation that is less than 1% Christian, for the last month I've realized how easy it is to get lost in the commercialism and contrived atmosphere of love and giving that marks this time of year (I'm speaking mainly to myself on this issue, trust me). I want to challenge you to let this be your genuine attitude everyday, not just once a year. You see friends, that night, when God spoke to the world loud and clear after being silent for so long, was just like this night. It was on a day that was just like this day and it ended the same way that this one will end, ordinary.
