One of my favorite songs for the Christmas season is “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.” The song is in an upbeat swing 12/8 time signature, and it has beautiful melodies.
There are some lyrics, however, that don’t seem to fit in my Christmas celebrations.
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
A Story Worth Sharing
My family has never told ghost stories during Christmastime. But a quick search on Google will show how telling scary stories is a lost tradition on Christmas Eve. A famous example is “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens that features Ebeneezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
Christians also have a scary story worth retelling and reflecting around Christmas. While it doesn’t feature ghosts, it does contain a cruel King, messages from Magi, and a plot to kill an innocent baby — who just might happen to be God’s Chosen One.
Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem
The tale is found in Matthew 2. The Magi had come to Jerusalem inquiring where the new king of the Jews had been born. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.
Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, telling them to return so he could know where to worship the newborn king. However, his actions later proved that he did not want to worship the little child — he wanted to kill him.
The wise men went their way and arrived at the house. They worshiped the baby, whose name was Jesus. They were also warned in a dream not to return to Herod. So they departed to their own country by another way.
Jesus’ father, Joseph, was subsequently warned in a dream that Herod had plans to destroy his holy infant. He found his way to Egypt to escape.
I’ll let Matthew tell the rest of the story:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”
This was not an accident. The scene was a slaughter. But in God’s providence, these actions fulfilled prophecies told long ago of how Egypt would play a part in the story of God’s redemption and how tragedy and blessing would befall Bethlehem.
1. A Tale of the Past
This Christmas story reminds us of a similar tale in which babies were killed. In Exodus 1, Pharaoh murdered every son born to the Hebrews by casting them into the Nile. Moses was saved in this story, and he would later lead his people out of slavery and take them to the Promised Land.
Our little baby Jesus, who sought refuge in Egypt, would also grow to lead his people out of slavery and take them to the Promised Land. He is the true and better Moses. He would do miracles. He would have overcome in the wilderness. But he would still die a death at the hands of a cruel king and a troubled people.
2. A Tale of the Present
The Christmas story reveals that while we are not in bondage with physical slavery, we are spiritual slaves, drowning in our own depravity. And we cannot free or save ourselves. Our freedom and rescue can only be bought by the ransom blood of Christ. And to us, it is the free gift of God to be saved by grace through faith.
Although God delivers us, our earthly sojourning continues until we reach our heavenly home. We have an appointment in the Promised Land. Our Father is preparing a feast for his Son and his bride. And the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, if you will) ensures our arrival.
3. A Tale of Future Glory
The Exodus pointed to the Christmas story. And the Christmas story points us to the cross. Jesus Christ was born for the cross. God the Father would still lose his own son. But this is the gift of the gospel: Christ died for our sins and was raised. God saves sinners.
Jesus would resurrect, and victory would be achieved for the salvation of many sons. So the Christmas story is a tale of glory. All of God’s children will live and find life in him. It’s a marvelous message. It’s good news of great joy. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.