Despite this century’s materialism and commercialization, the Christmas season has a unique wonder and power. If we believe Jesus, the Light of the world is the reason to celebrate his birth when the longest, darkest nights begin to yield to the increasing daylight, then our Christmas comes with a cost. More than 2,000 years ago it was purchased at a very high price.
Christmas was paid for by the following:
- Zachariah the priest – Because of his unbelief in the prophecy spoken by the angel Gabriel that even in their old age, he and his wife would have a son who would pave the way for the coming Messiah, Zachariah lost his ability to speak for nine months. He paid with silence. (Luke 1:15-19)
- Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife – Childless and well past child-bearing years, the hope to become pregnant had died, yet God had a mission to do the impossible. He needed this woman to give birth to John the Baptist, the prophet who would proclaim the coming of Jesus. Elizabeth gladly paid with her barrenness. (Luke 1:23-25)
- Mary, a virgin and fiancé to Joseph – Believing the archangel Gabriel’s words without any hesitation that she would give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, it seems that Mary gave no thought to her image nor to her binding betrothal to Joseph. Her mission from God preceded everything and everyone. She paid for Christmas with her reputation and her character. (Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:26-27)
- Joseph, Mary’s fiancé – How would you feel seeing your future wife three months pregnant upon her return from visiting her cousin? Hearing her tale that the Spirit of God impregnated her must have unleashed a wild mix of emotions within Joseph. He planned to quietly divorce and send her away, but through a dream, God revealed all to Joseph. What started with a perceived betrayal and breach of promise turned into a payment of obedience to wed Mary and protect the coming Child. (Matthew 1:16, 19-21)
- The Shepherds – It was not going to be the usual long night with the sheep. Something spectacular would change them forever. They had an encounter with an angel bringing a message of good news that the Messiah had been born. After the directive to go and find him, a riot of angelic joy praising God breaks out in the heavens above them. There was no doubt as to what to do. These men found the newborn King and happily paid with joy and praises to God for sending Him. (Luke 2:8-20)
- The Magi –When the wise men visited Bethlehem, it was not the night of Jesus’ birth. They could have arrived days, months or even years afterward. They made an 800–900-mile journey from Persia (modern-day Iran) following a stellar phenomenon taking political and physical risks to find the Baby Jesus. They paid with perseverance and determination to find this new King and worship Him. (Matthew 2:1-12)
- Herod –This infamous ruler use murder, assassinating his mother-in-law, his wife Mariamne and their two sons and many other to squash any threat to his throne. And news from the magi of a newborn king in Bethlehem was a threat. Requesting to know the whereabouts of the king, Herod disguised his rage with the intent to worship him. After God warned the magi in a dream of Herod’s murderous intentions, they did not report back to him and returned home on a different route. Outwitted and angry, Herod gave the order to slaughter male infants to toddlers in Bethlehem. Herod paid for Christmas with the blood of the innocent. (Matthew 2:16).
- The little boys in Bethlehem* –Some historians doubt that Herod decreed the deaths of very young boys and babies in Bethlehem to protect his throne. Some think it is used as a literary device to enhance the story of Jesus’ birth, but others believe it did happen given Herod’s history of recorded and unreported assassinations. Bethlehem was a small town of about 300 so the number of male babies and toddlers killed may have too small to be of any importance. Based on the written Word of God and accepting truth that His Word is infallible, these children paid with their lives to secure a blood-stained throne (Matthew 2:16-18).
The cost of Christmas is greater than we could ever imagine. Young and old, royalty and working class, foreigners and native-born played their part in a grander, divine payment plan. They paid for our Christmas so that thirty-three years later the man Jesus could pay for our sins with His life.
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