How Did The First Christmas Feel Like?

The "first time" for everything has its charm and it has at least one characteristic of the new: it is fresh and no one had time to be bored with it.

Nowadays people know that Christmas is "expected" to happen in a certain way…but back at the first Christmas, everything was unexpected.

Just a typical night in Bethlehem, one like the other, except that this time it was crowded as many people came in their hometown to celebrate Christmas! No, I am just kidding, they didn’t know anything about what they will encounter that night! I am talking about the first Christmas when no one knew it was the first Christmas, no one with some exceptions: some simple people and some very educated ones.

The reason Bethlehem was jam-packed that night was because it was the first census of the entire Roman empire at the time. So everyone in the empire had to go in the town of their birth to register.

When it comes to the family where Jesus came, they had to go in Bethlehem.

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7

The Shepherds and the Angels

Imagine yourself out in the field at night, in a perfect silence when all of a sudden, a bright light blinds your sight: an angel! If it only were that light! But all of a sudden numerous angels joined the first! What a site! What a light!

It was shocking, but that must have been refreshing for a change! Wow! I wonder how it feels to see an angel…for real! Let’s see what those shepherds said according to the Bible record:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and 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, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2

You bet there was some adrenaline in their blood at that time! They were terrified to see those angels braking the complete darkness around! Yes this was the reaction of the simple people who first saw The Baby…what a humbleness lesson, the first visitors to see God himself were some simple people. Seems like God is not impressed with our diplomas…

However, the ones who studied were not neglected either just that it took quite a while for them to arrive in Judea since they came from a considerable distance…by the way, the Bible doesn’t say that there were three Magi! In fact, the Bible doesn’t mention their number.

The star led them where the baby Jesus was "they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Mathew 2:9-12

Yes, the first Christmas was full of joy and amazement, the novelty of the event conquered every heart that has known these things.

May you have a fresh Christmas, just like the first!