Favorite part of the Christmas story and why?

[Josh]

So, what's your favorite part of the Christmas story and why?

[michelle]

The leg lamp. Oh wait, the Christmas story, not a Christmas story. ;D I like the appearance of Gabriel. I don't know why, I just do.

[Josh]

[michelle]

Frageelay...must be eyetalian.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS. Yep, I can watch that movie 12 times in a row.

[Josh]

I think my favorite aspect of the Christmas story is all the paradoxical imagery:

A) Jesus being born the Son of God in an insignificant little town on the edge of the world's most magnificent empire ruled by the great Caesar Augustus, also know by hundreds of thousands as the Son of God.

B) Also, Jesus being born within miles of the residence of Herod the Great, known as the "King of Jews", with all the attendant might and power.

c) Jesus' birth being largely missed by the general populace but recognized by the poor, downtrodden, and despised (the shepherds) and the aliens, foreigners, and pagans (the magi).

That's great literary stuff right there... but in real time and space.

[christopher]

Watching Linus recite it and putting an end to all the commercial fuss the rest of the Peanuts gang got caught up in. ;D

[michelle]

I like Jesus was, in the eyes of those around, the "illegitimate" child of Joseph and Mary or the offspring of Mary and some other man. Think of the judgement that would have been cast on them.

How long to do you think it took before Joseph whole-heartedly believed that Mary was telling the truth about the immaculate conception?

And poor Mary. I can understand why people would not believe her story, because it is completely illogical. Yeah, sure Mary. You're pregnant, but you didn't have sex with anybody. Yeah, we believe you. Can you imagine KNOWING that you are right but having people sure that you have to be lying? How frustrating a time that must have been. And I'm sure even more frustrating thinking that your fiancee probably doesn't believe you either. Sure he's given you a second chance, but does he REALLY believe you? I'm sure satan was doing all he could to mess with her head and make her doubt herself and her self worth.

[Margot]

Dec 14, 2007 10:18:24 GMT -8 michelle said:

Can you imagine KNOWING that you are right but having people sure that you have to be lying? How frustrating a time that must have been.

Pathetically enough, this sounds like my entire childhood...but, I digress...

My favorite part of the Christmas story is right after the Christmas story. Where Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and offer their sacrifice.

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."


There is something about the image of Simeon, waiting year after year. Wondering when it will happen, what it will look like, when Messiah comes. It just gets to me in a way I can't explain. It has always been hard for me to read that passage without choking up.

Funny the things God uses to get under your skin.

[robin]

My favorite part? Luke 2:8-20. The announcement by the angel of the Lord to the Shepherds.

Luke 2
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 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." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(Bold mine)

God could have chosen to reveal this to anyone, but He chose these humble Shepard's who were the outcasts of society. This seems fitting given the way that Jesus' ministry turned out.

Robin

[robin]

By the way, even though I can watch "A Christmas Story" over and over on Christmas day, I still chose to buy it. I like to start watching it after thanksgiving, along with "Nation lampoons Christmas Vacation". My favorite part of the movie? "Oh Fudge!" and the subsequent soap in the mouth scene. I laugh just thinking about it. ;D

Robin

[Josh]

Margot,

Gotta say I get the same feelings when I read the part about Anna and Simeon. I think about them often when I sing/hear "O Come O Come Emmanuel"

[Josh]

Others?

[Kirby]

This is a story about the Christmas Story, but I love it, so I will share it. I could not find a reference to it online, I think I read it over 20 years ago in Reader's Digest or Guidepost. It may be Urban Legend, but I could not find it on Snopes.

There was a church planning its annual Christmas pageant. They picked children to play the important roles: Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Wise men, Gabriel, Animals, etc. One child had never been picked to be in the play as he was mentally handicapped, so this year they decided to give him the role of the Innkeeper. He would only have one line: "We have no room!" Some of the elders in the church were wary that he would mess up so solemn of a story, but throughout rehearsals he did fine. After much coaching, he delivered his line on time and correctly. During the dress rehearsal, there was worry that the costumes, lights, music and sound effects would distract him, but he did great, saying "There is no ROOM!" at the appropriate time.
The night of the pageant, the play was going well. The director got nervous as the Inn scene approached. "Joseph" and pregnant "Mary" approached the cardboard "Inn" and knocked on the door. The young man opened the door with a big smile on his face. The crowd chuckled. Joseph spoke: "We have had a long journey, and my wife is pregnant, we are very tired, might you have a room for the night for us to stay in?" There was a long pause...longer than there should have been. The director put her head in her hands...had she made a big mistake? Slowly the young man looked back and forth at Joseph and Mary. Then he smiled, and triumphantly declared: "C'mon in! You can have my room!" Never before had there been a standing ovation at the Christmas Pageant.

Moves me to tears everytime.

[Josh]

"God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise"

1 Cor. 1:27a