The halls are decked, the lights are strung, we’re starting to watch those Christmas reruns “one more time.” We’re rushing to get those last minute gifts, and talking our little brothers into telling us what we’re getting from Mom and Dad. Everything is once again red and green, and the Star is finally on the tree . . . but why?

Through the yearly hustle and bustle of the Christmas season we often forget what we really are celebrating. Why is that star on the tree? What is it meant to lead us to? Nearly 2,000 years ago such a star was hung, but not on any man made tree, nor by any man. It was hung in the sky by God himself over a stable in Bethlehem where a child was born. It was put there to lead the wise men to him. The story of this child’s birth is as follows. . .

A young girl named Mary was engaged to a man by the name of Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Finding out about this, her fiancée’ decided to quietly break off their engagement, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, for the child within her had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. He went with Mary to register. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and Mary gave birth to Jesus in a Stable. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And that night an angel appeared to some shepherds watching their flocks in the nearby fields. He 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 a blanket and lying in a manger!” Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Of those who saw the child that night, who could have known the impact he would make on this world? That almost 2,000 years later we celebrate that night as the birth of a savior.

So through out this year’s Christmas activities, between the wrapping paper and the fruit cakes no one ever eats, remember the star and the Savior it guides us to.

Amy Bell
December 1993