Joanie was always told, “Don’t tell”. The message: if you tell, you’ll lose your family.
The message of Christmas: Go tell. Tell and gain a family.
The Christmas story had been told long before the birth of Jesus. In the garden of Eden, right after sin breaks the relationship between God and his people, God speaks to the serpent and proclaims a resolution to this broken relationship.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
Isaiah adds some layers to this proclamation.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
And Micah too foretold of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times." Micah 5:2
Though the angels first heralded the news to Mary and Joseph, they came with gusto to the shepherds.
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.“ Luke 2:10.
And after seeing Jesus for themselves, ”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 2:20.
The message is, “Go tell.”
Tell of sin, our need for redemption, and God’s plan to repair the relationship.
Tell of the love of the Father that he would send his Son to resolve the problem of sin.
Tell of Jesus who left heaven and came to earth as a baby to to provide a way to save us.
Tell of his death and resurrection that would make a way to the Father. So we could once again be his children.
Go tell the good news of great joy for all people. Jesus is born.
