But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore, he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:2-5 ESV)
The first Christmas card, as we know it, was designed in 1843 by the artist J.C. Horsley and measured about the size of a postcard. From his design, one thousand cards were lithographed and hand-colored three years later for Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the South Kensington Museum, London. The card showed a Victorian family celebrating the spirit of the season around a table. They were making a toast to the health and happiness of their family and friends. Flanking the scene of cheer and celebration, in stark contrast, were two phrases: “Clothing the naked,” and “Feeding the hungry.”
The first Christmas card did not set too well with most church people. The scene contained too much revelry and the reminder of benevolence was too graphic and convicting.
Actually, Horsley and Cole’s creation was not the first Christmas card. The first announcement of celebration and cheer occurred before the Incarnation of Christ, the honor going to the prophet Micah. His card had the backdrop of Bethlehem on its cover and spoke of a glory that would come out of humility. The town was not considered great in the eyes of the public, but it would be the scene of one of the greatest events ever witnessed on earth.
When the nation was divided, Micah was the final prophet of the northern kingdom and was a contemporary of Isaiah. He was the country preacher while Isaiah was the court preacher. Micah’s prophetic word includes three sermons. His first sermon announced that God Himself would soon respond in judgment to the waywardness of His people. His second sermon stated the Lord condemns anyone who plots and performs wickedness. His third sermon revealed God was angry with those pronouncing peace when there was no peace. The promoters of a false peace knew right from wrong yet they were saying what people wanted to hear instead of the truth. In this setting, Micah presented the first Christmas card; out of lowly Bethlehem would come a Shepherd who would not only bring peace but is the Author of peace. He would come as peace personified.
The setting surrounding the first Christmas card is not much different than today The Lord is opposed to the proud and angered by wickedness. God is about to appear to address a world living in willful rebellion and selfishness. Yet, is there not hope for the individual who wants a different life and outcome? Yes! Christmas cheer is grounded in the message of Jesus.
Micah’s announcement contains the true outline for a joyous Christmas.
A divine Shepherd has come
The country preacher announced the Savior could be compared to someone tending sheep. Jesus used the same metaphor while here on earth.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:11-16 ESV)
A Shepherd has come emphasizes two blessings. First, those following Jesus belong and are embraced by the gracious Lord instead of a menial minion. Secondly, since they belong to Him, they are the special object of His affection and attention. He is so concerned for them that He is continually near them and cares for, protects, and guides.
What God did, in sending His Son, reveals He is someone you can love instead of someone you should shun. Soren Kierkegaard described this love relationship in a story about a king and a maid. The story is a Christmas story, although not framed in that setting.
“Once upon a time, a king fell in love with a maid. It’s an old theme on how love overcomes all barriers of class and of race and of nationality. But for all its beauty, the king did not see the matter easily resolved. Racking his mind and heart was the question: How to declare his love?
“Unable to answer it, he summons to his palace all the wise people of his kingdom and put the question to them. As one, they responded: ‘Sire, nothing could be easier. Your majesty has but to appear in all your glory before the humble abode of the maid and, instantly, she will fall at your feet and be yours.’
“But it was precisely that thought which so troubled the king. In return for his love, he wanted hers; not fear that would lead to her submission. He wanted her glorification, not his. What a dilemma: Declaring your love means the end of your beloved, and not declaring your love means the end of love.
“Night after night he saw love’s truth: Freedom for the beloved demands equality with the beloved. So, late one night, long after his courtiers and counselors had returned to their chambers, the king stole out of a side door of the palace and appeared before the humble abode of the maid dressed in the garb of a servant.”
God, during one of the darkest times in history, slipped out of His robe and came as a baby to reveal His great love. He came to us as one of us.
The Lord came as a loving Shepherd.
Everyone can enter His fold
People have an opportunity to abide in Christ and be cared for by Him.
My wife and I have lived in the Black Hills on three separate occasions. When our oldest daughter was only five years old, we decided to cut down our own family Christmas tree. My little girl and I went with a friend from the church to find the perfect tree. He had grandparents who lived in a cabin nestled in the forest. They gave permission to remove a tree from their property.
We set out from their home into the woods and came to a stream. Earlier in the week, the water was frozen but a warming trend got the stream flowing again. The best trees were located on the other side. An old log was laying across the ditch making it possible for us to crossover.
My daughter was too scared to traverse the piece of fallen timber so I had her climb onto my back. Once we were on the log and she saw the water rushing under us, she started to wiggle. We were about to go into the stream. Instead of falling, I jumped in and landed on my feet with water up to my knees. I waded across to the other side with my daughter still on my back, perfectly dry. Although there is more to the story, when we got home I announced to my wife, “This tree may have been free but it cost a lot!”
When your fears get the best of you, He carries you. And if the situation gets worse, His strength will support you to the other side.
Included with this special relationship with God is the robe in His majesty. Jesus became a man in order that everyone might be clothed in truth and righteousness. The One who knew no sin became sin, providing people with a righteousness not of their own. Personal righteousness is insufficient and lacking, yet His righteousness places upon the believer a robe of majesty and might.
Peace is found in His fold
A retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places of the globe. Their goal was to ascertain a location least likely affected by a nuclear war; a place of ultimate security. They studied and traveled; traveled and studied. Finally, they found what they considered was the perfect setting. On Christmas, they sent their pastor a card from their new home, the Falkland Islands. Their paradise, shortly afterward, became a war zone for Great Britain and Argentina.
Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)
There is no place you can go where peace is assured accept into the loving arms of the Lord. When someone yields their life to Jesus, they do not have to look for a perfect paradise; one is being prepared for them.
Several years ago, a submarine was going through a series of test and had to remain submerged for many hours. When the vessel returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, “How did the terrible storm affect you last night?”
The officer looked at him in surprise and responded, “Storm? What storm? We didn’t even know there was one!”
The submarine had been so far beneath the surface that it reached the area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below were never stirred.
The human heart will be protected against the distracting waves of worry when trust is placed in Jesus. Sheltered by His grace and encouraged by His Spirit, believers find the perfect tranquility that only Christ can provide.
Merry Christmas
Take to heart Micah’s greeting in the first Christmas card. Make it personally meaningful: The Shepherd has come, enter His fold, and discover His peace. Make Jesus your Lord and come under His care. If you do, you will truly experience a very merry Christmas. Blessings!
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