They were simple shepherds watching their flocks one night, like so many other nights. This night, however, was different. An angel suddenly appeared; the glory of God lit up the area around them; they were very frightened. But the angel calmed them by saying (in Luke 2:10-11), "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
As if that weren't enough, a whole multitude of angels then appeared. They praised God saying (Luke 2:14), "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
The Christmas message was, and still is, one of peace, of joy, of hope. The world does not yet share peace or good will. But the angel said not to be afraid. Are you fearful? Do you live a life of anxiety? Or do you have the peace promised by the angel?
The baby born that first Christmas grew up. He lived his life showing us how to face and deal with life. He lived his life according to the will of God, his Father. He lived in and by the power of God's holy spirit. He died showing us how to die, accepting God's will. He was resurrected guaranteeing our future resurrection, giving us a future hope. And he promised to come again. All this should affect how we view the future and live the present.
In THE MESSAGE, Eugene Peterson has this to say, "The way we conceive the future sculpts the present, gives contour and tone to nearly every action and thought through the day. If our sense of future is weak, we live listlessly. Much emotional and mental illness and most suicides occur among men and women who feel that they ‘have no future.’"
The Christian faith has always been characterized by a strong and focused sense of future, with belief in the Second Coming of Jesus as the most distinctive detail. From the day Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers lived in expectancy of his return. He told them he was coming back. They believed he was coming back. They continue to believe it. For Christians, it is the most important thing to know and believe about the future.
The practical effect of this belief is to charge each moment of the present with hope. For if the future is dominated by the coming again of Jesus, there is little room left on the screen for projecting our anxieties and fantasies. It takes the clutter out of our lives. We're far more free to respond spontaneously to the freedom of God.
Do you fully grasp the message of Christmas? Are you focusing on Jesus? Do you live an uncluttered life? Are you preparing for and eagerly anticipating his coming again? The peace of God is possible only through Jesus Christ. Live the message of Christmas in your life daily. Live in joyful expectancy for what God will do next in Jesus!

My name is Jacob. I was an innkeeper in Bethlehem many years ago. Let me tell you my story.
You see, Caesar demanded a census be taken. Each person was to return to their cities to be counted. Talk about an ideal situation for me! People arrived from all over the known world. And I had the largest Inn in Bethlehem. I had my son Judas help and we made simple partitions that separated one room into two. We had to make room, didn’t we? Oh, it’s true the thought of such wealth was nearly as invigorating as a fine wine. Judas and I labored many days before our guests arrived. If all went well, I would be a rich man.
Oh, the parties, the wealth, so many guests, they’d honor me as Jacob a rich man! I could sense the envy my neighbors would feel toward me. They’d call me Jacob the Clever, Jacob the Wise, Jacob the Wealthy. Well, the people arrived and arrived and they kept on arriving until even the corners in my kitchen were rented. And the food? Why, I charged twice as much and even then people asked for more. I sent Judas to the countryside to find more meat, bread and eggs. Before he could leave there was yet another knock at the door.
“No, no, no there is no room in my Inn,” I began and then under my breath I chuckled and said, “although I wished there were,” turning toward the couple before me I said, “there is not another pallet, cot, let alone bed available tonight.” The couple explained their situation and the need for lodging. “Oh well, your wife is with child,” I began, “I am sorry, but there really is no room. Yes, I know that it is cold, but what can I do? So many dignitaries sent their servants ahead to acquire their lodging. What do you expect me to do for you?” I asked in frustration.
It was then that a thought occurred to me, “Sir, wait please, it’s not much, but I do have a stable out back. It's in the side of the hill. I could let you stay there. It is true, there are animals in there, but perhaps they will help keep the stable warm.” The couple began to make their way to the stable but my stable had to be worth something. “Sir,” I called out, “there is the matter of the fee for the night's lodging. That will be,” I paused, “three pieces of silver for the night.”
My son Judas was learning the family trade. His keen eyes and ears took in all that happened that night of riches. Three more pieces of silver than I had thought possible. That night was the best night of my life or so I thought. I was even able to sell an old camel to a traveler for three times what it was worth. The money I gained would provide well for my family and I made no apology for my greed at the time.
However, all these years later, I see the grievous error of my greed. I never got all the things I thought would make me the richest man in town. Today, someone else has all my silver and I have very little. I had conducted games of chance and for a price would do things for other people that were not exactly scrupulous. Perhaps this was not the way a boy like Judas should live, and yet what choice did I have. I now know that I had many choices, yet I chose the easy way - riches quickly gained, yet quickly lost.
Judas grew up and in time I could tell that he was just like his papa. He learned to convince people that their money should be his. Then he met a man. I later learned that this was the same man, who as a baby, was born in my stable so many years before. I saw a change in my son. Since he had handled money all his life, they made him their treasurer. I was ashamed as I sensed a change in my son that I did not see in my own life. I had charged his leader’s parents for a stable; a stable mind you. Shame grips me even now.
We all began to hear more and more about this man and His rag-tag followers. My son took Jesus to task one time about a bottle of perfume used to anoint His feet. That was my boy, no waste. Like Judas said, “the money made from the sale of the perfume could be used to help the sick and the needy that followed Jesus.” However, Jesus corrected my son, and believe me when I say that Judas did not like being corrected. I wonder if that's when it all began?
As Jesus’ fame grew, those who loved Him really loved Him, while those that didn't care for Him, well, let's just say they wanted Him jailed. There was even discussion of His death. I on the other hand, had very little opinion, other than what was to happen to my son, Judas.
One day I was wandering the streets of Jerusalem on my way to my brother Simon’s house for Passover, I saw this man Jesus riding a donkey. The people were throwing down palm branches and coats so that His donkey's feet never touched the ground. Looking at the scene I felt that this man was going to change the world. The people seemed to love Him so much. This too would change.
With Jesus in town, I knew I would find my son. Perhaps we could catch up on our time apart. I followed the crowd and when I discovered where Jesus and His disciples were to stay, I marked the place in my memory and thought to return the next day. The sun was going down and it would not do to be out after dark. A few days of revelry would pass before I made it back. As I drew close I saw my son and was about to call his name when I saw his face. He looked greatly disturbed, so I followed him.
After a few twists and turns I saw him go into the temple. There was nothing unusual in this - it was Passover. But I waited. I saw Judas leave the temple by a little used entrance with a jingling bag in hand. I wished to God that I had confronted Judas then, but I had waited. The next time I saw Judas he had Roman Guards and Jewish officials with him, they went to a garden near Jerusalem. I watched with surprise as I saw my son kiss Jesus, and then in horror as I watched Judas step back with the guards and Jesus was taken away.
Why would my son do this? What had Jesus done to deserve my son’s betrayal? I had heard of Jesus’ miracles and healing but now this. Judas had seemed so changed. Jesus turned and looked at my son. There was no hatred in His eyes, just a look that remains with me to this day. Was it pity? Perhaps sorrow? My son ran off into the darkness, “Judas,” I cried out. He stopped and turned to me, fear was transparent in his haunted eyes. All he said to me was, “Father, I have betrayed the Master for thirty pieces of silver. What shall become of me?” He cried as he ran into the darkness. I learned of his death the next day. They say he hung himself. He tried to give the money back but they refused and tossed him out of the temple.
I felt a great burden of guilt grow heavy on my heart. Judas was my son. He learned his sinful ways from me. His betrayal of Jesus was my betrayal. As the prophet Amos writes in the Holy Scripture, “This is what the Lord says, for three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver.” Yet, even an old man can be forgiven. This same Jesus who was born in my stable came because He knew of Judas’ sins, he knew of mine.
His death was the only sacrifice God would accept for the sins of His people. I am one of Jesus’ followers now, nearly a year after He rose from the dead. I saw Him as a child, as a man and now as my Savior. And He has forgiven me. My son Judas never understood who Jesus really was, until it was too late.
To me, Jesus being born in my stable gives me hope that this child born to humble means is the same child that delivered this greedy old thief from a life of sin. For that I am grateful beyond words. For God’s Son became man. He became my salvation. I reflect on the fact that He caught His first glimpse of this earth in a mangy stable behind my Inn. And still He loves me and died for me; and now He lives again as my Lord.
If this story brings hope, please understand it is only by God's grace that this Innkeeper can tell you a story of Christmas past and the hope of Christmas present and a future that will allow me to see Jesus yet again.

"The legend of jolly old St. Nick, or Santa Claus, began with a real person: a Christian who lived many 100's of years ago. There's not very much known about St. Nicholas with great certainty, except that during the early part of the 4th century, he was a bishop of the church of Myra, in Asia Minor. (In Acts 27:5, we're told that Paul boarded the ill-fated sailing ship bound for Italy at Myra's port.)"
Tradition says that St. Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor, Diocletian. And, in time, he was released from prison when Constantine the Great became emperor of Rome and declared Christianity the official religion of the state.
Nicholas had a reputation for compassion and generosity. Qualities that made him a suitable figure to hold up to exemplify the spirit of giving at Christmas time. He is said to have anonymously given away an inherited fortune to a poor family.
The transformation of the testimony of this godly man into Santa Claus began among German Protestants who called him Kriss Kringle (from Christ kindle, or, Christ child). Dutch settlers, who called him Sinter Klaas, introduced the legend to America. But, the image of the jolly, fat man in a red suit, driving a sleigh drawn by reindeer is a fairly modern one dating from the 1800’s. It bears little resemblance to the man on whom the legend is based.
“The question is, If St. Nicholas, the devoted Christian of history, were here today, what might he say about how we celebrate Christmas?”
“It’s just a guess, of course, but he might tell us to look at our FOCUS. He might remind us that it will take a disciplined effort by Christians at this time of year to keep the focus on the primary event of history – the coming of the Savior of the world.” He might wonder why representations of that Savior are not found prominently displayed in the magnificent décor in store windows, or even in most of the homes of those He came to save. He might even ask, “Who is the fat guy in the red suit? He’s everywhere! Why is there so much focus on this man?”
“The real St. Nicholas might remind us to look at our FAITH.” Some of us work pretty hard at making Santa seem real to our kids. We give them reasons to believe in him. And they do, at least for a while. Eventually, they’ll put 2 and 2 together and they will close the book on the fairy tale.
Do we, as followers of Christ, give our kids as much reason to believe in the Savior? Do they have reasons to believe in Him through the faith they see in us? Do our lives, our actions, our words show them the point of our focus – our faith, in such a practical way as to help them put 2 and 2 together and see “THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS!” It is no fable! It is not just words on the pages of a book they will one day close!
Santa might remind us to show them everyday faith, everyday trust, everyday prayer and praise. Santa might point us to 1 Peter 1:8 and speak of Jesus, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him and even though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
Is this what our kids see in us? Focus so fixed, faith so firm that the joy that fills us, incites us to give the best of ourselves, without expecting a return. To observe Christmas in this way is to put hand and feet to the love of Jesus. Just as the real Santa Claus did. It is to show the true power of the Word made flesh.
I don’t know for sure, but the real St. Nicholas might be grieved at what has become of the legend, the commercialization of his example of generosity, and the diminished focus on what Christmas has come to mean for so many. Even so many of us who believe. He might well ask, “Where is the witness of the Christ? Why has He been supplanted by this portly sleigh-rider?” I think it likely that he would be more than a little upset that his legacy of obedient faith has been transformed into a generic symbol of philanthropy. “A secular, harmless figure that softens the exclusively Christian nature of the celebration of the birth of Jesus by making it more acceptable to people of all persuasions.”
It’s a bit sad that today, such a loyal follower of Christ has come to have more in common with the secularizing, and the commercializing of American Christmas than he does with the struggles of the early church in the face of pagan persecution.
It’s hard to imagine Santa Claus in prison, but that’s what Diocletian did to this notable Christian. “Diocletian saw St. Nicholas as a threat because he was exclusively Christian.” Because Santa Claus said that there is “no other name under heaven by which people are saved than by the name of Jesus Christ.”
W.W.S.S.? The Santa of history would have pointed all people to Jesus Christ. In our celebrations this Christmas, I pray that we might do the same.
Merry Christmas!

Larry Urbaniak has written a brief, but detailed explanation of this puzzling story told by Jesus. If you would like a copy, please request it. It is a six page article. If you would like it sent via email, please request it at urbaniakjoyce@hotmail.com. If you want a copy given (or mailed) to you, please request it in person.