How many times would you say you’ve read the story of Jesus’ birth? Dozens? Hundreds? It’s easy to slip into the trap of glossing over it, or only thinking about it at Christmas.
There are incredible lessons in the narrative of Christ’s birth that pertain directly to evangelism. For example, the narrative tells us not only who the Gospel is for, but also what people’s reactions will be to Christ.
First, the Gospel—God’s gift of forgiveness—is for all people. In Luke 2, we learn of the shepherds who were in a field nearby and saw the proclamation of the angels. In Matthew 2, we see the story of the Magi from the east, who saw the star and arrived in search of the Christ child, the King of the Jews.
The hope of Jesus isn’t for a certain race or geographic location. The Magi came from perhaps Mesopotamia. The shepherds were likely Jews while the Magi were likely Gentiles. The hope of Jesus is not based on status or wealth. The shepherds were lowly farmers, whereas the Magi were considered scholars.
We also learn that people will have different reactions to Jesus. Herod was so angry that he had all of the male children under age 2—in Bethlehem and the surrounding region—killed.
Hopefully, you will never encounter somebody so zealously angry at the mention of Christ, but you will likely come across people who want nothing to do with Him. Perhaps they’ve had a bad experience with a Christian. Maybe they don’t want to change their lifestyle, or they’re scared of what their friends may think.
In Matthew 2:4-6, the scribes and chief priests appear to be largely indifferent. They don’t seem to care about Jesus. They confirm the facts but are otherwise unexcited.
There will be those—maybe some in the church—who just can’t be bothered with the reality of a living Savior. They’re living life their own way. Sadly, they’re on a dangerous path that will lead them down the same road as the Herods of the world.
On the other hand, people who have truly had a personal encounter with Jesus will be forever changed. In Luke 2:20, the “shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
Switching over to the Magi in Matthew 2, when they saw Him, they rejoiced, humbled themselves and worshipped Him. Further, they were instantly obedient to God’s leading. They were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and they did not.
Yes, there will be people like Herod who will be angry, but others will encounter the living Christ and will be forever changed. They will walk out ready to share that love and hope with their friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. There will be exponential impact as the joy of the Lord goes forth!
My friends, the narrative of Jesus’ birth is a beautiful story, and one from which there is much to glean. Remember that the Gospel is for everyone. Tell it boldly. Though some may push back, God will draw others to Himself through your obedience.
