Christmas 101: 2025

The Christmas story we think we know may not be exactly as tradition has painted it. When we examine Scripture carefully, we discover that the wise men didn't arrive at the manger on the night Jesus was born—they came much later, finding a toddler in a house, not an infant in a stable. This matters because it reveals something profound about worship: these outsiders traveled over a thousand miles, possibly taking a year or more, bringing treasure chests of wealth to honor the King of Kings. They didn't just tip Jesus—they invested everything. Meanwhile, the shepherds were the first to respond, hurrying immediately to experience what they'd been told about. Both groups teach us something vital about our relationship with God. Are we willing to make the journey, even when it's inconvenient? Do we come to worship with our whole hearts, or are we just going through religious motions? The wise men knew that encountering the King was worth any sacrifice, any distance, any investment. They bowed down intentionally—not tripping, not embarrassed, but deliberately honoring royalty. If outsiders understood what was appropriate in the presence of divinity, how much more should we who claim to know Him? This Christmas, we're challenged to examine our own worship: Do we come expecting to encounter God, or are we just showing up? Are we bringing our best, or our leftovers? The shepherds experienced something so powerful they couldn't stop talking about it. That's what real encounter does—it gives us a story, a testimony that compels us to share the goodness of God with everyone we meet.