CHRISTMAS – “INVITATION FOR THE GRANDEST EVENT EVER”

We all celebrate many events in our lifetime. Some events are once in a lifetime events. We love to invite those who are important and close to us, for all such events. Invitation cards for such events are an important aspect of it too. It is not only to announce the event itself, but also to intimate the guests who are invited, of all the relevant details pertaining to the event. 

Such cards are given by, and in the name of the host. Many times they are personally handed over to the guest, depending upon the importance of the guest being invited. Such a manner of invitation is a very important thing, and holds great significance from a socio-cultural perspective. 

When Jesus was born, the LORD God Almighty too had sent His invitation cards to various people, whom He thought it fit to be invited for the Messiah’s birth. We see the invitation to the Shepherds, the Wisemen and the Priests. 

1- THE PRIESTS AND THE PROPHESY
Priests are a special category of people. They are spiritual people, appointed by God Himself. Of all the people, the priests should be the ones who should have had a thorough and in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures, and all things related.

Biblical scholars differ in their ways of defining and counting Messianic prophecies. They consider about 200 to 400 texts as prophecies pointing to the Messiah. 
– J. Barton Payne, according to his Encyclopaedia of Bible Prophecy, lists 191 prophecies, as having a “personal reference to Christ.”
– Alfred Edersheim, on the other hand, considers at least 456 passages in the Old Testament, as prophecies pointing to Christ, the coming Messiah, which the Jewish Rabbis have thus interpreted.

Yet, the Priests and their institution failed to verify throughly and identify the Messiah, who was born. Either they were negligent, or entirely rejected the news from the Magi as false and preposterous. Either way it is not a healthy sign of the priestly office, and of those holding such a post.

2- THE WISEMEN AND THE SIGNS IN THE SKY
The Wisemen from East study stars, interpret signs and prophetic scriptures, are knowledgeable men of standing in the society, and people of stature and intelligence. What is the source of their precise knowledge about the birth of the Messiah is not clear from the Bible. However, they were spot on in their prediction about the King who is to be born; also, they were pretty close to the timing. 

The purpose for which they had undertaken such long and arduous journey is something that should be noted well. They came to pay their respects to the King who is born, and to worship Him by their presence and their presents.
– “10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:10-11

Sadly, they assumed this King, for whom God Almighty had appointed a one of its kind star in the sky, would be born in a royal palace. This erroneous assumption has tragically costed the lives of many innocent children.

3- THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELIC HOST
Shepherds, among all the three sets of people invited by God, are the poorest and in all probability totally illiterate. Priests and the Wisemen were from a privileged background and men of high standing and stature, in every conceivable aspect. The shepherds were poor, illiterate, neglected, absolutely insignificant and much disliked by almost all in the society – they were the outcasts of their day.

God in His grace and mercy considered these bunch of “good for nothing” “useless” and “worthless” people to be special and precious. He not only sent His personal emissary, an angel of God, and also an angelic host to sing the first carols. What a honour bestowed upon these poor, neglected and discarded people.

Despite their “intelligence” or the lack of it…
– they were the only ones to respond immediately and with eagerness to check this news.
– they were the only ones to arrive at the right place, and the right time.
– they were the only ones who could not contain this news, and had deemed it fit to disturb the sleep of anyone and everyone, and wake them up in the dead of the night, to proclaim this *”good news of great joy!”*.with great enthusiasm.
– ““It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” – William Barclay

We all have received the invitation from the God Most High, about His Son, our LORD Jesus Christ. Who are we this morning? Are we the Priests, the Wisemen, or the Shepherds. Whatever may our standing be in the society, we should follow *the path of the shepherds – immediate obedience; joyful worshippers; enthusiastic proclaimers.* Even so, the LORD help us.