The Amazing Christmas Story - Part 1

Every year as I read and study the Christmas story, I bemoan the fact that in each of the Gospels, along with the Old Testament prophecies, there is so little written of the "behind the scenes" narrative. For instance, there are only 13 verses in the book of Luke that tell about the angelic visitation to the shepherds and their encounter with the Christ child. I would love a little background on these guys and maybe even some "what are they doing now" information. How did this encounter change their lives? Did they remain shepherds? Did they become followers of Jesus?

One of the most dynamic encounters for me comes in Luke, chapter 1, where Mary visits Elizabeth.
Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
  You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! 
  And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? 
  The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears,
  The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. 
  Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true! (The Message)

When Kathy was pregnant with our three children, I enjoyed having her put my hands on her belly and feel each baby move. Sometimes they were subtle movements, and other times they were real kicks. In Elizabeth's case, the narrative says the baby "leaped in her womb" and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. What a dramatic encounter. Somehow I don't think this was an isolated event. While I realize that Elizabeth was carrying John, who would be the prophetic announcer of the coming the Messiah, somehow I've got to think that there must have been other encounters like this. Mary, at the market, and suddenly a vendor breaks into tears as she shares with Mary her loneliness, or sadness because of a broken relationship. As Mary interacts with other women of her age, and the realization among them that there is a wonderful sense of peace and contentment among them. Even her times with Joseph, and his wondering about the feeling he is sensing as he sits with Mary, a peace that washes over him, even as he tries to sort out the dilemma that he is in. I'm sure that every time Joseph was with Mary, the words of the angel came back to him, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Do you think he dared put his hands on Mary's belly and feel the baby Jesus move and kick? Do you think Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit as he sat next to Mary? Somehow I feel that from the beginning, these two, plus the people closest to them, all knew that a supernatural event was taking place. We'll explore this in a few Christmas posts this month.