The Christmas Story: Born for a Purpose...Continued from page 2

David E. Owen

A. There Are Those Who Have A Close Involvement In These Events. After His birth, two individuals were closely present – a man named Joseph and a woman named Mary. Perhaps it was Joseph that “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7) as Mary looked on. Correspondingly, after His death, three were closely present – a man named Joseph and two women named Mary. Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathaea “bought fine linen, and took Him (Jesus) down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid” (Mark 15:46-47).

B. There Are Those Who Have A Connected Involvement In These Events. It still thrills my heart to hear of the abiding watchmen, these shepherds, who were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). Every shepherd may have been “an abomination unto the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34), but these particular shepherds have had the privilege of being indelibly connected to the herald angel who announced the birth and visitation of the Divine One. But in like manner, we also see the attending women who, “when the sabbath was past . . . had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint” Jesus after His death (Mark 16:1). “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment” (Mark 16:5). And it is here that we find their connection to the angel who announced the victory of the dead One Who was now risen.

C. There Are Those Who Have A Comforting Involvement In These Events. In the time following the birth of Jesus, when the angel of the Lord interrupted the stillness and silence of night, the Bible says that the shepherds “were sore afraid

” (Luke 2:9). But then we’re informed of the comforting words of this celestial being who said, “Fear not” (Luke 2:10). What a comfort to know that a Saviour is born (as we read in Luke 2:11), that He has come forth from the womb! Likewise, in the days following the death of Jesus, We again find an angel making a comforting announcement to some very frightened people. We might even say that these women were “sore afraid” as they saw this whitely robed young man. But “he saith unto them, Be not affrighted” (Mark 16:6). In other words, “Fear not.” What a comfort to know that “He is risen” (Mark 16:6), that He had come forth from the tomb!