Our Christmas traditions are a far cry from what happened 2000 years ago.
When the shepherds were minding their sheep outside the city of Bethlehem, angels appeared to them announcing: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11). In this unique combination of words, Christ the Lord, we have a title that corresponds to the Hebrew Yahweh, a fact noted by several commentators.
Micah, many years earlier had foretold that the Christ came from eternity past:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting”(Mic. 5:2).
This message of “Christ the Lord” was first delivered to Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, and then it was repeated to a group of shepherds minding the lambs that were used for sacrifices in the temple*.
The combination of God, Messiah and Saviour are all aspects of the same person which makes it all the more amazing that Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit to come and live among us, as one of us, so that He could redeem us. All you have to do is acknowledge that Jesus is lord, a title given to God, the ruler of the universe, and then you will be saved.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame”(Rom. 10:9-11).
So Jesus arrived with no tinsel. No Santa Claus. No Christmas tree. Just a simple appeal to accept Him as your LORD and Saviour.
All quotes from NKJV.
*Eusebius linked these fields to a unique biblical location called Migdal Eder, which means the “tower of the flock”. This is also mentioned in Mic. 4:8.