The Christmas story is replete with awe and wonder in myriad of ways. Living in 2022, it is difficult for us to grasp the depth of this incredible event. We see it as a story complete in no more than two chapters in Matthew and two chapters in Luke. God gave his Son, born of a virgin, delivered in a stable, visited by shepherds and wise men, and thus ends the nativity tale.

But ponder for a moment, what must it have been like to long for the Messiah, a Savior, a King whose kingdom has no end?

With high inflation, low morals, and a government seemingly out of touch, we long for better days, but the people living at the time of Jesus’ birth probably would be glad to trade places with us given their living conditions. And yet, they remained hopeful, watching, looking, wondering, believing their true Messiah would come to set things right.

Ponder, for example, how wise men from a distant land knew of this king. The Bible is somewhat elusive about what the wise men knew about this new king. There’s little said about the wise men themselves, how many there were, from what country (or countries) did they come, and what was their role in their homeland (priests, kings, etc.)? It’s also reasonable to believe their presence in the story was not necessarily a spiritual pilgrimage, but a mission of ambassadorship and the hope of an alliance. And then there is the link to what they knew about the star. How did they hear about it? What was its significance to this king? Was their presence linked to a time when Israel was prominent during the time of David and Solomon, or perhaps during the time of Daniel who, himself, was prominent in the Persian empire?

So many questions so deep is the mystery. What we do know is that the Christmas story is more than a story, it is evidence of God’s immeasurable grace and mercy.

This season, KAMB’s Christmas Festival of Music is designed to keep our focus on the wonder and amazement of God’s gift of a Savior.

In all the hurry and hustle of activities, we pray you’ll make time to reflect and meditate on what it meant for God to empty Himself, be a stranger, and give the ultimate gift so that you and I may know Him for who He is.