The Christmas season has always been magical and mysterious to me. The stories of people connected to the incarnation are intriguing. And the coming of Jesus—an extremely joyful event—remains joyful right alongside longing and loss, in spite of disappointment and doubt, and shines even in the darkness of despair.

These shepherds had an amazing story to tell. An angel in the night, an astonishing announcement, and then an entire host of angels giving glory to God—all of this right in the middle of their flocks of sheep! Not only that, this baby Messiah, born in Bethlehem, was lying in a manger—which the angel had told them He would be.

One ordinary night, like so many others the shepherds had spent, an angel blazed in and announced the birth of the Messiah. THE biggest news in the Jewish community, THE event for which the Jewish people were all waiting and hoping and praying had finally happened.

Salvation. Deliverance. Forgiveness. Mercy. No fear. Light. Peace. Joyful news indeed! And it comes to us through a couple who doubted and hid and couldn’t quite grasp the joy at first.

[Elizabeth and Zechariah] were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. [Luke 1:6-7 ESV] Elizabeth is a righteous woman who appears to be out of favor with God. She has stopped hoping for a child. She is past praying for a pregnancy. She is old and has spent a lifetime keenly aware of her barrenness.

Zechariah was one of about 20,000 priests who were hoping to be picked for service in the temple. Most of his days were behind him when he received the opportunity for this once-in-a-lifetime performance of these particular priestly duties. So it was already a wonderful day of distinction and honor for Zechariah when God took it over the top and sent him an amazing answer to prayer, delivered by an angel.

We’ve been considering Simeon and Anna this week. Speculating on their lives and longings. Wondering what struggles they had as they waited for the Messiah. We only get to see their joy in Luke, as they recognize Jesus and rejoice with his parents and passers-by. Isn’t this often our experience when we observe others’ lives?

Anna is often forgotten in the Christmas story. Even though she walks into Jesus’ life only a few weeks after He’s born, she doesn’t make it into any of the nativity displays or the pageants like the Magi (who actually showed up years later.) She is not a person you see depicted on a Christmas card or made into a Christmas ornament.

Simeon was waiting.

Joyful trust

Joseph the husband of Mary…

The Nature of Joy: A Gift to be Received & A Fruit to be Cultivated