The Christmas Perspective

Christmas has a peculiar way of revealing what's truly in our hearts. For some, it's a season of wonder and celebration. For others, it feels more like a marathon of obligations, shopping lists, and mounting stress.

But what if the chaos we experience during Christmas isn't just about our circumstances? What if it's actually about our perspective?

Two Ways of Seeing the Same Event

The second chapter of Matthew's Gospel presents us with a fascinating study in contrasts. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem during King Herod's reign, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem asking, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?"

Here we have two groups of people experiencing the exact same event—the birth of Christ—yet responding in completely opposite ways.

King Herod heard the news and was disturbed. The wise men were overjoyed. Herod plotted to kill the newborn king. One experienced and brought chaos. The other experienced celebration.

This ancient story mirrors our modern Christmas experience more than we might realize. We can attend the same church service, hear the same carols, see the same decorations, yet have entirely different internal experiences based on our perspective.

The Question Christmas Asks Us

Christmas has a unique ability to confront our need for control. During this season, we're forced to ask ourselves: Do we see Jesus as merely a holiday tradition, or as the gift of God Himself? Are we so focused on the season that we miss the Savior?

The human perspective says we're defined by what we possess—the perfect gifts we give, the flawless decorations we display, the impressive celebrations we host. The Christmas perspective says we're defined by Who we possess inside us and Who walks with us through every season.

We invest tremendous energy finding the perfect presents, but what if we shifted our focus from presents to presence? Matthew's Gospel tells us His name shall be called "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." Not God watching from a distance. Not God waiting for us to get our act together. God with us—in the mess, in the chaos, in the uncertainty.

The Journey to Joy

The account of the wise men's journey offers us a roadmap for finding the right perspective. These travelers left the comfort of their homes and country, following a star that radiated light through the darkness. Their journey wasn't easy or convenient, but they had faith that it wouldn't lead to a dead end.

When the star finally stopped over the place where Jesus was, Matthew tells us they were "overjoyed." This wasn't polite happiness or mild satisfaction. This was hooping, hollering, tears-of-joy kind of celebration. Their perspective had been to find Jesus, and they found Him. Their faith had been rewarded!

Then came the worship. They bowed down before the child and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbols of royalty, priesthood, and suffering. What a profound display of surrender and recognition of who this child truly was.

When warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home by a different route. They had encountered Jesus, and they could never go back the same way again.

Our Own Journey

We're all on this journey called life. Following Jesus doesn't mean everything will be perfect. There will always be "Herods" that pop up—sickness, depression, failures, betrayal, loneliness, and sin. These are the things that create chaos in our Christmas and in our lives.

But to get the right perspective, we must be willing to do what the wise men did: go on our way and look for the star. We must look to Jesus for hope and restoration. He becomes our guide in the darkest places, and He promises never to leave us. When we follow Him, we can leave the Herods behind.

This is where overjoyed comes in our lives!

What gift could we give to Jesus? The bowing down of our lives in complete surrender. Worship expressed through love and obedience. This is the perspective that leads to genuine joy.

When Life Changes Overnight

The story takes an unexpected turn. After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream with urgent instructions: "Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

Joseph went to bed with everything seemingly settled. He woke up with his entire life redirected. He didn't ask for this disruption. Everything had been going fine. He had married a godly woman, had a home, and was raising the Messiah. Yet overnight, he became a refugee fleeing to Egypt—the very place from which God had once delivered Israel.

How far are we willing to Trust the Lord? How long are willing to trust Him?

Joseph stayed in Egypt until and angel told him it was safe. This could have been up to two years, but he kept the right perspective by trusting a good God even when circumstances weren't good.

Keeping Perspective When Everything Changes

We've all experienced this. Things are going well. We're following God's direction. Then suddenly something alters our life trajectory. The beautiful Christmas tree becomes a Charlie Brown tree. The joy becomes struggle.

We often say "everything happens for a reason," but what happens when the "everything" seems to take everything?

Joseph shows us the way forward. Keeping the right perspective begins with "Lord, I trust You enough." It wasn't what he had planned, but he obeyed God's plan.

The Light Still Shines

Christmas isn't ultimately about managing chaos or achieving perfect celebration. It's about recognizing that in a dark world, Light has come. Hope for all humanity has arrived. The Savior and destroyer of sin is here. Emmanuel—God with us—has made His dwelling among us.

That's the Christmas perspective worth keeping, not just in December, but every day of the year.
Merry Christmas!