I don't mean, does Christmas need to have Jesus in it. I don't mean, when you're sitting around the presents in the morning, that you need to remember the greatest present God ever gave. No, I mean, in the story of Jesus and the New Testament, does the Christmas story really matter? Forget the secular part of the holiday, is the manger, angles, shepherds, Herod, Magi, Mary and Joseph, important to Christianity or just a neat story we blew way out of proportion?
Stop and think about it.
Of four gospels, only two mention the story of Jesus' birth. Of those two gospels, very few details are the same. There are only Magi in one story, only shepherds in the other, in one Jesus is born in a stable and laid in a manger, the other doesn't really specify. In one, they run away to Egypt, in the other, they head to temple to dedicate the new baby. The few similar details are the names Mary, Joseph, the appearance of angels and the fact that Mary was a virgin.
Seriously, if only 1/2 of the gospel writer's even mention it, does the story of Jesus' birth actually matter? Does it add to our understanding of Him, help us see things more clearly? Can we be perfectly good Christians if we don't know anything about His birth, if we only have Mark and John to read?
When I posed this question at Sunday school, everyone had something to say. One woman was mad that I could even consider such a thing. To her, the virgin birth proved Jesus was God's son, so it is VERY important. But John makes the same point without ever mentioning Mary. So does it matter?
It doesn't change the most important tenants of our faith, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again on the third day. It doesn't change His teachings or their implications for our lives.
So why all the fuss? Is knowing how Jesus was born important? Why or why not?
Think about it. I will too, and give you my answer on Friday.
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