There’s no shortage of classic, Christmas quotes. See if you can recognize any of the following from your favorite Christmas movies.
- “God bless us, everyone!”
- “You’ll shoot your eye out kid.”
- “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
- “Watch out, the yellow ones don’t stop!”
- “I suppose it all started with snow.”
- “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
Granted, these are the nostalgic quotes that bring out the child in each of us wanting the “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle.” But there’s one tiny detail by each of these quotes we shouldn’t forget – they’re all made up.
Fabricated. Make-believe. Not real.
Penned by a writer. Performed by an actor. Produced on a set.
Movie quotes, and specifically Christmas movie quotes, can certainly be fun and memorable. However, I wonder if we are as familiar with a few quotes taken directly from the first Christmas story.
See if you recognize any of these five, real-life Christmas quotes.
“I am the Lord’s servant.”
– Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary was just a young teenager when she’s told by an angel that she’s going to give birth to a son who will be the Savior of the world! “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David” Luke 1:32.
The indescribable joy coupled with the immense weight and responsibility to be the chosen, surrogate mother of God’s Son. Mary doesn’t shrink back or opt out of the mission God has for her. Nor does she arrogantly boast about being the chosen one.
She accepts her mission with complete humility, and she walks in the grace and strength that God would provide. “I am the Lord’s servant” Luke 1:38a.
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
– Angel of the Lord.
Seriously? How many times is there good news that’s brings great joy to all people?
- The Patriots won the Super Bowl! That’s good news to a few people.
- Tesla stock just skyrocketed 30%! That’s good news to a few people.
- You were selected for a scholarship to the college of your choice! That’s good news to a few people.
The angels brought news to the shepherds that not only brought great joy, but it was for all people. The free gift of salvation is for all people, in all continents, in all social status, in all times, and in all languages. That’s some good news!
“Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened.”
– Shepherds
Who do you invite to your son’s birthday party? Who makes the cut when sending a limited number of invitations to a wedding? Who would you welcome to be part of the coronation ceremony of a new king?
God invites shepherds. A group of rag-tag, outcasts who probably struggled to hold a decent job so they resorted to nightshift security services. Only they weren’t protecting any person of significance. They protected sheep.
God includes shepherds. They are wanted, loved, pursued, and valued as evidenced by God’s involvement of the shepherds in the miraculous moment. The shepherds didn’t waste the moment. They didn’t stop for ice-cream on the way. They went straight to Bethlehem.
“We have come to worship him.”
Wiseman
Everything the shepherds were, the wisemen were the opposite. These men were sophisticated, high-society, well-educated astrologers. They had wealth, status, and access to the best modes of transportation for their time.
They were no doubt an elite group of men with access to King Herod on their search to find the King of kings.
They traveled a great distance with hope and by faith. They didn’t seek Jesus to form an earthly alliance, and they didn’t seek Jesus to bribe him with favors. They sought Jesus to worship Him. Worship is the act of recognizing who Jesus is. They sought Him, saw Him, and worshiped Him by bringing the best gifts the world had to offer.
“Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
Simeon
Have you met Simeon? He lived in Jerusalem circa 2,000 years ago. He was a righteous man with a special anointing on his life. You see, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he personally witnessed the Messiah.
One not-so-random day in the temple, Mary and Joseph brought their child, Jesus, to perform the customary religious ceremonies. When Simeon took Jesus in his arms he said, “Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace…for my eyes have seen your salvation” Luke 2:29-30.
Simeon saw what Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wisemen saw. He saw the Messiah! The promise to him was fulfilled and Simeon was ready to be dismissed from service.