In Part 1, Dan Wooldridge discussed the “flat world” of the Roman Empire, the context for the first Christmas. In Part 2, he reflects on how the message was communicated to the major cultures of that world.

What is the essential Christmas message? The first century writers who chronicled the life of Christ were not bound by the accumulated power of cultural religion and tradition. And yet they faced the same challenge that we do of how to communicate the true essence of Christ to a very diverse global community, a stewpot of contrasting cultures, philosophies, religions and traditions.

The writers didn’t hail from theological seminaries, research think tanks, or corporate marketing and communication functions. They were ordinary working professionals who had deeply integrated their understanding of Christ into their everyday lives and had passionately devoted their lives to communicating this message effectively to the world around them. To examine what they did is an eye-opener in learning what the essential message is and an instructive challenge to us as we live out our faith in a flat world. They didn’t use formulas or campaign talking points, but with a thorough grasp of the message, they communicated, powerfully and relevantly.

Each of the four writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – wrote to different audiences. Each crafted a unique approach. And yet they each accomplished their purpose without contradicting each other or compromising the essential truths.

Writing to a Religious Culture

Matthew was tax collector. (Not exactly an esteemed profession then or now!) His primary audience was the Jewish people. His audience was well aware of the age old prophecies of a coming Messiah who would be their King and who would restore their kingdom. And so Matthew lays out a topical rather than historical account of the life of Christ to address the concerns of this religious culture. He anticipates the questions that would be asked and then lays out the details of Christ’s birth and life that answers the questions. For example, if Christ is the Messiah, the king of Israel, he would be of the lineage of King David. And so Matthew lays out the lineage to show that this is indeed true. Or if he is the king, then he would be given a royal birth, acknowledged as king, and given gifts fit for a king. Again, Matthew shows the coming of the magi to acknowledge him as king and to bring him gifts befitting a king. And Herod, the king, is threatened by the birth of a king. Only Matthew brings out these details, so relevant to this audience, but not to others. And going beyond the birth of Christ, Matthew anticipates question after question, in this fashion, blending in the prophecies of old and then commenting that these had been fulfilled in Christ.

Writing to a Culture of Power

We don’t know the profession of Mark, the next of our writers. But he was well traveled throughout that world. We see evidence of him in Rome, Jerusalem, Ephesus, Babylon and possibly even, Egypt. Mark writes to a Roman audience. The Roman culture was a culture that obsessed with power, action, and accomplishment. And so Mark skips the birth of Christ altogether. No Christmas story here. Not many sermons and philosophical notes anywhere. He begins with John the Baptist’s announcement of the coming of “One who is mightier than I”, and then quickly proceeds to the testing of Christ in the wilderness, the recruiting of followers, and then successive vignettes that demonstrate his power and authority. And yet, Mark demonstrates that this man of power is ultimately a servant, not a tyrant.

Writing to a Culture of Humanism

Luke is a physician and accomplished amateur reporter and historian. His writings include the kinds of details that a doctor would notice. Luke writes to a Greek audience whose philosophical orientation sought the perfection of the human. They sought the perfect man. And so Luke writes about the man, Christ Jesus, to demonstrate that he is the prototype perfect man. He vividly provides details that highlight the humanity of Christ. For example, Luke, too, has a genealogy but it traces the line all the way back to Adam to demonstrate that Christ is fully human. There are no magi coming to see the newborn, but rather shepherds to emphasize the humble human beginning. Luke’s Christmas story is about the birth of the man whose perfect humanity would eventually become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Writing to the Next Generation

Along with the challenges of globalization, our day and age is challenged by huge generational and demographic shifts. In the U.S., for example, there is the possibility for the first time for four distinct generations to be present in the workforce – the Silent Generation, the Boomers, the Gen-Xer’s, and the emerging Millennials. Beyond the symbolic events that represent these generations – the Greatest Generation’s last gathering at Pearl Harbor or the first Boomer entering retirement – there are real demographic and cultural shifts. As Boomers retire and turn over the reins of business to a far smaller Generation X, companies struggle with having enough talent and leadership for the companies to continue. And we’re only just beginning to see the unique influences and contributions that the Millennials will bring to the marketplace and culture.

The last writer is John, a fisherman by trade, but unlike the first three, he writes, not to a different global culture, but to a different generation. John is in his eighties. And he writes as if he is sitting down with his children and grandchildren, holding open on his lap a family photo album. He is aware that even in the span of one generation that essential truths are being lost and that erroneous thinking is creeping in. And so, with some introductory explanation, he proceeds to pull out a small handful of his favorite photos that best explain who Christ is and what he has done. Each snapshot conveys a special point. The Christmas story is implied in his introductory remarks. He makes no mention of genealogies, mangers, shepherds, kings, and angels…no Mary, no Joseph…not even a birth. The simple essence is conveyed in poetic terms and with details that he has cherished in his heart over the past half century. John is lovingly overwhelmed that God became man so that we could see the glory of God, full of grace and truth. John tells us, “Do you want to know what God is like? Then look deeply at Jesus.”

Our Turn to Tell the Story

We live in a global society where many are deeply immersed in living a religious life. Others are absorbed in a world of power and accomplishment. Still others strive for the humanistic perfection of body, mind, and spirit. And we all face the responsibility of mentoring the next generation. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John challenge us this Christmas to have a deeper, more thorough grasp of what we say we believe and celebrate. They challenge us to be more intimately aware of the audiences around us and their questions and longings. The more we grasp the essence, the more we can be prepared to share the story skillfully and persuasively to the cultures around us and to the next generation.

What are the stories you will be sharing with your friends, colleagues, and family this Christmas?