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The Animals of Christmas

Angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph were all at that first Christmas. But animals also played a role in the greatest story ever told. The animals couldn't sing or talk; so their silence leaves them the forgotten attendees of Christmas. We think about the star and the angelic heavenly host, but not the animals at the birth of Christ. The world added animals to Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas are full of creatures. A partridge in a pear tree; two turtle doves; three French hens; four calling birds; six geese a laying and seven swans a swimming. There is a song called “A Place in The Choir.” The opening lines are: “All God's creatures got a place in the choir. Some sing low, some sing higher; Some sing out loud on the telephone wires; And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.” The song lists various animals praising God: little birds, the hoot owl, blackbirds, ducks, porcupines, dogs, cats, donkeys, etc. But, can animals praise the Lord? “Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths...wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds...Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!” Psalm 148:7, 10,13.“I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13. Jesus was born among animals. Millions of stuffed animals are given to children every year at Christmas. Every major holiday has some animal associated with it. The turkey for Thanksgiving; the rabbit for Easter; the donkey for Palm Sunday; the eagle for July 4th. But for Christmas, the whole animal kingdom is involved. Christian art and poetry are full of Christmas animals. Nativity scenes include the ox, donkey, sheep, camels and the dove. One of our Christmas hymns, (Away In A Manger), says, "The cattle are lowing the poor baby wakes but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes." Jesus was born in a stable meant to shelter animals. He was laid in a manger meant to feed animals. Among the first sounds baby Jesus heard would have been the sound of animals. Back in the 12th century, people had daily contact with their farm animals. They sang songs about animals at Christmas. Over 800 years ago, Christians sang “The Carol of the Friendly Beasts.” It tells the role of animals in the Christmas story. All of the animals tell what they contributed. "I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown, "I carried his mother up-hill and down, I carried her safely to Bethlehem town." "I," said the cow, all white and red, "I gave him my manger for a bed, I gave him my hay to pillow his head." "I," said the sheep with the curly horn, "I gave him my wool for a blanket warm, He wore my coat on Christmas morn." "I," said the dove from the rafters high, "I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry, We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I." “I said the camel yellow and black, Over the desert upon my back. I brought Him a gift in the wise man's pack.” Jesus, kind and good; Was humbly born in a stable rude. And the friendly beasts around him stood, Jesus, is, kind and good.” Jesus was first announced to the shepherds whose life revolved around the care, feeding, and protection of animals. Mary came to Bethlehem riding on a donkey. The wise men made their journey to worship Him on animals. God did not announce Christ's birth to city people. He sent them to people who lived with animals. Every great leader of Israel, had a life involved with the animal kingdom. Adam and Eve dwelt in a perfect
relationship with animals, and Adam named them all. Moses was a shepherd when God met him at the burning bush. David was a shepherd when called to be the king of Israel. Job was an owner of great herds of animals. John the Baptist lived with the animals, wore camel skins, and ate locust.
When Jesus is on His throne. “He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.” Isaiah 11:5-8 NLT. Jesus and friendly animals surrounding Him is symbolic of what this baby will bring to the world. When Jesus was born, and later when he was tempted in the
wilderness, He was with angels and animals. Mark 1:13 says, "...he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him." Angels and animals are both servants of God and man. And, both are part of the Christmas story. When the Christ-child grew up, He took upon Himself the names of the Lion and the Lamb. Without the donkey Jesus rode on Palm Sunday, He could not have fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because He died, once and for all, what sheep had been doing all through history-dying as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus became our Passover Lamb, and by His sacrifice, all can escape the judgment of God. So we look upon the Christmas animals, not as mere props but as a part of God's plan. Have a Merry Christmas!


-Phillip