Curious Christian

As Christmas approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the symbols at the heart of the Christmas story—specifically the magi who followed the star and the shepherds who heard the angels’ call. Too often, we interpret these symbols through what theologians call a “descending Christology,” viewing them as pointing to the incarnation of the eternal Word in Jesus of Nazareth.

This year, however, I’d like to explore these stories from an “ascending Christology,” seeing them not just as affirmations of Jesus’ divine origin, but also as symbols that point forward to the life he would live. The magi and shepherds, in particular, are significant in this way.

In first-century Jewish society, these were not the kinds of people one would expect to respond to God. The magi were pagan astrologers from distant lands, while the shepherds were marginalized laborers, often viewed with suspicion due to their low social standing and perceived dishonesty. And yet, it was precisely people like these—those on the fringes—who Jesus would seek out and identify with throughout his ministry. They were often the most receptive to his message of grace and inclusion.

So when I see stars and angels decorating Christmas trees, I’m reminded of the radical inclusivity at the heart of the Christmas story—the idea that God’s call reaches far beyond societal expectations and that Christ’s mission was always to those whom the world least expected.