The Characters of Christmas

My purpose in this study is not to tell again the familiar Christmas story, but to reflect on the remarkable array of personalities who played their parts in it.

Each of the four evangelists begins his telling of the story at a different point. Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist, while John goes back to the beginning of creation. Matthew gives us Jesus' genealogy. And Luke tells us that although he did not know Jesus personally, he researched thoroughly among the eyewitnesses who did. Of the four, only Matthew and Luke tell us anything about the birth of Jesus.

It is they who introduce us to the characters of Christmas.