I love nativity scenes, I love to see the stable, the animals, the wisemen, the shepards, the angels, the star, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus.
Now I realize we might not get it all right… and people debate details
• what time of year was it in the winter or in the summer or spring? We can’t really say with certainty.
• was it in a stable, a barn, was it a cave in a hillside?
• what kind and how many animals were there? (actually the bible never mentions animals being there) though a manger (is best understood as a feeding trough for animals)
• What about the wisemen – how many? the bible does not say – (we say three because of the gifts) – and they probably did not arrive to see the Christ child until sometime later.
I have been thinking about the Nativity a lot this week.
I mean really thinking about it, and I was struck with the fact that every year we look to it, but I’m not sure that we get it.
I mean – I know we get it. That is we understand that it is ultimately our best attempt to recreate the account of gospels – the historical recording of the birth of Christ,( Matthew and Luke) we fill in the details best we can.
What I mean when I say, I’m not sure it we get it – I mean that if we are not careful in our world – we could easily mix up and even miss the message of the nativity. We could miss Christmas if were not careful.
We live in a world where the frenzy of wreathes, candy canes & candles, trees, lights & ornaments , decorating & dining, caroling & shopping, and gift giving, all make it easy for us to miss the message of Christmas.
I’m not a Grinch by any means, I love most or all of the traditions of Christmas. In fact I love the symbols, the decorations, the giving, the sharing, the family, the food, the friends, the snow, the ice, and the glow of the fireplaces.
And yet, what do we really need to remember? And what do we know and understand biblically about the birth of Christ?
First – though we have fun acting it out, I think is is important to remember that it’s not a fairy tale. And though we act it out, and set up nativity scenes in our homes, on our lawns and even in our church… let us remember it is a real event in human history – it is the story of God becoming a man.
And I think it is good to remember that the facts and details of the real scene fall way short of the picture we often paint in today’s world. That first Christmas, “the Christmas”, that we base our celebration on, was anything but picturesque.
Mary and Joseph were real people… and Jesus was their first child.
Mary the mother of Jesus – Joseph engaged to Mary. Both of them highly favored , graced to become the parents of the Son of God. But just people, truthfully teenagers, teens engaged to be married.
Most probably illiterate, poor, certainly not royal, divine, or sinless. Visited by and angel who proclaims to them the great blessing that is about to come upon them. I imagine it was confusing, scary and exciting all at the same time.
They arrive in the city of Joseph’s birth to register for the census. The trip was no doubt tough on them Mary close to her due date. Upon arriving in the small but crowded city they find nowhere to stay , no room at the inn, they take up residence in a stable, a barn, I’m sure it reeked of the smell of animals.
This highly favored, fearful teen now in full labor most probably without the aid of midwife –gives birth to God’s son, that babe is Jesus, the son-of-man, the hope of mankind, the promised messiah. There was no medical care, no epidural, no demoral, no apgar score, no heart monitors, warming lamps, or aspirators. no cradle or crib.
It was by all accounts a lowly and a lonely birth. The bible does not even say that Joseph was present at the birth. Perhaps he was, but he had certainly not been to Lamaze classes and probably was of little help.
Mary a virgin – brings forth her firstborn child, the Christ child IN FEAR, IN AWE, IN HUMILITY; she wraps Him in some strips of clothing; and lays Him in a in a feeding trough.
God laying in a feeding trough. God with us – Immanuel.
Folks don’t miss Christmas. Don’t miss it.
God Bless and Merry Christmas, Brother Scott >
