It only seems like a few weeks ago that I would sit out in my garden, drink coffee, and read a good book whilst being warmed by the afternoon sun. Now the frosts have arrived, and we have had the first (and hopefully the last) snow of the winter. Now there is, but one word on everyone's lips-Christmas.
We live in a multi cultural society with many different faiths and many people who profess no faith. But there is still one last iconic symbol of the true Christmas, and that is the traditional nativity scene, a stable with Mary & Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, animals & a star.
When I was a lad Nativity scenes were two a penny. At Christmas time shops had them in the windows, primary schools would make them & churches would display them. Now with the advent of political correctness they are rarer, but still there if you know where to look.
However as our society has become more secular so to has our understanding of what happened in those far off days become less clear. Tradition, nostalgia & a misunderstanding of 1st century culture by people living 2000 years later has coloured what actually happened at the birth of Jesus.
I want to look at how accurate is the traditional nativity scene. How well does it tie in with what the Gospels teach. But first there are a couple of Christmas related items I want us to think about. The ideas presented may or may not be my own opinion.
Christmas celebrations are commanded in the bible
Actually they are not which is why the Puritans of the 17th century banned Christmas, it had no scriptural backing. But not being in the bible does not make it wrong, just not commanded by God.
Jesus was born on the 25th Dec
Well maybe. I only say that because we don't know the day Jesus was born on so the 25th Dec has 1/365th chance of being right. Having said that there are good arguments for Christ's birth being either in the Spring or Autumn.
It is thought that the church decided on the 25th Dec as the day to celebrate Christmas as there was a pre existing pagan celebration on that day which they sought to Christianise. Nothing wrong with that.
Mary was 14 & Joseph only a little older
This is conjecture as the gospels don't give the ages of either parent, only that they were betrothed. Having said that marriages tended to be arranged and the couples very young in 21st century eyes. So it is quite likely that they were in their mid teens.
Mary was heavily pregnant on the journey to Bethlehem.
Mary was certainly pregnant, but it is supposition to say that she was just about to give birth. Luke 2 v 6 just tells us that whilst they were there she gave birth. They could have been in Bethlehem much longer than we think. No cars, buses or airplanes in those days to take them back home.
There was no room at the Inn
Here is where peoples heresy metres might be going into overdrive as I suggest that there was no Inn. Those who know more than me about the original Greek say that the word used in Luke 2 v 7 (Kataluma) actually means 'guest room.' The 2011 version of the NIV Bible translation has now be changed to reflect this.
There were no Premier Inns or the like in 1st century Palestine, and Mary & Joseph would have gone to relatives to stay. However, presumably because of the census, the upper room of the house was full.
Jesus was born in a stable
The Gospels do not say this. It is likely that the kindly relatives who Mary & Joseph wanted to stay with, but couldn't, let them use the lower room of the house where animals lived, hence the manger (animal food trough). By the way there is no mention of any animals being present at the time.
Three wise men visited Jesus after His birth.
The wise men are correctly called Magi or Majoi in Matthew 2. They were astrologers who looked to the skies for guidance. Wise men is a good title though as they would have been intelligent and
knowledgeable.
We don't know how many Magi visited Jesus, only the number of different gifts given ie three. As they are described in the plural there must have been at least two, but probably many more plus the servants and entourage deserving of visiting foreign dignitaries.
Matthew 2 v 11 mentions that the Magi visited Jesus at a house (not a stable). It may have been the same house that Jesus was born in, but I don't know, only that it was in Bethlehem.
When the Magi did not return to King Herod as instructed with details of the babies whereabouts the gospel of Matthew tells us that he became very angry, and ordered the death of all boys under 2 years old around Bethlehem. This was 'in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.' This makes us think that Jesus was anything up to 2 years old at the time of the Magi's visit. It is logical to assume that it took quite some time for the Magi to arrange the trip and get there, no Uber, no trains or planes.
The Star of Bethlehem.
The short answer is that we don't know what the star was, although it probably wasn't a star as stars don't move in relation to other heavenly bodies like this may have done. Whatever it was it held a powerful meaning for the Magi. High powered intellectual types like them did not just take months off work, spend lots of dosh on visiting some child in another country unless they thought it very, very important, and they did.
So here is my review of the traditional nativity scene. Tradition, nostalgia, and even Christmas carols have fogged what the Gospels say happened at the time of Jesus' birth. I haven't mentioned the shepherds as their presence in the nativity scene is born out by the Gospels. However I would urge any of my readers to do what Mary did at their visit & recorded in Luke 2 v 19
'But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart.'
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all.
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