An Unlikely Nativity Experience

I love driving around this time of year and looking at the lights and all the Christmas decorations. Alright, I admit it, my wife and daughter love it, so I gladly drive them around. One thought that came to mind Monday night as we drove past a small shed that had been turned into a well-decorated nativity scene is how unlikely that whole scene must have been to Mary and Joseph. We always picture them either standing side by side holding Baby Jesus between them completely doting over this child that has been born or standing around as the Wise Men present their gifts. The scene always has this peaceful and beautiful aspect to it, but I can’t help but imagine the actual events not being so serene. Here you have a teenage girl who was not married becoming pregnant, and a husband who miraculously did not “put her away.” Even before the angel’s revelation to him, he had decided to divorce her secretly - so Joseph clearly loved her deeply. His rightful move would be public ridicule, letting everyone know of Mary’s indiscretions. But he didn’t want to do that to her. Needless to say Mary would have been viewed very poorly. So, from the brink of a nasty public divorce comes a marriage, a trip on a donkey (I’m sure that was a pleasant ride being in her last trimester.) and a birth-place filled with smelly animals. As is said often in real life, you couldn’t create a story like that if you tried. A fiction author dreaming that up would likely never find a publisher, but here we have the arrival of the Messiah and the continuation of the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Just to make things crazier, what about the Wise Men? (To be accurate, they would not have shown up until a few years later.) They jumped on camels, packed the best gifts they could come up with, and followed a star. I am sure those guys got some strange looks leaving town. Or what about the shepherds? In the middle of the night an angel appeared to them with a heavenly multitude, however many that is, and began praising God. Immediately they leave their sheep, which likely could have cost them their lives, and went to see what had happened. Upon finding Jesus just as the angel had foretold, they ran around town telling everyone they could find about the events of that night. I can now imagine the crowds gathering to see what the ruckus was all about.

I seriously doubt Jesus’ birth was as peaceful and quiet as our current day nativity scenes depict. While it may not have been a magnificent entrance, up to royal standards of that day, I’m sure it caused quite a stir that night, not to mention the effects that this birth has had on our history which brings us to the point of our lesson this week. Jesus’ impact then was on a divine level as it is today. What has that impact looked like for you? Was it a one-time event that took place when you were young and has seemingly fizzled out lately? Or is it something you experience everyday? Put yourself in Mary’s sandals, ladies. And guys, put yourself in Joseph’s sandals. How much faith had to be exhibited to bring this scene together? Are you an excited shepherd that was chosen to be a witness? Are you a wise man on a long journey to offer your gifts to the King? Or are you a passerby getting caught up in the excitement? Allow yourself some down times during this hectic Christmas season and just dream about that day over 2,000 years ago, and bring it into your life today.

What is this lesson teaching you this week? Share your thoughts and join the conversation! Thanks Sandy for your thoughts last week. That’s exactly what this blog is about - sharing our thoughts and strengthening our teaching efforts!