December 24, 2015

“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1 – 7

There was no place in the Inn, but that does not mean that Mary and Joseph were relegated to a cave, or someplace out in the barren lands outside of town as contemporary art would suggest. Joseph was returning to his hometown region. He would have been known by the people. Mary was “heavy with child” – a pregnant woman was not someone the locals would have abandoned to a lonely birth, without assistance, in a cave. Most likely Mary and Joseph were ushered into an adjacent room in someone’s home. There were adjacent rooms used by animals when the winter time came. The animals were not relegated to the outdoors, they were moved inside so they could help with warmth, and where they were protected from the elements, and from predators. Why would we assume that if the animals were treated with care, that Mary and Joseph were not also treated with care? And knowing this does not make the birth story any less amazing. Jesus was still born surrounded by animals, away from their home, born into the earthy, human condition we are all born into.

No matter the situation in which Jesus was born, the spectacular event is marked in time and celebrated once a year – the spectacular event of G-d coming to be with humans, in the human condition. He did not come in the manner of a king, or a prince, or like some other royalty – he was born into ever day life, to every day parents, to live an every day life.

Take time tomorrow, in the midst of the world saying “Thank you Santa Claus”, to thank G-d for the blessings you have, for the challenges you face, and the people who need your love and grace modeled on the grace of G-d.

Pastor Dave