A Non-Traditional Christmas

          I love our wooden Nativity scene we bought in Israel. It is made of olive wood and we purchased it on Manger Street in Bethlehem. The street name is kind of cheesy, but it is easy to remember. It is a beautiful reminder of Jesus's miraculous birth.  

 

Our Pastor says the wise men do not belong in the Nativity scene because they arrived later, possibly two years later bringing their gifts to the child. But most people, including us, keep the wise men in the scene.

If we want to be factually accurate we wouldn’t have the wooden barn or the wooden manger either. Many parades and Christmas plays include Mary riding on a donkey, yet no donkey is mentioned in Luke 2 in the Bible. We celebrate His birth on December 25, but history tells us the Catholic church chose that date. December would have been too cold for shepherds to be sleeping out in the fields. It would have been too cold for Joseph and Mary, or anyone, to take a long journey. It is more likely Jesus was born in late September, during the annual Feast of Tabernacles, when it was more acceptable to travel such a long distance.

Our Nativity scene is wooden, yet traditionally mangers, or troughs where animals were fed, were cut of stone. Archaeologists have unearthed many stone troughs throughout Israel.

Stone manger in Israel.

 

Our daughter away in a manger.

Something new I learned recently is the Greek word for the term ‘inn’ (kataluma) is only used one other place in the Bible. The word means a “furnished, large upper story room inside a house.” On the last night of Jesus life, when He celebrated Passover with His disciples, He told them to find a kataluma, a large furnished upper room.

More than likely, Mary and Joseph traveled to his hometown of Bethlehem and stayed with relatives. But, because of the census, the house was crowded, and the kataluma was already filled with elderly or more important relatives. (Why they didn’t make room for a girl about to deliver a baby is still a mystery!) Mary and Joseph probably stayed underneath the kataluma, on the bottom level, where the animals stayed and were fed from stone troughs.

Do these new things I learned about the Christmas story ruin it for me? No, not at all. I love Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Savior. I think it is important to read the story from Luke 2, watch movies and plays to help us visualize that night, and display Nativity scenes to commemorate Christ’s birth.  

The facts of Jesus's birth are more marvelous than the traditions we hold. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of a virgin (Luke 1:31), just like it was predicted centuries before (Isaiah 7:14). He was born in Bethlehem and an angel announced his birth to shepherds. They found Him wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).

The truth is:

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever. (John 3:16 NLV)

Wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas with peace and joy!

Conflict at Christmas

          During the month of December 100,000 tourists flock to visit the little town of Bethlehem. 15,000 will visit on Christmas Eve alone. Our image of the birthplace of baby Jesus looks nothing like the reality. During the rest of the year, many tour groups, including ours, do not visit Bethlehem any more. Part of the reason is it is  controlled by the Palestinian Authority. 

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

 

The other reason we don’t take tour groups to Bethlehem is the main attraction, which is an old, ornate, church that commemorates the site where Jesus was born. It is called the Church of the Nativity, but it could more accurately be called the Church of Division. Three different religious groups own the church: the Greek Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and the Armenian Apostate. 

Brawl in church in Bethlehem

For decades they have been unable to unite and agree on how to best administer and restore the church. The 1,700-year-old church is in need of serious repairs. Each group cleans the parts they claim to own, but some things overlap, and none of the groups will let each other pass over their area. Every year there are brawls over who owns which alters, passageways and chandeliers. One time 100 priests fought each other with broomsticks.

As you walk into the cavernous church, you can sense the tension. It is cold, hard, dusty and dark. It bears zero resemblance to the simple cave and manger where the Bible says baby Jesus was born. In fact, it doesn’t remind you of Jesus at all.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Jesus was born to bring us peace; the peace that passes understanding, the peace of knowing our eternity will be in heaven, and peace on earth.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace 
with everyone.” Romans 12:18

As Believers, do our lives represent Jesus well? We don’t want our lives to look so ornately decorated with ‘stuff’ or activities, that there is no resemblance to Jesus. We don’t want our lives, conversations and attitudes to be so divisive that we never represent the Prince of Peace. Hopefully, our walk with the Lord is not cold and empty, but instead filled with Love and Joy. As Christ’s representatives to a world that is full of hate and hurts, let’s make sure we resemble Jesus more than the Church of Division the Nativity.

“By this everyone will know you are my disciples, 
if you love one another.” John 13:35

New Things I've Learned About Christmas

I remember standing on the Mount of Olives looking at the iconic view of the old city wall of Jerusalem. Our guide pointed out where there used to be a road leading into the now sealed gate, during Biblical times.

The people would enter this Eastern Gate (also called the Golden Gate) on their way to worship at the Temple. During the Jewish feast of Passover, the sacrificial lambs were herded down the road and through the gate, into the Temple area to be inspected before the sacrifice.

The lambs were raised from birth for this specific purpose; to be sacrificed as the payment for the sins of the people. The lambs were raised in a small community outside of Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. This area known for raising the lambs is mentioned several times throughout the Bible. It is the small community of Migdal Edar. The shepherds there were not ordinary shepherds. They were commissioned by the temple Rabbi’s to inspect and certify which lambs were without flaw, perfect. They were to let the flawed lambs go for ordinary purposes, but the perfect lambs they wrapped strips of cloth around, to save for the sacrificial offering at Passover.

The most famous time Migdal Edar is referenced, the name is not used. Given it’s purpose and proximity to Bethlehem, it is believed when the Angel Gabriel announced the birth of baby Jesus, it was to the shepherds at Migdal Edar.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:10-14

The shepherds who were raising and inspecting the Passover lambs were the first to be told about the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) They were the first to inspect, or admire, the final lamb that would be slain. (Revelation 5:12)

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, are we thinking about the holiday to come? Passover, or Resurrection Day. Do we think about how Jesus was born for the purpose of dying for the payment of our sins?  Christmas is not only a time to remember and admire the baby Jesus. It is also an invitation to bow to Him, as the Magi did.

This season when we see a nativity scene let’s remember Jesus came not only to be seen in the manger, but also to be followed. When baby Jesus grew up, his ministry was to call people to,

“Come, follow me.” Matthew 4:19

Prepping for Christmas

          The person who has inspired me the most to do this blogging thing is my friend Michele. She has a wonderful blog that she faithful posts at called Family, Faith and Fridays. For the month of December she is having friends guest blog about the The Gift of December. I am honored to write the opening post about Prepping our Hearts for Christmas.

Do you look forward to playing Christmas music and setting out Christmas decorations? A lot of work goes into planning, prepping, cooking, buying and wrapping to make Christmas a beautiful and fun holiday.

This year, I questioned if I plan and prepare for the right reason. Instead of spending all my time on the tasks of physically setting the stage for the big event, like Martha did. I need to sit and prepare my heart like Mary did, at the feet of Jesus.

In preparing our homes and our hearts for Christmas, I’ve made a short to-do list.
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Join Me at Family, Faith, and Fridays Blog

          The person who has inspired me the most to do this blogging thing is my friend Michele. She has a wonderful blog that she faithful posts at called Family, Faith and Fridays. For the month of December she is having friends guest blog about the The Gift of December. I am honored to write the opening post about Prepping our Hearts for Christmas.