Naivety of the Nativity

Beginning with the birth of Christ, one cannot help but picture the serene greeting card Nativity scene that has become the normal depiction of the circumstances behind first-century obstetrics. Unfortunately, this was indeed not the case with Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph. For the sake of decency, we allow ourselves to be completely naive and oblivious to the truth behind Christ's entering the mortal world. Mary, being young (speculated as being in her early teens), put herself under great scrutiny and ridicule by volunteering her body to conceive what, in the eyes of the early Jewish community and by today's standards, would be an illegitimate child. Unlike today's norm, this acceptance, then, could bring an early and untimely death for young Mary. It would be correct to say that Mary was the first to accept Christ. How cool is that? Secondly, there is Joseph. In my opinion, Joseph probably had to defend the honor of his family until either his death or that of his adopted Son. First was the humiliation and feelings of doubt in the trustworthiness of his future bride. Secondly was his consent to remain betrothed to Mary, though facing the shame of a pregnancy that could not be explained.

When the census came around and the journey to Bethlehem was necessary, Joseph did not have to bring Mary, especially in her fragile, pre-delivery state. It was probably necessary , however, to get Mary away from the small town way of life that was so stricken with controversy.

So after nine months of awkward explanations, our Savior was born under the most humiliating of circumstances possible as if to change the preconceived concept of favoritism. From the beginning, as it would seem, Christ had not been dealt the best of hands. Born into poverty, later a refugee out of Egypt speaking the trader's language of Aramaic, it seemed very unlikely that this was the Messiah the Jewish race had been waiting for as prophesied by those of the days of old. But He was!

So as you busy yourselves with the labors of the Christmas season, don't simply remember a manger scene. Fast-forward 33 years to the reason why He came. To die on a cross. To forgive me. To forgive you. Remember His gift of atonement; His blood. Remember the cross.