Day 4: Marcia Ellen's 12 Days of Christmas

The Birth of Christ - Nazareth - 6BCE


Historians and Biblical scholars agree that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. In fact, they tend to believe that most of what's shown in the common natavity scene did not occur as shown. Well, if that's the case, what did take place on the momentous day that Christ was born?

It would be wise to remember that God went out of his way to bring Jesus into this world in a way that was not prestigious, not momentious. His Word gives us no date for a reason. Jesus was born to the most common of mankind, in the most common of situations.

In late Adar (early March), the warmer days were returning, but nights still held a crisp bite. The sheep were birthing, which meant the shepherds spent the cold nights in the fields surrounding Nazareth.

Old Naama slid into a chair and looked over at her assistant, Raz, already seated. "I thought we would have to walk to Jerusalem and back before she finally brought forth her child," Naama sighed.

Raz laughed. "She is a very young girl to be giving birth already. Strong for her age."

"And opinionated," added Naama. "Imagine telling me to hurry and get her into the mikveh. I suppose she didn't remember that I was her own midwife, and not so very long ago either."

"The young are always in a hurry, Naama. I didn't know that Joseph had so many friends. All that visiting wore the girl down. Imagine putting that small baby in a feeding trough."

"Joseph said he crafted it especially for that purpose. It was clean, as was the straw. If it hadn't of been, I would have said something. You must admit they are an odd pair."

"That they are, him being so much older and all. What did you think of the name they gave him at the briss?"

Naama thought for a moment. "You mean Jesus? Not so unusual. Didn't Mary say an angel told her to name him that?"

"Yes. Something about a dream."

"The girl has such an imagination. Joseph will have a time of it keeping that one to her chores."

They both laughed and got up to go out again.


And that was about it, people. No donkey. No cave. No bright star. No trip to Bethlehem. Just your typical Jewish birthing at Joseph's home. The trip, the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, the visit by the astrologers, the deaths of the innocents... those things all happened later, as much as two years later, if at all.

Now before you jump me. I'm not saying the Bible is lying concerning the birth of Jesus. Matthew and Luke wrote their accounts considerably after the death of Jesus. Both were well versed in Hebrew prophecy. I'm sure it was only a matter of crossing a few T's and dotting some I's.

To be on the fair side, there was also no Christmas tree, no evergreens, no mistletoe, no lights, no caroling, and no eggnog.

Yet it was upon this iffy, rather normal birthing experience that so much hoopla has been created since the year 350 or so. Go figure. Mayhaps the reason the scriptures are so ambiguous concerning the birth of Christ is because God knew what people would do with it if they knew the actual date. Certainly Jesus never decreed that his birth should be celebrated. And it wasn't at all important to Christians for over 300 years after he died. Only his death had meaning for them. And the wine and bread, of which he said, "Do this in remembrance of me."

But, it's all grown to be part of a celebration that would come to be called Christmas. Yet, you have to admit, Jesus was never really the reason for the season.

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