We want to remember that all of the people we read about in the wonderful Biblical accounts are real people in a real world. Christmas is time for the beauty and joy of the wonderful event of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the point of His coming was to share in all the brokenness we face and to make atonement for the sins that have caused that brokenness. That reality is clearly seen at His birth.
Let’s think about Mary and Joseph and those around them. Joseph was a carpenter/stone mason as the trade was at the time. He was dependent upon the local economy of the time. It was a real pain in the neck to get a notice for a general census which meant he had to travel to his town of family origin, undoubtedly meaning higher taxes. And just betrothed to his wife-to-be trying to get their home ready for them.
Speaking of his betrothed, Mary, perhaps 16 or so, was thrilled at the view of her future with Joseph. Her mother had her beside her in the home since she was a toddler, learning all the homemaking skills, preparing for her own future home. And we remember it was all without running water, refrigeration, a four burner stove and oven. In many ways these first century people had a harder daily life then any of us have.
Mary, Joseph, and their families were faithful Jews, observing the Sabbath. When their father had agreed to their marriage. Their Rabbi conducted the betrothal service. The engagement was official.
Scripture tells us God sent His archangel Gabriel to announce to Mary that she would become pregnant with a child of the Holy Spirit. What a wonder and sense of awe Mary was left with in thinking about this encounter. She was trusting and didn’t doubt it’s truth. But it left her with a problem. How would Joseph take it? Would she have to give up all her wedding dreams? How would she tell Joseph? To be faithful to her Lord would she have to endure being a community outcast? The encounter with Gabriel was marvelous. She didn’t doubt it’s truth. She would certainly be faithful, but it left her with hours or days of tension, fears, and questions. This was real.
However the conversation went with Joseph, he was shocked. His Mary, unfaithful! Of course the wedding was off. He would divorce her quietly. How many hours of pain did Joseph go through before the angel assured him of Mary’s faithfulness, and the promise that was ahead for all mankind.? This was real.
Both Mary and Joseph were relieved now that their relationship could continue, but they still had to endure the town gossip and some shunning of a couple having relations before the marriage. This doesn’t mean anything to society today, but in a first century Jewish community it was simply not done. Maybe we should rethink it!
We haven’t even gotten to the five day journey on a donkey’s back for this teenage mother-to-be in her ninth month. Coming into an over crowded town with no reservation, refusal after refusal for lodging, and finally only a hillside cave stable available to get out of the elements when the birth pains began to come. Joseph was frantic. He was a carpenter. What did he know about delivering babies?
Yes, in God’s providence we can assume a kind innkeeper’s wife finding a midwife to help. This would be a God-send for Joseph even as he heard, with tears coming to his eyes, Mary’s real screams of delivery pain. Finally the baby boy was here, wrapped in cloths, laying close to Mary for warmth, and ready to nurse at his mother’s breast. Joseph had cleaned out one of the animals feed troughs, filling it with new straw as a makeshift crib. And contrary to the Christmas carol, the baby Jesus cried when he was hungry. This is no sin but the natural means of an infant express it’s need.
This could all be portrayed in a better and fuller means, but I’m simply trying to say that God entered into the lives of real people, in real situations, with very real anxiety, fear, pain, astonishment, excitement, joy, and all that we experience. All that is not shown in Christmas Card images. Yet all that Jesus came to share with you and me.
I called attention to this in my last Observation on the Incarnation, God becoming man. As we continue through this Christmas season don’t underestimate what this means. We see God above us and to a greater or lesser degree feel that He is removed from feeling our ills, physical or mental. But this word from St. John, and shown throughout Scripture, assures us that He really does feel and understand where we are and what we go through. He loves you. He did it for you. That is THE Christmas gift for all of us.
Have a very blessed celebration of this very real Christmas.
Pastor Stapf