The Nativity: LUKE 2:1-7

Christmas is nearly upon us and therefore it’s time for people to send Christmas cards (does that still happen?!) and another Christmas goes by with the same nativity scenes in Church and on the cards. I’m sure you can picture it now.


A ramshackle stable in the middle of nowhere ✓
Snow ✓
Stars ✓
Furry farm animals ✓
An angel or three ✓
Jesus in a manger of straw ✓
A curious onlooking robin?! ✓
Mary dressed in blue - ✓


It is the image I’ve grown up seeing and therefore accepting as the image of 'The Christmas’ story. The west has hogged a particular view of what the nativity scene looks like, but unfortunately it is not faithful to a near east first century context. In this blog I want to set a few common misunderstandings around the Christmas story straight with the help of expert Kenneth Bailey.


The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]


One of the common understandings we have of the nativity is that Mary and Joseph didn’t have anywhere to stay in Bethlehem. In school productions I am sure we’re all familiar of a nasty hasty inn keeper squawking that the ‘inn’ was full. However, in a first century context, hospitality was incredibly important. Nothing would bring more shame than to turn away guests from your home, or not be able to host them. So, immediately the idea that Mary and Joseph were scurrying around trying to find somewhere to stay does not add up. Joseph was from the line of King David. Bailey (2008, p. 25) states “ In the Middle East, historical memories are long and the extended family, with its connection to its village of origin is important. In such a world a man like Joseph could have appeared in Bethlehem, and told people 'I am Joseph, son of Heli, Son of Matthat, the son of Levi' and most homes in town would be open to him." Within this culture the process of childbirth was sacred and there would have been specific processes to follow. Women would never go through something like this alone especially within a collectivist culture. Bethlehem was also not far from Elizabeth and Zechariah's home. So the slim chance Mary may had been alone, then surely they would have called upon Elizabeth. In an individualistic culture like ours it is important to consistently look back at Scripture to correct our views.


I gave my little fist sized heart to Jesus when I was four years old, the date: the 17th of November 1995. I grew up in an extremely close Christian home and my parents taught me a lot about what was right and wrong according to their own understanding of the Bible and knowledge of God’s character. Yet, nothing we read is set apart from our own narratives, our own stories. Everything we read is filtered through a lens. A lens that has been shaped by our upbringings, our culture, our media, and our own opinions. When I went off to Bible College, everything I knew- or thought I knew was deconstructed. So much of what I believed was wrapped up in the message my parents had taught me. It was painful, finding out for myself what faith was all about. I saw God differently, I see differently now. Despite, the pain and insecurity it brought up, part of becoming a believer is going back to the source and learning for yourself what the message is. Ah I feel a critique coming on. Rereading what I have written just highlights my western worldview, my very individualistic understanding...everything I have written is centred around my faith. Finding my own ‘understanding’. I guess that just stresses even more how important it is to go back to the pure source of God and his word. Which is made even more powerful and clear if read and dissected in community! Mary and Joseph were not alone either. They did not go through this experience alone or isolated.



2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]


So, was he actually born in a stable? The answer is no. Not the stable we think of. Firstly, let's address what an inn means in this context. It doesn’t mean a first century travelodge because the Ancient Greek for that is Pandocheion. Which is the word Luke uses to describe the place where the wounded man is taken to in the parable of the Good Samaritan. But rather Bailey states that in Ancient Greek the ‘inn’ used here translates to Katalyma which literally translates into ‘ a place to stay’ and can refer to any type of shelter. According to Luke’s use of the word, the Greek word is most likely referring to the upper room in the family house. As mentioned before within this context, hospitality and providing shelter to people was incredibly valued, so here it makes sense that there was no room in the guest room of the main house. Okay, so does this mean they were forced into the stable? No. As you can see by the diagram below. It was common for families to have a lower area off the main family room, where animals would be kept at night, to keep them safe and warm. This extra space would be used in the day and provide more space for the family. It is most probable that Jesus was born in that part of the house. Something that moves me with this image is that Jesus was born in a typical home. He was born into a particular context, a context that is not to be separated from him and we must try to understand it in this context too.








Now, who are the first people to visit Jesus? The shepherds. Shepherds were lowly people, those at the bottom of the social ladder and yet they are first at the manger. The angels explain that they will find Jesus WRAPPED in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Shepherds and peasants would do this with their new babies. Yet, here they were hearing that the long awaited Christ is appearing in the same way. This idea brings tears to my eyes. Jesus and his entrance into the world was one that was reaching those at the bottom of society and also those at the top...seen by the visit from the wise, with their gifts. Jesus came for all of humanity. His birth brought unity. His birth brought hope and meaning to the poor and the rich.

When I had the opportunity to study the Bible more and the importance of contextualisation it made me fall even more in love with Scripture and Jesus. When we read the scriptures with the lens of the time the significance of everything makes more sense. Yes, I cannot 'empathise' as much with it perhaps, but it makes reading it so much richer. So moving. Although, the image of the nativity scene in my head is not much changed, and it isn't necessarily a bad way of viewing it as it is, but it's important to be reminded of the dangers of misreading scripture, and reading things through western eyes that can cause us to stumble or misinterpret things.


If you want to find out more about the history of the nativity please check out Kenneth Bailey's book: Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (2008).

A lot of our misunderstanding of the nativity stems from a novel that was written 200 years after Jesus' birth called the 'Protevangelism of James.' The book was attacked as it was clear the writer had no idea about the geography of the Holy Land. Although I'd never heard of the book before now, it is crazy how influenced I have been by it. Read more about it in Bailey's book.