I’m keeping it simple today, just as it should be.
We all enjoy this event differently. For some it’s a nice family dinner, a church service; others it’s chasing last minute gifts for the wife. Some even prefer quiet solitude and reflection. I’ll be up for all of these.
What’s important in this story? All of it. I can’t possibly get into every detail, but I’ll leave you with the setting.
It’s clear this was a human endeavor. There were no kings, priests, crowds. The event was quiet, maybe too quiet inside where the birth took place. There is no doubt, however, that traditional events surrounding any childbirth occurred. An expectant mother and father. The waiting, pain, stress, fear, relief, awe. These must have all happened and let’s be happy that this is so. Otherwise, we couldn’t begin to be aligned in the miracle of any child born into a family, let alone Jesus.
In attendance, according to our best and most precise descriptions, are Joseph and Mary inside the grotto/animal shelter. Outside, some distance away, are some shepherds. At some point the shepherds will witness the Angel of the Lord followed by a “great company of the Heavenly Host”. No doubt God and Heaven are excited— of course it’s party time consider all that fell into place to make it happen!! You don’t have to be certain about angels or even a bunch of them, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say something big and completely unusual happened (I do believe if you want to know).
Despite popular belief, the Magi come weeks or months later and I’ll cover that down the road.
I like to think this event was quiet in the grotto so as not to overwhelm the baby, Joseph, and Mary who were dealing with enough. Other than the normal birthing shenanigans, it was probably normal— or compared to our modern standards today, extremely difficult, highly stressful, and as dangerous as it gets. The wild events happened outside somewhere…. as you will see below.
I’ll leave you with two videos to ponder. I hope you’ll be entertained, laugh, and maybe even cry. Enjoy them! For those of you that are new to this email go to this link for some past devotionals.
…and Happy Early Birthday Jesus— tonight we celebrate the whole lot involved but will dedicate all day on the 25th for you! I’ll light a candle and sing a song for you. Joyous day!!
I’ll will also give you this before I go tonight:
Jesus didn’t come wrapped in power. He came wrapped in vulnerability. God shows up where life is ordinary, cramped, and imperfect. Then just as it is now.
