randolphrichards

Who we think are the major players may not be whom God wanted highlighted.

The Christmas story was an event of cosmic proportions, played out in the most unassuming of settings. Did God not know that a birth in Rome, or at least in the palace in Jerusalem, would have been more suitable for the “King of Kings”? Surely, God could have found a more suitable location than a suburb of a minor provincial capital in the backwaters of the Empire. It makes one wonder if God’s map of the world is different from ours! Did God not know that shepherds in Palestine were not considered reliable witnesses? Did God just happen upon them and invite them on a whim? Were they an afterthought or an impulse?

Oh, also let the innkeeper off the hook. First, the word likely means “guestroom” not “inn.” He was being kind to allow them to stay there. In any event, Mary would have been joined by aunts, female cousins and a family midwife (if there was one). It was not a sweet scene of just Mary and Joseph, in a lovely, wooden (European-style) stable. Most stables in that area were caves. Mangers (feeding troughs) were carved from stone. In any case, a humble beginning, unlike many modern images.

While we are at it. As protestants, let us not downplay the sacrifices of Mary. I don’t mean that she had to walk to Bethlehem (which she almost certainly did, because all but the ultra-wealthy walked everywhere), even though she was 9-months pregnant. She went with Joseph knowing delivery was imminent—ancients could count to nine. Why go? Because their families all went. If Joseph had to report, so did his brothers, uncles, etc. Likewise with Mary, her family was going. Thus, her support system was heading to Bethlehem, and she had to go as well. To be frank, Mary’s condition likely played no factor in the family’s planning. Caesar would have provided a window of time to report for the tax rolls. Caesar would not have wanted the entire Empire to uproot and travel on the same weekend. The extended family likely planned a time convenient for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem (such as Passover), since Bethlehem was only one day’s walk from Jerusalem. It was “unfortunate” for Mary that she was expecting at the time. On the other hand, probably whenever the journey was made, someone in the extended family would have been expecting. So, what was her sacrifice? At least one part was when she consented to bear the Christ-child (Lk 1:38). Let’s face it. No one believed her story, any more than you would believe your neighbor’s daughter if she used a similar story. The shadow over his parentage became well known. Over 30 years later, Jesus was cruelly ridiculed over it (Jn 8:41). Likely, people finally believed Mary’s story only after Jesus’ resurrection. She carried a heavy burden for nearly 40 years.

This part of the story can speak to us as well. It reminds us that God views people and the world differently than we do. We want to make “kings” the heroes (and heroes into kings). Shepherds seem “nice” (and we want to include them), but we tend to make them “extras” in the drama. Clearly, they are second-fiddle to the magi in our modern drama. I think God would reverse that. If we were rewriting Christmas, we would want to change the setting as well as the characters to make it all more royal.  

I suggest we let Jesus’ story encourage us. God likes the ordinary. He prefers shepherds and fishermen over princes and patrons. You may feel “forgotten” or “sidelined,” or that your life is being played out only on some minor stage. The Christmas Story suggests we take another perspective. While the world may not value who and where you are, God has different priorities!

Lastly, how shall we react to the Christmas news this year? He is still immanu-El. After the event, the magi “returned” (Mt. 2:12); likewise, the shepherds also “returned.” Life after Christmas always returns. Work, children, school, bills, all return, but the shepherds returned, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luk 2:20). As this Christmas comes and goes, how will we return after Christmas?

I wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases this year.