Good morning on this Saturday, December 12th. In today's blog I'd like to correct some misperceptions about the Christmas story as it is commonly represented. Here are some interesting facts about Christmas:
(1) We do not know if Mary traveled to Bethlehem on a donkey, she may have ridden in a cart.
(2) Jesus was probably not born in a shelter as is commonly depicted in the Nativity scene. Animals were often housed in caves and there is a good chance that Jesus was born in one among the animals housed there.
(3) The tradition that Jesus did not cry as a baby is a legend popularized by the song, "Away in a Manger," where the lyrics say, The cattle are lowing; The poor baby wakes; But little Lord Jesus ; No crying he makes. Nowhere does it say that in Scripture.
(4) The three Magi (Wise Men) came to the Nativity. First we don't know how many Wise Men there were. The number three came from the number of three gifts they brought, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There may have been two, three, or many more who came, and they did not come to the Nativity scene, but arrived later and saw the YOUNG CHILD at the HOUSE.
(5) We do not know the exact date of Christ's birth. Although we have celebrated Christmas for many years on December 25th, most likely He was actually born on another date.
Though tradition has taken some liberty with the facts surrounding Christ's birth, the true facts of His birth fulfilled many prophecies of the Old Testament exactly as they predicted hundreds of years before.
Tomorrow's sermon is a Christmas message entitled, The Cast of Characters, which will be introduced with a drama called, "Change of Heart."
I hope to see you there.
Mel Brown