The Inaccurate Nativity

Your nativity set is Biblically inaccurate if you have three wisemen staring at Jesus in a manger. If you want to know why, it’s a long read, but here it is, a chronology of the earthly events of Jesus’ birth.

Many people are familiar with the Christmas story. The details are found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The story of Jesus’ birth is not found in Mark’s gospel nor are the earthly details of Jesus’ birth found in John’s gospel.

Starting with the first event: The angel Gabriel visited Mary and tells her that she will conceive and give birth to a son and name Him Jesus. Mary questions this proclamation since she is a virgin. Gabriel assures her that God can do anything and she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Once she was pregnant, her fiance, Joseph, learned of her pregnancy and decided to divorce her quietly so as not to humiliate her. In those days an engagement, referred to as a betrothal, was more formal than in our contemporary society. A betrothal required a divorce even though the marriage had not been consummated. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This would be a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah that a sign of the coming Messiah would be that a virgin would conceive. Joseph was probably familiar with this prophecy but had no idea he would be part of the story. So, Joseph changed his mind about divorcing Mary. (Good call, Joe. Just saying.)

Sometime after that Caesar Augustus decreed a census and all men—heads of households—had to return to their hometowns with their families and register for the census. Joseph took Mary and went to Bethlehem Ephrathah, a small town about a three hour walk from the Temple in Jerusalem. Keep in mind, Joseph and Mary were not coming from Jerusalem but from Nazareth. This would take about thirty hours of walking to Bethlehem and that’s not taking into account a pregnant woman in her third trimester.  

Once they arrived in Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Jesus. Because of the census there were no rooms available so Joseph and Mary ended up in a stable and Jesus’ first cradle was a manger, a feeding trough for animals.

Meanwhile, some local shepherds were watching over their flocks when an angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them about the birth of Jesus. They left the fields and went to the manger where Jesus was born, proclaimed the message they received from the angel, and then returned to their flocks.

Eight days later Jesus was circumcised as required by Jewish law. Once the period of purification passed—forty days following the birth of a boy—Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. Here they met Simeon, a righteous man who was promised that he would see Messiah before he died. When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God for the fulfillment of God's promise to him and His greater promise to Israel and all mankind. There was also a widow and prophetess, Anna, and she spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Israel’s Messiah.

What about the Magi, Wiseman from the east? After all, I did say if you have them staring at Jesus in your nativity set then your set is Biblically inaccurate. They are part of the story but there’s a little confusion about the timing of their visit. Some say the trip may have taken up to two years from the time of Jesus’ birth until they met Joseph, Mary and Jesus and presented them with the three gifts. Tradition and nativity sets have them in the stable staring at Jesus in the manger. Scripture tells us they found Joseph, Mary and Jesus in a house.

When they arrived in Israel, the Magi first encountered Herod in Jerusalem while they were looking for Jesus. Herod summoned the chief priests and the scribes and asked where Messiah was prophesied to be born. Bethlehem Eprathah, a few hours away, was the answer.

Herod asked the Magi when they first saw the star that started them on their journey. The answer to Herod’s question is found later in the narrative, two years before their arrival. Herod then sent the Magi to Bethlehem and told them to return to Jerusalem to tell him where the child was so he could go and worship this newborn king. He was lying. The Magi went to Bethlehem and followed the star that reappeared. They found Joseph, Mary and Jesus, in a house, no longer in a stable.

Joseph and Mary were forced to stay in the stable when they first arrived because of the census. Anyone that has ever tried to get last minute lodging in a town where a big event was taking place should understand why this was the case.  But, after each man and his family registered for the census they probably returned to where they were when the census was decreed; back to farms and businesses in towns other than Bethlehem. This would have opened up houses and lodges for Joseph, Mary and Jesus to relocate.

After their visit, the Magi were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod so they went to their home country using a different route. When Herod heard he was deceived he ordered the death of all male children two years old and under, the time he learned the Magi first saw the star that started them on their journey to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.

Before Herod ordered the massacre of all the male children in Bethlehem, Joseph was warned in a dream about Herod’s plan. Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt and did not return until after Herod’s death. When he did return he went back to Galilee.

The one certainty about the timing of the Magi’s visit is that it was not on the night of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was born in stable but the Magi visited Him in a house. It was most likely at least forty days after the birth of Jesus, plenty of time for Joseph and Mary to find better lodging. It could have been two years in keeping with the timing of when the Magi first saw the star and when they arrived in Jerusalem and met with Herod. I think this unlikely since after Jesus was presented in the Temple by Joseph and Mary, the scripture says, “When they completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. [Jesus] grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.” (Luke 2:39 HCSB) That seems more immediate to me than two years.

Herod had no way to know if Jesus was born two years before the Magi arrived in keeping with the timing of when they first saw the star. Nor could he know if Jesus was born two days, two weeks, or two months before the arrival of the Magi. Since he could not know he ordered the slaughter of all two year old males just to be thorough and make sure he did not miss the threat to his rule as self-proclaimed king of the Jews.

To sum up:

• Mary learned she was pregnant.
• Joseph was going to divorce her but changed his mind after an angel told him the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
• Caesar issued a decree that everyone register for a census.
• Joseph took a very pregnant Mary to Bethlehem. There were no rooms because of the census so Joseph and Mary stayed in a stable and Jesus was born there.
• The shepherds were visited by an angel and told of the birth of Jesus and went to see Him before returning to their flocks.
• Jesus is circumcised after eight days and then presented in the Temple after forty days and dedicated to the Lord in accordance with Jewish law.
• Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon and Anna prophecy about the birth of Messiah.
• Magi meet with Herod while looking for this newborn King. They proceed to Bethlehem after Herod consulted with experts in the law. They do not report the location of the child to Herod.
• Joseph is warned in a dream to flee since Herod seeks to kill the child. He leaves for Egypt.
• Herod learns he was deceived and orders the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem and his order is carried out.
• Herod dies and Joseph, Mary and Jesus return to Israel and settle in Galilee where Jesus is raised.

So now you can remove the three wisemen from your nativity set. Or not. They look nice and they represent a critical part of the story. Besides, Christmas decorations should not be the basis of what you believe or why you believe it. That’s why you have God’s written word.

The Prayers of Righteous Sinners

The Lord is far from the wicked,

but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:29

Critics of the Bible claim it is filled with contradictions. As an example they compare, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” against, “Turn the other cheek.” Some critics, and some non-critics alike, think the Bible presents two different gods; the God of the Old Testament—angry, vengeful and always “smiting” people; compared to the God of the New Testament—a gentle, loving and forgiving God named Jesus. Some like the former and some the latter. They want to pick a god who best suits their perceived needs just like Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights who prefers to pray to the baby-Jesus.

The passage above speaks of the prayer of a righteous person. But the Bible says there are no righteous people. If God hears the prayers of the righteous but stays far from the wicked, and if there are no righteous people, the only conclusion we can make is that God is not listening to anyone and that includes you and me.

That is unless you consider what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5:21 HCSB) 

Two things happen here. First, Jesus took on our sin and suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. Second, His righteousness was given to us. When we accept His mercy and appropriate His grace, we become the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, can we approach the throne of God clothed in righteousness and offer prayers that God will hear.

When you approach the throne of God it should be done in humility. Reflect on your sins and visualize the cross. Picture that moment when Jesus looked down and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) At that moment Jesus gave you the ability to put off your sinfulness and put on His righteousness. Now when you approach the throne of God and He sees you clothed in the righteousness of His Son, you can know that he hears your prayers since you are counted among the righteous and not the wicked. Grace and mercy; mercy and grace; these provide our unrestricted access to the throne of God and a listening ear. Oh how sweet it is to be able to speak to my Creator and Savior anytime I choose.

Wait on the Lord

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14 HCSB

Have you ever felt like giving up? Have you ever felt like just throwing in the towel? Have you ever been overcome with hopelessness? For some suicide is the ultimate expression of hopelessness but most people don't go to this extreme measure. And, believers are not exempt from feeling completely overwhelmed and hopeless.

Once again David gives us this song. There is disagreement among good biblical scholars as to what occasion predicated the writing of this song. The specific occasion is not really important. What is important is the layout of this song and the prayer of the heart that it conveys.

In the first three verses of this psalm David proclaims the faithfulness of God. He declares how God, in times of trouble and distress, is there for him. In verses 4-6 David speaks about what is most important to him in life; it is to have a personal relationship with God. Verses 7-10 show some level of anguish. He pleads with the Lord not to abandon him, not to ignore him. He begs the Lord to hear the cries of his heart. In verses 11 and 12 David expresses what is bothering him. David's enemies seek his destruction and David's hope is deliverance from his enemies by God's grace.  

David finishes the psalm with a declaration of unwavering faith. He will see the Lord's goodness during his lifetime. As believers we sometimes grow weary and may even think, “If only God would take me home now.” Regardless of the circumstances, David knows that he will not be abandoned nor will he have to take matters into his own hands. He will wait for the Lord, experience God's grace and mercy once again, and abide in a loving relationship with his Lord, Creator and Savior.

Amen!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 HCSB 

Will anyone say of you that you pray with passion? Perhaps you never pray in public so who can say whether or not you pray with passion. If you heard someone pray in public the way you pray in private, would you say of yourself that you pray with passion? The fourteenth verse of the nineteen Psalm is the “Amen!” to a passionate prayer of David. It is the final verse in this chapter. 

For those who like theological terms this Psalm is a cosmological argument for the existence of God. It’s a Psalm worth studying if you are interested in apologetics. Apologetics is a religious discipline that focuses on defending the faith through a systematic argument. Like a trial lawyer giving a closing argument, it is meant to be convincing and persuasive.

The study of apologetics is also a faith builder or a tool that can strengthen faith. Psalm 19 is a wonderful psalm of praise. If you’re having trouble praising God in your private prayer life, personalize this psalm.

The Psalmist looks at the physical realm: the moon and stars at night, the sun and clouds during the day; the certainty of natural things such as sunrise and sunset; events that can be seen by men and women and predicted with one-hundred percent certainty and accuracy. The exact laws of physics and nature proclaim with equal certainty that where there are laws there must be a Lawmaker.

This proclamation serves as a springboard into God's Law. Since a Lawmaker must exist to create the physical laws of nature the question becomes did this Lawmaker make other laws? The answer is an obvious yes.

The psalmist declares that the Lawmaker is God and His law is perfect. His law is not an oppressive law but is a law of freedom, protecting us from harm and leading us into a life of eternal safety and abundant joy. The law of God should not be avoided so we can chase our own selfish desires. The law of God should be pursued as having more value than all the precious metals of the world; more valuable than the largest diamond; and more desirable than anything our flesh craves.

The law points out our unintentional sins and reveals to our hearts our hidden faults. The psalmist writes, “Moreover…”. He asks God to keep him from willful sins, the sins that carry the greatest weight of guilt and shame. These sins cause us to lie denying these sins. If what we do brings shame, embarrassment, and a felt need to lie and deny, then truly these acts are sinful. Our own hearts, our own consciences convict us of our acts and of our lies.

But the psalmist ends with hope. To seek God’s law is to seek obedience. To desire God’s law shows a desire to do what is right and live a life that glorifies God. As the psalmist concludes his prayer, he proclaims, “Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion.”

Then comes the Amen! The psalmist wants more than praying just to say that he prayed. The psalmist asks, in his final, passionate ending to his prayer, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

May our prayers be as passionate. May our hearts be as pure. May our Lord be glorified in every word, every thought, and every deed.

Don't Get Stuck in an Old Context

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?

Matthew 13:54-58

People are known in context. How you first encounter someone when you meet them is how you identify them. A uniformed police officer, firefighter, service member, will catch us off guard if we happen to see them wearing something other than their respective uniform. A pastor who wears a suit to preach will look a bit different if you encounter him at the grocery store wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

This becomes very apparent when accomplished professionals return to where they grew up. Childhood friends, acquaintances, and especially family can only see us for who we were and not what we’ve become. No matter how much you’ve accomplished, no matter how much education you have or how many professional credentials you’ve secured, you will always be seen as who you were when they knew you.

Such was the case for Jesus when He returned to His hometown of Nazareth. There are two occasions of His return to Nazareth recorded in scripture. In the first instance He returned alone (Luke 4:16-30). He entered the synagogue and taught from the Isaiah scroll. The people were enraged and tried to kill Him. Obviously they failed.

The second time He returned to Nazareth He went with His disciples. Prior to His return He performed many miracles and taught with great authority wherever He went. When He taught in the synagogue the people could not see Him as the promised Messiah. They saw Him as, “the carpenter’s son.”

Two-thousand years later we should all know Jesus in the context of being the Son of God. He is God incarnate (God in human flesh), fully God and fully human. The historicity of Christ is indisputable.  Yet people take Him out of context. Some say He was a great man and a great teacher but not God. Some say He was just a man, a man they admire because He was willing to die for something that He believed in but He was not God. Others see Him as a fictional character denying He ever existed and ignoring the mountains of evidence that support His existence and His claims.

How do you see Him? In what context? Is He someone that your parents worshipped? Is He the God of Christianity; a God to a building filled with hypocrites who are weak and need a fairytale to hang on to to give their lives meaning? Or, is He, “The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.”? Is He your Lord and Savior? Your hope of salvation? He is God, but is He your God? Your eternal destiny hangs on this very question.

Don't Sink

"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." 

(Rom 12:2 HCSB)

I once heard the Christian life is analogous to a boat. In order for a boat to serve its intended purpose, it must be in the water. However, if the water gets into the boat, then the boat will sink. Likewise, a Christian must be in the world but if the world gets into the Christian, he or she will sink. Unlike boats today that can fill with water and sink to the edges but remain afloat, in Biblical times a boat that sank suffered destruction.

It is so easy to get distracted by the things of this world and this current age--especially if you live in a developed nation. We live in homes that are heated in the winter, cooled in the summer, we have hot and cold running water, refrigerators and pantries that are stocked with food, entertainment to fill our time, and a host of other luxuries that have become necessities. There is nothing wrong with having nice things and living in comfort unless these things take primacy over our relationship with God.

When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome, the Roman Empire was the world superpower and the city of Rome was the capital of this empire. The Romans were polytheistic, believing in and worshipping many different Gods. The Jews had been expelled from Rome and for a Jew to remain in Rome put him at great risk. Moreover, Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism by some and a new religion by others. Its message of love was contrary to the culture. To be in that world meant risking your life unless you compromised and conformed to that age.

Today Christianity is increasingly becoming seen as a religion of intolerance and there are efforts to expel it from our culture. In order to be liked, Christians, and the church, are tempted to compromise convictions. This compromise is sometimes packaged as an outreach strategy. Its proponents employ compromise so as not to alienate non-believers within their spheres of influence. After all, God loves them and wants them to be happy. They have allowed the water to fill the boat.

The other side of the coin is developing a fortress mentality. The church becomes the fortress located within hostile territory. We close the gates and post guards to keep invaders out and protect what is within. We stand on the bulwark of our fortress, point our fingers at those outside the fort and shout, "You all stand condemned and you're all going to hell!" There is no danger of the boat filling with water since the boat has been taken out of the water. The boat is dry docked.

The individual members of the church must avoid conforming to this age, getting caught in the trappings of modern comfort, giving primacy to these “things” over God. The individual members must also renew their minds. The church must avoid compromise in order to become or remain relevant and accepted by the world. The Greek word used for renewal is anakainōsis which can be translated as, “a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.” BLB (Emphasis added)

With the renewal of the mind, we develop a stronger relationship with Christ and learn His, “good, pleasing and perfect will.” We change for the better by accepting, demonstrating and sharing the love of God. The church becomes the boat that offers rescue to those drowning in sin.

By the way, God never commanded us to be happy. He commands us to be holy. In holiness we find joy in all circumstances.

Naked Before God

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. … The LORD God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.” (Gen 3:7, 21)

I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “God’s original plan was a couple of naked vegetarians living in a garden.” I thought it was funny then and I still do. But, it also brings up some provoking thoughts about clothing.

In this passage, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge. Before this act of disobedience the Bible tells us that, “Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.” (Gen 2:25) 

In reading these passages I always considered the obvious; the shame Adam and Eve felt over their physical nakedness they now realized. But there is a greater nakedness to be considered.

First, the clothing that God provided was made out of skins. The skin had to be that of an animal which means an animal had to be sacrificed. Animal sacrifice in any religion is disturbing to many people. It was not part of God’s original plan. The sacrifice was a constant reminder that with sin comes death. It can be our death or the vicarious death of a substitute sacrifice. The ultimate vicarious sacrifice is Jesus Christ.

Second, being naked and exposed means there is nothing hidden. Earthly garments can hide our physical nakedness from other people but it cannot hide our sin from God. Adam and Eve tried it but it failed. But God can and will clothe us in righteousness. Our sins will be covered with garments of righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 5:21)

Throughout scripture, nakedness is used to describe our sins and how they are exposed before God. We can hide nothing from Him. Hebrews 4:13 reads in part, “All things are naked and exposed to [God] to whom we must give an account.”

But just as God clothed Adam and Eve from their physical nakedness, He also clothed them—and us—with His righteousness so that we do not need to feel any shame.

“I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, ... ”. (Isaiah 61:10) 

“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.” (Rev 3:18)

The idea of being found in public physically naked and exposed is fearful. The greater fear should be finding ourselves spiritually naked before God with our sins, our shameful nakedness, being exposed. But the righteousness of Christ is offered to us as a gift from God. It brings with it eternal life and heavenly garments that clothe us in righteousness that we shall no longer fear exposure. This clothing is impermeable and eternal. 

How shall you chose? Remain naked and exposed before God? Or, clothe yourself in His righteousness? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Being Honest with God

Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me;

lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139:23-24 (HCSB)

There is danger in praying this Psalm. Asking the omniscient God to search and know our hearts is very dangerous.

First, God does not need to search our hearts. He knows every thought, every deed, every hurt, every joy, and the truth behind every lie. When we ask God to search our heart the Holy Spirit will engage in His ministry of conviction. What God already knows will be revealed to us in our minds, in our hearts, and cut to the very depths of our soul.

Why would God engage in such a painful ministry to us? To give us the opportunity to confess, repent, and allow the blood of Christ to cleanse of us of all that is impure.

The psalmist also asks God to test us and know our concerns. These concerns might be guilt (a tool of the enemy) or conviction (the ministry of the Holy Spirit). These might be genuine concerns for the well being of others. He may lay a burden on our hearts for those areas where He is calling us (you!) to engage in ministry.

“See if there is any offensive way in me;” Another way to translate this is, “See if there is any idolatrous way in me.” (emphasis added) What am I putting before God? Is He my Lord? Or, am I still a slave to a besetting sin?

Finally, the petition. “Lead me in the everlasting way.” The psalmist is saying he wants to surrender all of his life to Jesus Christ. He wants to examine his life--including his time--and see how he can better serve the Lord. He wants the Lord's way; not his own way.

The psalmist is being open, honest and candid with God. He is saying, “Reveal to me all my wickedness that I might confess my sins to You, repent of these sins, and be washed with the blood of Christ. May I inherit the righteousness of Christ that was given to me on Calvary’s Cross, by mercy and grace, through faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Now you’re ready. Let the battle begin!