The Christmas story is found in the New Testament in two gospels, and these passages are full of spiritual and historical insight. One historical aspect that is often discussed, especially among skeptics, is the timing of the census in Luke. Here are two rather brief articles that might be of interest to some of you: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/when-was-jesus-born-bc-or-ad/ and https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2014/did-luke-mess-up-on-the-timing-of-the-christmas-st. This year, two characteristics from the perspective of Mary and Joseph, seem to resonate more clearly; they were not wealthy, and it had been a strange few months for them.
We know from Luke 2:24 that Mary participated in religious piety at the lowest rung of the Law, the rung that allowed all economic levels to maintain access to the covenant. She and Joseph were thus financially poor members of society. Leviticus 12:8 prescribes that a new mother should offer a lamb as a sacrifice but provides two doves or pigeons as an alternative. The drop-off in monetary value between a lamb and two common birds is precipitous. Such difference of value is clear here in Niger where one could accidently run over a couple of birds with a car and probably face no consequences, but the driver who kills a lamb will certainly be held accountable. So, they were poor. Further, the area for animals was the quietest, calmest place especially during feast days. Their society was one that almost fully revolved around subsistence agriculture, with smaller animals sometimes passing through rooms of the home. Commoners like Mary and Joseph would not have felt any embarrassment or shame by sleeping next to warm livestock. Mary had probably spent countless nights near animals. Mary might have even felt more comfortable there than in a fancy building. Noteworthy is the amount of traveling that Mary and Joseph are doing. They had traveled to Bethlehem and then would need to travel to Jerusalem to the Temple. Making those journeys was surely not inexpensive, requiring caravan fees, food, supplies, and days absent from normal work. I wonder if Joseph had a running calculation in his head of his budget. I wonder if his heart thumped louder every time that he had to pay out a few coins. I wonder if there were ever a moment when Mary silently wished that she could simply be done with the chaos and go home to her parents, back to the peaceful way life had been. We often think of Bible characters, especially those we venerate, as being somehow greater than human. But they were as human as we are today. Did Mary and Joseph know?
It had been a strange few months for Mary and Joseph. Joseph had probably spent a year or more saving enough money and acquiring a home so that he could marry the woman he loved. Then, an angel visited Mary. Mary became pregnant. Joseph was innocent and planned to break their engagement quietly and respectfully. He must have been heartbroken. We don’t know if Mary had tried to explain to Joseph what she had experienced. In any case, an angel appeared to Joseph. Joseph jumped onboard with God’s plan and became Mary’s protector. It just so happened that the foreign empire that was ruling their land dictated that they make a trip. They surely had other things that they were worried about and could be doing. And, of course (this was before Murphy’s Law), Mary would give birth while away from home. Why didn’t Joseph leave Mary in Nazareth? Maybe he was required to appear with her. Maybe he didn’t want to be apart from her. Maybe taking her with him was his way to prove his love. Whatever the reason, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, probably in the housing compound of one of Joseph’s relatives (the word inn in Luke 2:7 is a very loose translation). As we read the rest of the story, we see that Mary and Joseph’s problems don’t decrease. On the contrary, they would later be forced to flee to Egypt.
Confusion, chaos, doubt, fear, and anxiety marked the arrival of Jesus on the earth and would mark his departure as well. And I think that God would have had it no other way. God understands the human experience. Did Mary and Joseph know… that their personal turmoil would lead to our personal redemption?
Recent Comments