The greatest story ever

The Story of the Nativity captures our attention with its relentless realism. We are there. The men are scruffy, ill shaven, their robes sewn clumsily, the women are unglamorous, their homes hovels, they drink water from a well and broadcast seeds in their fields by hand. They live in constant apprehension of the next raid by Roman tax collecting soldiers. If you don’t pay your taxes, they take some of your land or they may take your daughter. It is a hard, hard life.

Life goes forward. Young Mary matures and her father chooses Joseph as her husband. She complies dutifully. The stipulation is that she is to remain with her own family for a year and then move in with Joseph’s family. In a scene in an olive grove, she is joined by a handsome, dark-haired Angel. She is told she will conceive a Son by the Holy Spirit and He will be the Savior of the world and she should name Him Jesus. The serenity of the scene between the angel and Mary is one of complete acceptance.

During this time, Mary makes a journey to visit Elizibeth. Zacharias is old, Elizibeth is well beyond childbearing years, but they have a son. The two women share an intimate moment as they place their hands on each other’s bellies and feel the babies move.

Mary returns to her village; her pregnancy is showing. Joseph feels betrayed. Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream and is assured God is in charge.

The village people want to stone Mary, but Joseph doesn’t allow it.

Of course, Herod plays his part in our drama, and decrees a male must journey to the place of his birth for the purpose of being counted. “I will make the journey with my husband.”

Joseph’s tender care of Mary on their long journey across the crusty desert, their meals over a bonfire, the shortage of food and the complete acceptance of circumstances at hand testifies to their increasing love for each other.

The Three Wisemen are the scholars of their day. They meet with Herod and his family and entourage on their trip to following the star. They let it slip a “king of kings” will be born. Herod like a sly fox begs to be advised of the birth, so he too can come and worship him. They promise to return, but go back on their word when it’s time to return.

Mary tells Joseph “It is time” and he searches frantically on the outskirts of Bethlehem and finally finds a manger. He makes Mary as comfortable as possible and the baby Jesus is born.

He is wrapped in swaddling clothes, and a cloth is laid beneath Him on straw. The wisemen arrive and offer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and for a brief while, all is serene. Then Herod begins his massacre of all male babies one year old. Joseph senses this and they rouse themselves and leave just in time and begin their journey to Egypt where they remain for four years.

Our “Merry Christmas” was fought for with real courage and fortitude by real people. Merry Christmas to each and every one of us.

Ron Walker can be reached at walkover@gmx.com