Christmas: Jesus Birthday!

Today I’m going to share with you the true nativity. How it’s the focus of Christmas. In many nativity sets, animals like donkeys, camels, sheep and more are depicted. I want to share with you what the bible says and does not say about these creatures relating with the Christmas story.

I do have some favorite Christmas animals like polar bears, reindeer, rabbits, and chickadees. Some of my favorite Christmas movies have these animals in them. However, my focus is going to be on the animals of the nativity, and the reason Jesus came to this world.

Jesus loves all of His creation. People, made in his image, are definitely the most important. As Christians we have a relationship with Jesus. He showed His great love for us, we have a great love for Him, and share this love with others.

The donkey is often depicted in the nativity story. However, the bible does not say Mary rode on a donkey. The Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 70 to 80 miles. And since Mary was pregnant with Jesus, it does seem likely she would not have made the journey on foot.

In those days, the wealthier people would have used horses, camels, and wagons for traveling. Joseph was not a rich man, so he may have owned a donkey, or borrowed one for Mary to ride during that time. God only knows the answer on how Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. The most important thing is that God made sure to provide a way for them to arrive at their destination.

What is interesting, is that about 30 years later, Jesus did ride on the back of a donkey colt through the streets of Jerusalem. He rode it to show His humility to the people of Jerusalem. Pride not only ruins the relationship you have with the Lord, but with your friends and family. That is why like Jesus, we should be humble, loving and kind to others. It’s important to be aware of pride in our hearts and ask God to remove it from us quickly, so we can pass on humility to others.

The bible tells us that wise men followed a star to the city of Bethlehem. The popular belief is that there were three wise men on camels, because of the three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. The most assumed names of the wise men ( or magi ) were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, but the bible does not mention their names. The bible also doesn’t describe how many wise men were there, or if they rode on camels.

If they did cross open deserts covered in sand dunes, it’s very likely the camel may have been used, because they are designed with wide padded feet to prevent them from sinking in the sand. The most important thing is that they were truly wise men who followed and worshiped the Lord.

The only animals mentioned in the nativity story, were the flocks that the shepherds were watching on the night when Jesus was born. The Lord chose the shepherds to witness the birth of Jesus, and to preach it to the world, because of their humility.

It has always been thought that both the shepherds and wise men visited Jesus at His birth at the same time. This is actually false. It was the shepherds who first saw Jesus. After Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt (by God’s command) to escape the terror of king Herod’s army, they later on ( in a couple years) stayed at a house in Bethlehem, where the wise men found Jesus, Gave their gifts, and worshiped Him.

The nativity is extremely important because it shows how Jesus came into this world, and what the true meaning of Christmas really is all about. God sent Jesus to this world to save people from their sins. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin, and to show His great love to the world. Long before His birth, Prophets like Isaiah told that Christ’s birth and death would come. That is what has happened 2,000 years ago. And soon, He will come and rapture those who believe in Him and bring them home to Heaven. Jesus Christ’s second coming is prophesied in the book of Revelations. He will come as a Judge and set up The New Heaven and Earth.

Christmas is not about the presents under the tree, or the stockings that are hung. It’s about Jesus Himself ( God in the flesh). Born to save people from their sins. He showed His love to others, died for those who believe in Him, and rose from the dead.

Jesus is Knocking on your door right now, asking if you want Him in your life, because it says in Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” This means that if anyone deep down in their hearts, lets Jesus into their lives, they have a relationship. Jesus is asking you right now if you will accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and give your life to Him.

God bless you all, and have a Merry Christmas!

 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them”.

Luke 2:8-20