Nativity (Part 1)

 Have you ever watched the "The Nativity Story" movie? Have you ever compared it to what the Bible tells us really happened?

I challenge you to watch the movie and make a list of all the things they got wrong in the movie… I will post a follow up entry with my list, but I want to see how many you can find on your own first... You can borrow the movie from the library, or watch it online: Click Here.

This past Christmas I read the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke. As I was reading I began to wonder what it would have really been like... What did Mary really think of Joseph? How old was she really? Did she just get up in the middle of the night and listen to her husband when he said they needed to flee to Egypt, or was she second guessing him, asking him why, hating every step in the opposite direction of their previous home? How much say did the woman really have? How did Joseph treat her? Was he the one to deliver the baby? Did she do it on her own? Did she really walk all the way to Bethlehem? 

As you can tell, I am somewhat of a romantic, so that is kinda how my questions are leaning. I know there are supposed answers, but the Bible doesn't say she road on a donkey... The Bible doesn't say she was in labor when they got there almost ready to give birth... The Bible doesn't say there were only three kings/wise-men or that Mary was or wasn't there when Elizabeth gave birth... A lot of the things we have been taught or have seen while growing up are just assumptions... What do we really know about the birth of Jesus?

Read Matthew 1:16-2:23 and Luke 1:1-45, 56-66, 80-2:21 to find out.

Let me know what differences you've found. I'm eager to hear them.

Blessings! 

~ S*