7 common mistakes about the nativity

We have all seen nativity scenes with angels and wise men on camels and baby Jesus in the manger. But there are many common mistakes and misconceptions in those nativity scenes. I don’t understand how or why these happened because the facts are even more exciting than fiction.

• The real story of Christmas: Unto us a child is born – There are lots of myths, fables, and traditions about Christmas, the first Noel, and the nativity. Here is the real, inspired account from the Bible.
• Joy to the world – It might be hard to have joy this season. Plagues ravage. Wars threaten. Disasters kill. Families battle. But Christians have eternal hope.

1. Joseph and Mary were betrothed

It was a scandal for Mary to be pregnant outside of wedlock, especially since she was betrothed to Joseph. Under the Mosaic Law, she would be guilty of adultery. (Deuteronomy 22:13-21)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. (Matthew 1:18-19 WEB)

2. Joseph and Mary were poor

Joseph and Mary had traveled a long way (a journey of several days on foot) from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census. They could not afford good lodging. But had to stay in dark and dirty stable. They could not afford the required sacrificial offering of a lamb for the first-born child, so they took the cheaper alternative of offering a turtledove. I think the best representation of this is the short video of The Shepherd — A story of the first Christmas

3. Mary offered a sin sacrifice

“‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of Meeting, a year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering. He shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her; then she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. “‘This is the law for her who bears, whether a male or a female. If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’” (Leviticus 12:6-8 WEB)

When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24 WEB)

4. The wise men knew the time when the Messiah would be born

The wise men, [a Magian, an (Oriental) astrologer, by implication a magician] were very careful in their calculations.

“Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. “Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times. (Daniel 9:24-25 WEB)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 WEB)

5. The wise men visited the child in the house, not the baby in manger

There have been many attempts to reconcile the accounts in Matthew and Luke with the typical nativity scene. But it is clear the wise men did not visit the stable to see a baby in a manger. Joseph and Mary had to stay in Bethlehem for 30 days after the birth to fulfil the various purifications, sacrifices, and offerings. During that time, the other pilgrims who had only come for the census, would have left. Then there would be plenty of room in the inn.

They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11 WEB)

6. There were three kinds of gifts, not three wise men

We are never told how many wise men there were, but we know they brought three kinds of gifts.

• Gold — a typical gift to kings or rulers (Psalm 72; Isaiah 60; 1 Kings 10)
• Frankincense — an expensive spice, which is used in the incense for temple worship (Exodus 30:34–38)
• Myrrh — ingredient in the holy anointing oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings (Exodus 30:22-33)

7. Herod had all baby boys two years and under killed

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18 WEB)