Nativity of Christ

The English word “nativity” comes from the Latin word “nativitas,” which means “birth.” A Nativity scene is a snapshot representation of the night in which Jesus Christ was born, including the little baby Jesus in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, along with His mother Mary, step-father Joseph, shepherds, animals, angels, the wise men and the star overhead.

While the Nativity scene is a religious tradition going back to the 1200’s in Europe, and derives from the accounts in Matthew 2 and Luke 2, the scene is not entirely accurate. Not all the people in Nativity scene came to see the baby Jesus on the same night He was born. The wise men did not actually arrive to see Jesus for more than a year later when Jesus’ family was living in a house (Matthew 2:11). The Bible does not mention whether or not animals were present that night. The shepherds seem to have left their flocks to go and worship the newborn King (Luke 2:16). Also, the angels told the shepherds the good news of Christ’s birth, but the Bible does not say they were present at the birth location either.

Despite these discrepancies, the Nativity scene is still a wonderful reminder of what happened the night Jesus was born. The story begins more than 2,000 years ago with a woman named Mary, who lived in the town of Nazareth was betrothed to a man named Joseph. One day out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would become pregnant. Luke 1:31-33 describes what Gabriel said, 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” This child was the very Son of God, Who was divine and destined to be the King of Israel. This was the Messiah, who was predicted in the Old Testament to come and set up His Kingdom on earth as the regal, royal One Who would rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).  

For the first and only time, a mother was pregnant with a baby, without a father. This was a miracle conception. The Son of God took on human flesh in the womb of Mary (John 1:14). It is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened. Gabriel also told Joseph how incredibly important Jesus would be. Gabriel said in Matthew 1:21, And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. There is nothing more important to humans than this event. For if Christ was not born through the Virgin Mary, humanity would be lost in sin and headed for eternal doom. There is no way to calculate the importance of the birth of Christ. Because of it we can be saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Because of it we can have our sins washed away (Colossians 2:13). Because of it we can enter the presence of God in heaven one day (1 Peter 3:18).

The story of Christmas is the greatest story ever told. It may be a familiar story, but it is a true story that must be remembered all year long. Humanity needed a Savior and so God sent a Savior to into the world (1 John 4:14). That is why Christ came. That little precious baby born in the straw 2,000 years ago is the One God said would come, the One Who came to die for sins and rise again and the One Who is coming again.