A thought occurred to me while reading On This Holy Night a few weeks ago. It's something that has stuck with me ever since, and I felt inclined to share.
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Nativity scenes. We see them everywhere during this time of year. Hearths, chimneys, coffee tables, kitchen counters, front lawns, street corners. Anywhere from fit-in-your-pocket tiny to life-sized large, you can find imitations of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, sheep, donkey, camels... the whole Christmas cast, right?
Now, let's further consider how they usually look. Are their appearances true to their roles in the true Biblical story of Christ's entry to the world?
Mary is usually depicted as beautiful, innocent, serene, contented, almost angelic. Almost always wears blue while kneeling beside the manger. She typically does not look like a woman who just gave birth. Joseph, the strong, handsome husband, often holding a light over Mary and also looking perfectly content. The manger looks cleaner than any feeding troughs I've ever seen. Perfectly clean hay. Perfectly clean Baby.
(Sometimes the Christ Child even has a halo or a glow of golden glory around Him. Sorry, people, but the Bible doesn't mention this. He was the fully and totally God, clothed in fleshly humanity!)
For the sake of not boring y'all, I won't even get off on the shepherds... But overall, it's what one might call pretty, isn't it? Visually appealing. Nice to look at.
But...what if nativities shouldn't be pretty? What if that's the whole point?
What if—in our self-focused drive to make Christmas more appealing, more trendy, more comfortable—we lost the very thing that gives the story power?
Mary and Joseph were completely human. Was God with them? Yes. Absolutely. 100%. But that doesn't mean they weren't scared. Gosh, I can't even imagine how scared they were. Not only were they tasked with raising the Son of God in their own home, but who was going to believe their story? It's common for new parents to be scared and apprehensive of what's to come. How much more were the couple in our nativity scenes burdened by what the future may hold for the two of them and their child?
It's my belief that we make nativity scenes pretty because we don't enjoy looking at ugliness. Dirty, ugly, marred things (and people) make us uncomfortable. We want to view, be around, and associate ourselves with pretty things and homes, put-together people and flawless relationships.
We. Don't. Like. Ugly.
But we should.
Jesus did.
Jesus loved ugly, dirty people.
Jesus died for dirty, ugly me and dirty, ugly you.
He didn't enter this world because we were good enough for Him.
He came because we are ugly and dirty and need saving.
He didn't come because we deserve it.
He came because He loves us and wants better for us.
He didn't come because He needs us.
He came because we need Him.
When we beautify the nativity scene and story, we take away the power of the story.
Holy, sinless, life-giving Savior chooses to come and dwell among broken, sinful, depraved humanity.
Nativity scenes shouldn't be pretty. They should be dirty, because that's the whole point of the story.
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(Little issue with the blog this morning, but all is running well now. :) )
|| 12 Days of Christmas
7 Favourite Christmas Covers @ Little Blossoms for Jesus
12 Days of Christmas — Day Six @ Soldier Girl Stories
Christmas Decorations @ RebekahAshleigh
Christmas Story, Expected End Pt.4 @ Life of Heritage
Christmas Traditions @ Faith on the Farm
It's Christmas Time! Tag @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures
My Favorite Christmas Movies @ Reviews from the Stacks
“A Police Force for Christmas” by Rebekah A. Morris @ Old-Fashioned Book Love
Proof of Your Love @ Angela Watts, Author
Okay so while we're at it younger Kass learned there were probably more than three wise men and it never says what they rode if anything and played 500 wise men on not near that many toy horses for weeks X'D for real though this is so good...
ReplyDeletexD xD I love that. And yes, I guess we assume three wise men because there was three gifts?? But honestly it doesn't say... we don't know how many shepherds there were either. Personally, I think there were many of them. :)
DeleteI love this. Such a good reminder. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, girlie <33
DeleteWow 😯
ReplyDeleteThought provoking Faith!!!
<333
DeleteInteresting point, Faith.
ReplyDelete<3 :)
DeleteAhhhh, girl, this post is SOOOO good.
ReplyDeletethank youuuuu <33
DeleteI rly liked this post, faith!! Bc it rly is so true, the very thing we try to run from (our own dirtiness) is the very thing that Jesus ran to in order to save us. What powerful love!! I’m also glad that you touched on how the nativity scene most of us picture around this time of year has been changed so much to suit the world’s standards. Oftentimes we get wrapped up in how the story has always been told that we forget to do research in the Bible for how it really was. A very real story that can’t possibly be tied up with a little red and green bow. That’s something that has been on my mind this Christmas season. Anyway, thx so much for these words! <3
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, YES. The story isn't meant to be pretty and comforting—that's the entire point. We take away the power of the story when we try to clean up the dirtiness on our own.
DeleteAgree so much, girlie. Thanks <33
Amen!!!! Love this, I completely agree!!
ReplyDelete<33
DeleteThis post is great, Faith! <3
ReplyDeletethanks, luv <3
Delete