Christmas Troubles

We've all heard the Nativity Story many times before. We've seen it reenacted by Kindergartners, read it in children's books and the Bible, and it's been preached countless times in church. Yet somehow, we always just pass by or flip through this part of the Bible because, well, our excuse is we know it all too well already. We don't need to hear it again. We've already heard it countless times. We know it already... or do we?

As I reflect upon how Christ was born and what His parents had to go through before His birth, I am amazed at how God works so miraculously and how He truly guides and provides for His people. If we read the Nativity story from each of the Gospels and carefully understand it and read between the lines, we could easily conclude that Joseph and Mary went through tough times before, during, and after Christ's birth.

First of, never in a million lives has anybody heard of a virgin pregnancy. In modern times, it may seem like just some kind of excuse to get away with something the girl did wrong. I'm pretty sure Mary tried to explain to Joseph why she was pregnant, but of course, this was something pretty hard for Joseph to understand. I'm pretty sure it wasn't only Joseph that questioned Mary, but even his family, her family, and the whole village she stayed in! During these times, a woman who is pregnant before marriage should be stoned. I can honestly say that it is by God's grace Mary wasn't stoned! Also, God revealed His plan to Joseph and Joseph finally accepted Mary once again. Now this might have caused confusion among their people too. One day, Joseph was questioning Mary, the next day he's supporting her. The people might have thought that it was just a ruse or that the both of them were just acting. Maybe Joseph really was the father and he just acted angry for show. If they did tell them about the angels that spoke to them, there's only a small probability anyone would believe them! So even while Christ was in the womb, it was already hard for Mary and Joseph. Yet they were faithful and I believe they put their faith in God. They both knew He wouldn't let them down.

The next thing the couple had to endure was the travel. Mind you, they had no cars, planes, or air-con back then. I'm pretty sure it was blazing hot during the day and freezing cold at night. Imagine what Mary had to go through! Being pregnant and traveling - even in modern times- is hard. What more during those times! And Joseph had no time to take care of himself. Surely, he was always focused for the well-being of his wife and unborn child.

I like the scene in the movie "The Nativity Story" where Joseph and Mary were crossing a river and a snake almost bites Mary. This gives us a realistic picture of the dangers and obstacles the couple had to go through. They could have given up. They could have refused to go to Bethlehem. But by faith, they pressed on.

The couple was surely crushed to reach Bethlehem with no place to stay in. Imagine going through all the troubles and dangers, spending day and night in the blistering sun and the freezing cold, only to find themselves with no place to stay but a smelly stable! They could have been frustrated, they could have gotten angry, but no, they accepted what they had and in that humble stable the Savior of the World was born.

But their troubles didn't end there. Herod tried to kill the Baby and the couple had to make a quick get away. How do you do a quick get away with a new born baby!? In modern times the mother and child stay in the hospital for at least three days before going home. Mary and the baby Jesus had to travel to Egypt less than 24 hours of giving birth! Imagine how hard that is!

And even in the years that passed, I'm sure the family was still persecuted. Their neighbors must have frowned upon Jesus and the couple and might have talked behind their backs, labeling Jesus as a child conceived before wedlock.

And it was surely a hard time for Joseph. After all, he was human and he is a man. He had to wait for nine months, maybe even more, before he could physically show his love to Mary! He had to wait for almost a year!

And yet, even amidst all these troubles, dangers, and obstacles, Joseph and Mary remained faithful to God and in turn, He remained faithful to them and God's plan was fulfilled. This is why God's plan for salvation is so beautiful and awesome: nothing was able to stop it! Nothing was able to stop the humble couple and the baby because there was a big God watching over them!

Now God could've made it easy for Him. Why did He have to go through all this trouble of choosing a couple, traveling, and having a baby born in a manger when He could have just said it and it all came together?

Because in this way, God shows us how much He truly loves us. God went through all the trouble to show Mary, Joseph, and those now reading their story that He is faithful and that He loves us all.God was willing to go through all the trouble because He wants to prove He truly, deeply, cares for us and loves us.

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son..." Usually, we associate this with Jesus on the cross, but this covers His birth too! God gave us His Son, the baby in the manger, so that we will be reconciled with Him and no longer be bound by sin and death. God didn't love the Jews only. He didn't say He only loved Christians either. He loved the world - everybody. And imagine that, all that trouble - the criticism, the danger, the dirty looks shot at the couple - all of that was for you and me! If there is one great proof that God is a personal God, this would be it!

And so, as we celebrate Christ's birth today (or more specifically, at midnight), let us remember how much God loved us and how He showed His love through His Son: the Man that died on the cross and the Baby that lay on the manger. Let us not forget why there is "Christ" in "Christmas" and why that is its true name instead of the abbreviated "X'Mas". Let us remember that we are the reason Christ came to Earth and that He is the reason why we celebrate this holiday.

Have a very merry Christmas everybody. God bless!