Knowing Jesus' Story

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Today's devotional is our special Christmas edition. In an effort to stay focused on meditating on the joyous birth of Jesus, there will be no accompanying health article. We pray today’s Christmas devotional is a blessing to you and your family. A very Merry Christmas to you from Holy Nutrition. ♥️

Do you feel no joy in the Christmas story?

Growing up in church as a child, I always had the story of Jesus’ birth in front of me. Though I acknowledged it as a miracle, and knew the typical few facts of the story, it didn’t move me spiritually.

Similar to the Jews and Gentiles of Jesus’ day, I was unimpressed with its details. Deep down, I was wanting a more triumphant entrance. Perhaps you’ve experienced the same in your own life.

But lean in! Once you begin seeking intimacy with Jesus Christ daily, every detail of His life on earth becomes a magnificent wonder, and even greater the life He lives through you each day.

Here are a few fascinating facts and observations that we don’t often think about when we recount the story of Jesus’ miraculous birth.

Elements From Jesus’ Birth Are Seen at His Death

1. The Birth Stable and the Tomb

   Jesus was born in a stable, which would have been a cave-like structure attached to a home. Unlike the free-standing barn image we see in nativity scenes, I think of the stable as looking similar to the stone cave-like tomb that Jesus was buried in after His death on the cross, which was offered by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19-41-42). In addition, Jesus was laid in a manger when born, which would have been a stone feeding trough for animals. My mind thinks of the similarity with Jesus’ body being laid on a rock table in the tomb, the Jewish burial custom of the day.

2. Swaddling Clothes and Death Clothes

   As a baby, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes (most likely linen), and laid in a manger (Luke 2:12). In death, Jesus wore “death clothes” or a burial sheet that perhaps would have been wrapped around Him, also made of linen (John 20:6-7).

3. Jesus Born In the Spring

   Luke 2:8 says that “shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.” This would have been a significant time of the year when shepherds spent the night watching their flock, specifically for pregnant sheep that may give birth. It’s also significant that these sacrificial lambs would have been used in the temple in nearby Jerusalem. The shepherds, who would have been considered the lowest of that society, were the first and only group to hear the Good News from God’s angels- not the religious elite, royalty, government officials, or soldiers (Luke 2:8-20). The greatest sacrificial lamb was born that night! It’s interesting to note, that Jesus’ death and resurrection would have been at Passover, typically celebrated in the spring, coinciding with the time the Passover lambs were sacrificed in the Temple. His birth, death, and resurrection took place in the same season.

4. Significance of the Gifts of the Magi

   Frankincense, gold, and myrrh were gifted to the baby Jesus by the Magi. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. These gifts were spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself- gold representing His kingship, frankincense a symbol of His priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of His death and embalming. Myrrh symbolized His future death and sacrifice, as it was known as an embalming spice and funeral perfume. 

   The Roman soldiers offered a wine mixed with myrrh as a mild painkiller or narcotic to Jesus as He died on the cross. Mark 15:23 says, “Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.” It would have not fulfilled prophecy had He accepted it (Psalm 69:21). 

A Few More Amazing Details

Who were the Magi? We know they came from the east (Matthew 2:1). They most likely came from Persia. They would have been from a priestly status that occupied itself with the secrets of nature, astrology, and medicine.

During the Babylonian exile of the Jews starting in 597 BC, and into the Persian conquest by Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, the prophet Daniel served faithfully in the Babylonian and Persian courts as an advisor and dream interpreter. Daniel 2:48 says: Then the king…made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.

Daniel would have spoken of the prophecies of the coming Messiah to these wise men, and it’s probable these prophecies continued to be handed down throughout the ages to future magi or wise men. Therefore, wise men who knew Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” or “Seventy Sevens” prophecy would have known when the Messiah would be born (the Anointed One). From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah would be 483 years. See Daniel 9:24-27.

What Would You Sacrifice? 

The Magi traveled far, approximately 800 miles over the course of several weeks, seeking to worship the Messiah, and bring their gifts to Him. They had no apparent interest for self-gain, power, or wealth in making their journey. It’s an unlikely and surprising group because commentaries don’t consider them Jews, God’s chosen people, but rather Gentiles. They knew some if not much of the Word of God as evidenced in their knowledge of the prophecies of the Old Testament. As astronomers and wise men of prophecy, they saw and decided to follow the great star mentioned in Numbers 24:17. They believed and had great faith- enough to saddle up a caravan, travel 800 miles, worship and bring gifts to a baby in a simple house with simple parents- not a royal palace or family.

Meanwhile, many Jews were in the same town and didn’t seek Him. The lowly shepherds were the first evangelists, for God’s Word says, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:17-18). It’s curious if anyone in town came to visit Jesus and worship Him on account of the shepherds spreading the news of His birth.

Call On Jesus

In this Christmas season, it’s easy to become stressed, exhausted, and slip into a spiritual dryness and depression. Christmas can be wonderful, and it can also be a great challenge for many. Despite what’s happening around and within, lean in to Jesus. He knows your pain, your frustration, your lonliness, and your feelings of inadequacies. Praise and worship Him wherever you are, thanking Him for leaving the splendors of heaven, coming to earth as a baby, and loving you enough to go to a cross to die and be raised back to life, so that you would never spend eternity without Him. Then, like the shepherds, evangelize the Good News of Jesus Christ to friends, family, and strangers. You may be the only one who gives them that life-saving gift.

And if this has resonated in your heart today, you can pray right now:

Lord Jesus, I come to you in a posture of humbleness and absolute surrender to you. I repent and ask for Your forgiveness for my sinful disobedience. Thank you for coming to earth as a sweet humble baby. May I keep my eyes on you during this Christmas season, and every day thereafter. I pray all of these things in your powerful and almighty name. Amen.

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