It Should Have Been Delightful - A Nativity Story

Lars and Marge Antisdel built a huge nativity display in their yard every year for Christmas – and not one of those cheap plastic sets with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus either. They went all out. Their nativity scene included the Holy Family, of course, but they also had sheep and a shaggy donkey, and scruffy shepherds, and singing angels, all crafted out of durable resin in Italy. And Lars had them displayed in a crèche he’d built from distressed lumber and dressed with hay. The whole scene was especially beautiful at night, illuminated as it was with carefully arranged spotlights that gave Jesus, Mary, and Joseph nimbuses of light around their heads like soft haloes of glory. They even hid small speakers in the manger so that folks who drove by could listen to string arrangements of “O Holy Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and other Christmas hymns.

The Antisdel display had been featured on the front page of the local paper. The Herald Examiner sent out a photographer and a reporter for an interview with Lars and Marge. “Come to Bethlehem and See” was the headline of the article.

But this year their display left me disappointed, as beautiful as it was. And this year they’d even added a trio of Wise Men on camels far to the side of the manger scene. It should have been delightful. But it all left me sad because also in their yard was one of those yard signs with the flag of the United States in blue, black, and white and the words: SUPPORT OUR POLICE.

I can’t look at the Antisdel’s display without thinking of Herod’s troops, dispatched to slaughter the children of Bethlehem. I can’t look at the Antisdel’s display without hearing Rachel weeping for her children; she would not be comforted because they are not.

 

Hidden Nativity

 Ordinarily I am insistent about one holiday at a time. I'm frustrated and irritated when I see Christmas decorations in stores before Halloween, but... 

I spotted this Hidden Nativity this morning while I was out walking in the rain and it gladdened my irritable little heart, so I took a picture of it. 

El Caganer - My Favorite Character in the Nativity Set

It's still Christmas - and don't you forget it.  Christmas until Epiphany (at least.  Some hold out till the Feast of the Presentation...) And since it's still Christmas I'm going to tell you about my favorite character in the nativity scene. (I’ve written about him before. This post is an update of that previous writing.)

So what if he's not mentioned in the nativity stories (either Matthew or Luke).  Most of the characters we put into our nativity scenes weren't in the nativity stories. (If you want your nativity set to be biblically accurate, follow these instructions: )

My favorite nativity character is El Caganer. El Caganer comes to us from Catalan and its neighboring areas, and he's been around since the 17th or 18th century.  His name literally means: "the shitter.”

And already I've offended someone, I'm sure. Yes: He's irreverent. And that is a good thing.

El Caganer reminds us of a couple of things. First – that our God is one that pulls the proud and mighty down from their thrones (Luke 1: 52 – 53). Kings are used to being treated with reverence. Kings don't have shit all over them them  El Caganer is often portrayed in contemporary works as celebrities and political figures. In this way El Caganer is a leveler, humbling the proud and the lofty.

El Caganer also reminds us that we have a different kind of king, one who's come to lift us up from the dunghill, one who gets down off his high horse and gets dirt on his hands.

Alternate Nativities: A Coronation Psalm

₁ Why do nations rage

                and empires number their peoples?

₂ Why do kings of the land take their stand
                with princes in common cause
                against YHWH and his anointed?

₃ “Let us kill their children
                and murder their sons.”

₄ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
                YHWH makes sport of their plans.
₅ He causes his servants to flee
                and their escape is his deep pleasure.
₆ But I have been anointed as his king
                even before the foundation of his holy Mount Zion.
₇ Let me recite the decree of YHWH,
                He said to me:
                “You are my son
                and in you I am well pleased;
                this day I have begotten you.
₈ Ask wealth of me and I will give it,
                the kingdoms of the world are yours
                and their glory your inheritance.

₉ You will rule them with an iron rod
                they will be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessel.”

₁₀ Now then, O kings, be wise;
                take warning, you rulers of the land.
₁₁ Serve YHWH with reverence,
                and rejoice with trembling.

₁₂ Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
                and your assembly perish
                for his anger is quickly kindled,
                but how blessed are all those who trust in him.

This is number 7 in a series of Alternate Nativities - the series began with the recognition that the 2 gospel accounts of Jesus' birth are mutually incompatible in their details, and with the question, "What might the nativity story have looked like if it had been written in other styles?"  

This particular alternate nativity is based on Psalm 2 - with significant thanks to Mitchel Dahood's translation (Mitchel Dahood, Psalms 1- 50: Introduction, Translation, and Notes, Doubleday and Co. Inc, Garden City, NY, 1966)

Alternate Nativities: Then the LORD Raised up a Judge for Them

                      

₁ Again the Israelites did evil the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Romans for sixty years.

₂ A certain man of Galilee, named Joseph, from the tribe of Judah, was betrothed to a young woman, a virgin who had not yet known a man.  ₃ The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are a virgin, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.”  ₄ The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you ₅ and you will become pregnant and have a son and he will be called a Nazarene, dedicated to God. He will be the salvation of Israel.

₆ Then the woman went to her betrothed and told him, “A man of God came to me.  He looked like an angel, very awesome.  I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name.  ₇ But he said to me, “You will become pregnant and have a son.  Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean.”

₈ Then Joseph prayed to the LORD: “Pardon your servant, LORD. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to explain these things.”

₉ God heard Joseph, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her betrothed, Joseph, was not with her. ₁₀ The woman hurried to tell her betrothed, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!”

₁₁ Joseph got up and followed his betrothed. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my betrothed?”

“I am,” he said.

₁₂ So Joseph asked him, “If what you say is true, how can I be married to her?”

₁₃ The angel of the LORD answered, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in here is from the Spirit of the LORD. ₁₄ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people.”

₁₅ Joseph said to the angel of the LORD, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.”

₁₆ The angel of the LORD replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” (Joseph did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)

₁₇ Then Joseph inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

₁₈ He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.” ₁₉ Then Joseph took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Joseph and his betrothed watched: ₂₀ as the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Joseph and his betrothed fell with their faces to the ground. ₂₁ When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Joseph and his betrothed, Joseph realized that it was the angel of the LORD.

₂₂ “We are doomed to die!” he said to his betrothed. “We have seen God!”

₂₃ But his betrothed answered, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”

₂₄ The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Jesus. He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man and the LORD blessed him, ₂₅ and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Nazareth, in Galilee.

This is the sixth Alternate Nativity that I've written.  It is based on the birth story of Samson, as found in Judges 13.  It's surprising how few alterations had to be made in order to transform it into an alternate nativity story for Jesus.  

Alternate Nativities: The Epistle of Justus to Antioch

Consider this an Alternate Nativity.

Justus,
To the church of Antioch in God, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mercy, grace, and peace to you.

I give thanks to our God and Father to hear that you are well.  I remember the love that you showed to me when I was with you and am confident that the fellowship of love continues to grow among you.

You accepted the good news of the Kingdom of God in Christ from me with an open heart and you now live lives of love for God and for each other.  As to your questions about our Lord’s birth, I will pass on to you what was shared with me, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Though he was, in his nature, God, he did not consider this an advantage to be exploited, but instead became a servant, born of a servant, Mary, who named her son Jesus. And being born as a man, he humbled himself before the Lord in all obedience. He was circumcised on the eighth day in fulfillment of the law.  He was born to be the salvation of all Israel, and a light to the Gentiles.  And this is the light of love that you have seen.

Brothers, I urge you to continue to share this love in your lives, be humble and sincere.  Serve one another, just as Christ has served us.  Do not take pride in high positions or in wealth, but seek always to give of yourselves to others.  Be diligent in fulfilling the law of love.

To God and Father, and to our Lord Jesus, and to the Spirit be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet all of God’s people in the love of our Lord.  All the brothers here, including Aristarchus, send greetings.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Amen. 

The writing these Alternate Nativities has been an exercise, for me, in trying to better understand the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth, by coming at them sideways.

The two accounts of Jesus' birth that we have in the gospels are mutually incompatible (despite attempts through the centuries to harmonize them) in their details.  We should face up to the fact that they may not be strictly historical.  But even if they aren't factual accounts of Jesus' birth that does not mean that they aren't True in a larger, deeper way.

I have tried to write these alternate nativities wondering what the story of Jesus' birth might look like if it were written in various styles, or genres of biblical writing, such as:  The creation story in Genesis 2, The Odes of Solomon (though this is not strictly a "biblical" writing...),  The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (again, not strictly a biblical writing), or as an apocalyptic vision.

This alternate nativity is based on the format of New Testament Letters - drawing inspiration, obviously, from the letters of Paul - even though Paul says nothing at all of Jesus' birth -excepting Galatians 4:4 that he was born of a woman and under law. I also drew some from Luke.

Alternate Nativities: An Apocalyptic Vision

Consider this an Alternate Nativity

₁ In the fortieth year after the destruction of our city, I Zimra, who am also called Hananiah, was in Babylon. I was greatly troubled as I lay on my bed at night, and my thoughts welled up in my heart, ₂ because I saw the desolation of Zion and the despair of those who lived in Babylon. ₃ My spirit was greatly agitated and I spoke these anxious words unto the Most High and said, ₄ “How long, O sovereign Lord?  How long?”

₅ Then an angel was sent to me, whose name was Uriel, and he answered and said unto me, ₆ “Your understanding has completely failed regarding this world. Who are you to think that you can comprehend the way of the Most High?” ₇ And I had no reply. ₈ And he continued, “Nevertheless, it has been given to me to show to you the things that will be.”

₉ And I saw a great beast, like a lion made of gold, running across the land.  It had the teeth of a crocodile and the wings of an eagle, and was very strong.  ₁₀ But it was overtaken by a second beast.  ₁₁ I saw that it was like a Leopard of silver.  ₁₂ It ran faster than the lion, and dragged it down and devoured it.  ₁₃ And this beast too, ran across the land, back and forth snarling and roaring.  ₁₄ And I watched as a third beast came up from the waters and to devour the leopard.  ₁₅ It had four heads and many horns.  And this beast also raced across the land.  ₁₆ And a fourth beast came. It was like iron with feet that crushed the ground and a voice that shook the cedars and it towered over the land, blotting out the sun.  ₁₇ And the iron beast devoured the beast from the sea.

₁₈ And the iron beast did dwell upon the land.  And in its shadow I saw the people of God.  ₁₉ “What does this mean?” I asked the angel.  ₂₀ And he said to me, “Watch.”

₂₁ And I saw a woman who was with child. ₂₂ And when her time was come she gave birth to a son.  ₂₃ And this son was dressed in the sun and the stars and he held in his right hand an iron scepter.  And the light of this son grew brighter and brighter.  ₂₄ But I saw one of the horns of the iron beast fall to the ground and it did attack the child.  ₂₅ The horn impaled the boy and he did die. 

₂₆ And I said to the angel again, “Please, lord! Tell me what this must mean.”  ₂₇ And he said to me, “These are the signs which I am permitted to tell you and no more. ₂₈ But if you pray again, and weep as you do now, and fast for seven days, you may hear yet greater things than these." ₂₉ Then I awoke, and my body shuddered violently, and my soul was so troubled that it fainted.

To compose this Alternate Nativity I drew upon the apocalyptic visions of 4 Ezra (also known as 2 Esdras in the apocrypha) as well as some of the images in the apocalyptic visions of Daniel.

Alternate Nativities: Jesus in Egypt

Consider this an Alternate Nativity.

I, Baruch, an Israelite living in Alexandria, write this to tell unto you, even you who are the brethren from among the Gentiles, to make known unto you the works of the childhood of our Lord Jesus Christ and his mighty deeds, even all that he did when he was brought to our land, whereof the beginning is thus:

While the little child was yet an infant Mary, his mother, and Joseph, who was called his father, brought him into Egypt.  They came fleeing the murderous ravings of the mad king.  Herod thought to deal shrewdly to eliminate his rival.  He said, “When he is grown he will fight against me and force me from the country.” So he sent his soldiers to kill all infant boys.  But Joseph, being warned in a dream, took his family down to Egypt.

Joseph took his family to Elephantine and settled there.  And there at what had been House of the Lord they offered prayers and sacrifices, and Mary, with her son, was there with Joseph.  And as they prayed the statue of Khnum was fallen on his face before the Lord. After that the hand of the Lord was against the city and against its people, young and old, and there was a great panic.  Then the people began to plead with Joseph to leave. 

So Joseph and Mary, along with Jesus, came to Alexandria where they stayed until the angel told them it was safe to return

To compose this Alternate Nativity I drew upon a number of sources, namely: the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, the account in Exodus of Pharoah ordering the death of infant Israelite boys, the account in 1 Samuel of the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of Dagon, and the account in Mark of Jesus encounter with the demoniac at Gadarenes. I also tried to incorporate the Jewish temple at Elephantine in Egypt.  Scholars and historians would be right to point out that my little story is probably historically inaccurate and not entirely plausible.  But the same can be said for the nativites recorded in our cannonical gospels...  That's beside the point.  

Alternate Nativities: The Ode of Mary

Consider this an Alternate Nativity

I am putting on the love of the Lord,
wearing it like a garment of praise
and He loves me, his humble servant
for how should I have known how to love the Lord,
                if He had not loved me
I love the Beloved and He loves me
and where His rest is, I too shall be.

I shall not be a stranger
for I have been united with him
the Lover has found the Beloved
and because I love him
I shall carry the Son

For the one that is joined with Him
that is Life, shall have life;
and he who has joy in the Living One
will himself become living.

This is what the Spirit of the Lord,
which does not lie,
has done for me.
Be wise and understanding.
Hallelujah. 

This Alternate Nativity is based on one of the Odes of Solomon (number 3).

Alternate Nativities: In the Beginning...

A couple of weeks ago I began a bible study in the gospel of Mark with some folks in our congregation.  We discussed how, in contrast to Matthew and Luke's gospel, Mark's gospel does not have a birth story for Jesus.  Mark says nothing about angelic announcements, imperial censuses, travels to ancestral homelands, visiting shepherds and magicians, or virginal conceptions.

The group then, briefly, discussed how the two accounts of Jesus' birth can't be satisfactorily reconciled.  The details of their accounts make them incompatible with each other.  A question was asked - which, then, is the 'true' one?  Which one is the more historically accurate?

My answer was that, without finishing the time machine that I'm building in my garage we have no way of knowing.  And that in all likelihood, even if we did finish that time machine, we might discover that neither Matthew nor Luke's account is entirely historical.  The nativity stories are highly theological stories - with numerous elements and themes drawn from the old testament.

Jesus' birth story might have been (and probably) was entirely different from what we read in Matthew or Luke. But that got me wondering.  What other alternate birth stories could have been written about Jesus?

And so, consider this an Alternate Nativity:

₁In the beginning of the new heavens and the new earth, the Lord God raised up his servant Joseph, a man of labor who worked with his hands to build and to craft the necessary things from stone and from wood.  ₂ And the Lord God said, “It is not good for Joseph to be alone.” ₃ And so he brought to him a wife, Mary, who had not yet known a man.  ₄ The two were married and they became one flesh. 

₅ And the Lord God caused a great sleep to fall upon them and they slept.  ₆ And the Lord God opened the womb of the woman, Mary, and placed in her his son, Jesus, and closed over the flesh again. ₇ And, upon awakening, she said, “I have got a son with the Lord.” ₈ Therefore is the man, Jesus, the Son of Man and the Son of God and men and God have become one together in him; ₉ man and his God, and they were no longer ashamed.