Growing up in a Christian family, I have read the birth story of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke my whole life. It is a comforting and familiar story as much as it is a great reminder of why Christians celebrate Christmas. I just finished a beautiful jigsaw puzzle of the manger scene complete with animals, shepherds, and wise men with an angel hovering over the holy family. It is the same type of depiction of Christ’s birth that we find on Christmas cards, lighting up yards and displayed on shelves worldwide however it certainly cannot be not an accurate display of the first-century story. I believe the real story was much messier. |