Luke 2 :1-21
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
According to the Bible we learn that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, because of the census that took place. When we read the story, we understand that the baby Jesus was born in a stable. How come? in verse 7: ” and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them “. Manger is something that we find in a stable.
Nowadays on top of this stable (Which is an underground cave ) in Bethlehem we have the famous Basilica of the Nativity. This is the oldest Basilica in the middle east – since the 6th century. I invite all of you to come to Israel when Corona is over to visit this place.
When we read verse 7 – we see 2 very important things. Verse 7 predicts 2 very important things that will happen in 33 years to come: 1) The last supper 2) burial of Jesus.
Now let’s explain:
1) When the Baby Jesus was born his mother placed him in a manger. What do we always put in the manger? food. So, Jesus is the food. He is the bread of life. 33 years after the nativity, during the time of the last supper, in the upper room – Jesus took the bread, blessed it, braked it, gave it to his disciples saying to them:” take it all of you and eat this is my BODY “. He is the bread. So, you see how Luke 2 verse 7 predicts the last supper.
2} In Luke 23 we read about the crucifixion of Jesus, his death and burial. In Luke 23 verse 53:” Then he (Joseph of Arimathea) took it down, wrapped it with linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock”. So we see the similarity between Luke 2 7: ” She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger ” to Luke 23 53: ” wrapped it with linen cloth and placed it in a tomb”.
In order to commemorate and to remember this very important event- every year in Dec, Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas.
As we all know, every year from the beginning of Dec Christians all over the world start to decorate their churches and houses with olive wood nativity sets .
Where and when did this custom start? Dec of the year 1222 A.D in a small village in Italy called Grecia. In the beginning of Dec 1222A.D the Christian community in Grecia said: soon we will celebrate Christmas. we don’t have enough money for a Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land, but we want to bring the atmosphere of Bethlehem to our Church. So, they were the first ones ever in history to decorate their church with a big olive wood nativity set.
Since then, every year from the beginning of Dec Christians all over the world start to decorate their churches and houses with olive wood nativity sets.
What type of figures do people put in their Nativity sets?
Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus, shepherds, angels and animals. What type of animals? sheep, goats, camels, cows, dogs but ALSO donkey and ox. Sheep, goats, camels, cows and dogs- we understand why. The shepherds who came to visit the newborn baby had these types of animals. But why ALSO donkey and ox? Does it say in the Bible that the shepherds came with donkey and ox? no. Why since 1222A.D Christians started to add also the donkey and ox to their Nativity sets? Because they knew their Bibles very well:
In Isaiah 1 verse 3: “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand “
From Biblical point of view- the donkey symbolizes the coming of the Messiah: Zechariah 9 verse 9:” Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout daughter of Jerusalem! see, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, gentle, riding on a donkey, on a colt”. And indeed – how exactly Jesus the Messiah entered Jerusalem (Triumphal entry- Palm Sunday)? riding on a donkey! So, we must also put a donkey in every good professional Nativity set in order to remind us always that the baby Jesus- is the Messiah.
Ox: In the art of those days’ ox symbolized the people of Israel- the Jewish people. The ox carries a very heavy yoke. The people of Israel, the Jewish people have to follow and to obey all the 613 commands of the Bible. This is a very heavy yoke on their shoulders. Now we understand why ox symbolized the Jewish people. We have always to remember that the shepherds that came to visit the baby Jesus were Jewish shepherds. As Jews, immediately when they saw the baby Jesus, they recognized him as their Savior and Messiah!
Now we understand why in every good professional Nativity set we also have to add the donkey and the ox.
Every good professional Nativity set must be made of olive wood. Olive wood is very important and meaningful for every Christian. Why? because 2000 years ago when the Romans prepared the cross of Jesus- they used an olive wood. Jesus was crucified, suffered, and died on an olive wood cross. Therefore, olive wood is very important.
