Devotionals

A Quiet Night Long Ago

by Anne Adams
12/17/24
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{Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger (Luke 2:7 NRSV)

Years ago I worked at a large church that often had special displays in a large showcase placed near a side door and one day at Christmastime I paused to see the most recent exhibit. This time the display depicted the traditional Nativity scene using multiple small ceramic figures – a miniscule manger with the unusually mature Christ child, with Mary and Joseph nearby.  Surrounding them were numerous sheep, a pair of oxen, the inevitable donkey, as well as crowds of shepherds, the three Magi as well as other unexplained figures. I had to smile since I doubted that it was unlikely that all these characters would have fit into what was probably a very small stable area!

But what did the original Nativity scene look like? Probably it was a diminutive straw strewn chamber or even a cave occupied by a rough-clad working class couple with a newborn baby who sought shelter when they could find nothing else. And as they tried to settle in from outside came the gentle whisper of the wind, and inside they would hear the rustle of hay as the donkey pulled a mouthful from the bale and maybe the “Chuff!" as a cow breathing. 

It was certainly an ordinary and simple scene though often we like to re-create it with our elaborate arrangements and replicas of the participants. However, no matter how we depict the events what’s important is its significance. After all, it was when the God assumed human form to give us the ultimate opportunity for a new life with him.

And certainly beyond the glitter of Christmas this new life awaits.