The Christmas Story –revisited

With many thanks to Kenneth Bailey,author of “Jesus through middle eastern

eyes”

“No ROOM in the inn”

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

Born on a stable floor ?Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:4-7

1. Joseph who had a royal lineage was returning to his family’s home town

“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David” (Lu 2:4)

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

1. Joseph who had a royal lineage was returning to his family’s home town

2. Pregnant women near to delivery are given special care universally

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

1. Joseph who had a royal lineage was returning to his family’s home town

2. Pregnant women near to delivery are given special care universally

3. Mary’s relatives were from a nearby Judean hill town so if there were no accommodation in Bethlehem they would expect a welcome in Zechariah & Elizabeth’s home where she had already stayed during her early pregnancy

“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah” (Lu 1:39)

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

1. Joseph who had a royal lineage was returning to his family’s home town

2. Pregnant women near to delivery are given special care universally

3. Mary’s relatives were from a nearby Judean hill town so if there were no accommodation in Bethlehem they would expect a welcome in Zechariah & Elizabeth’s home where she had already stayed during her early pregnancy

4. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” - suggests adequate time to find accommodation

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

1. Joseph who had a royal lineage was returning to his family’s home town

2. Pregnant women near to delivery are given special care universally

3. Mary’s relatives were from a nearby Judean hill town so if there were no accommodation in Bethlehem they would expect a welcome in Zechariah & Elizabeth’s home where she had already stayed during her early pregnancy

4. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” - suggests adequate time to find accommodation

ALL DOORS WERE OPEN TO THEM

Reasons this may rest onFALSE ASSUMPTIONS

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn*.”

* kataluma (kataluma)

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn*.”

* kataluma (kataluma)

The MagiAfter Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." ...After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Mt 2:1,2; 9-11

So where did they come from?

The Magi

• From the East still means from the east side of Jordan and the lands in continuity• “...seen his star in the east (anatolh anatole = rising)• Gold was mined in Arabia• Frankincense and Myrrh are harvested from trees that only grow in Arabia

Herodotus (5th century BC): "Arabia is the only country which produces frankincense, myrrh, cassia and cinnamon...the trees bearing the frankincense are guarded by winged serpents of small size and various colours." Diodorus Siculus (second half of the 1st century BC) "all of Arabia exudes a most delicate fragrance; even the seamen passing by Arabia can smell the strong fragrance” He also mentioned gold mines so pure that no smelting was necessary.

• E.F.F. Bishop visited a Bedouin tribe in Jordan in 1920’s – called “al-Kokabani” = those who study / follow the planets.– When the elders were asked why they called themselves

thus they replied – because their ancestors followed the planets and travelled west to Palestine to show honour to the great prophet Jesus when he was born.

• Justin (c.160 AD) from Caesarea in “Dialogue with Trypho, the Jew” reports “The wise men from Arabia came to Bethlehem and worshipped the child and offered to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

The Magi

ISAIAH 60 & JERUSALEM• "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the

LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

• "Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.