In this video, I show some clips from one of my favorite Christmas movies: the 1998 stop-motion classic, “The First Christmas.” It’s a little artistic treasure. It’s also quite biblical—which is a quality that attracts some people but repels others. I talk a little about why I think these nativity legends still have value, even for those of us who doubt that they contain much in the way of historical fact.
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Merry Christmas, Merry Mystics!
Merry Christmas! We’ve just finished our Nativity bible series where we had sixteen or more people reading lines and acting out parts from the stories of where-Jesus-comes-from from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke as well as Paul, Mark and John! Acting out Luke’s story after Matthew’s story caused one person to exclaim aloud to the group in obvious surprise: “This really speaks to me!” Perhaps even more surprising, one person had a similar reaction after we read aloud the opening to the Gospel of John!
I would say, though, to your post this week, that the word “legend” rings too hollow. Paul writes that Jesus cries “Abba! Father!” from inside of us, making us adopted children of God. All three synoptic Gospels recount the story of how Jesus calls all the faithful his brothers and sisters and mothers. As brothers and sisters and mothers, these are our heritage, our family stories. We are the ones giving birth. In the midst of empire, surrounded by powerful forces crying out that they are the bringers of good news, that they are the way to peace (Peace through Strength! Peace through Victory!), we find the star leading us home “by another way.”
Peace & Love to all
Hi Adam-Thank you so much for
sharing your thoughts on the Jesus
Birth story. I have forwarded your
message to my grown children in hopes
that they will consider the “fact and truth”
approach and lighten up a bit on this
beautiful story of the birth of a rather
note worthy individual. I was talking to
Kelly after service today and we shared
our childhood love of playing with our
Nativity figures and stable. I would
like to share this same experience with
my Grandson along with all the other
Magical story’s surrounding this Holiday.
Thank you Adam for just being you.
Have a wonder Holiday, Birthday, Anniversary
and family time. I’ll see you next year.
Blessings my Friend, Susan