by Joanie Butman
When I traveled to Israel in 2016, the Old Testament professor who led our group shattered many familiar biblical narratives with new perspective. The Christmas story is probably the most notable. However, his version incorporating Jewish customs of the time makes more sense than the serene manger scene on the outskirts of Bethlehem we’re all familiar with. In fact, it more closely resembles many Christmases in my own home – messy and chaotic.
Hospitality was at the core of Jewish society at the time. Joseph, having been born in Bethlehem, would have sought shelter at a relative’s home. No one would ever turn away a relative, regardless of how distant a connection. It being the census, having a house full of relatives would be de rigueur, much like our holidays draws relatives (and always a stray or two) from all over to celebrate together.
When I hosted our family gatherings for years, people were in every nook and cranny of our house. If we had a stable, believe me, they’d be fighting over it because it would be the only place you could be alone! It was loud and chaotic as we prepared meals that never ended and dealt with mishaps of all kinds. The stable referred to in the Christmas story was not a separate barn per se but a room attached to the house where the perfect, unblemished animals for sacrifice were housed. Think of an attached garage. It makes sense that Christ, being the ultimate sacrificial lamb, would be born there.
That first Christmas set the stage for every imperfect, messy Christmas thereafter. Think about it: I’m sure traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey didn’t factor into Mary’s nesting instincts as she prepared for the arrival of her child. Giving birth in a dirty stable surrounded by distant in-laws couldn’t possibly be what she imagined when she anticipated bringing God’s son into the world. I wonder how many times she questioned, “This is Your plan God? Seriously?” And we’ve been asking the same question ever since.
As much as we might like it to be, life isn’t tidy or orderly. So why would we expect Christmas to be any different? Yet I know there are plenty of people like me who find themselves in the same predicament every year at this time, attempting to create the “perfect” Christmas. It doesn’t exist. Well, it does but it doesn’t look like the Martha Stewart version we put so much energy into producing.
Christ arrived in a mess and died in a mess. Yet here’s the paradox: Through the messiness of His life and death, Jesus infused, and continues to infuse, enormous joy into a broken, frenzied world. Christ’s arrival completely turned the world upside down. Any new parent can appreciate how an infant can do that. However, Christ never stopped. His countercultural message of grace challenged established norms and asked people to put aside their well-laid plans in order to receive Him. He is still asking us to do the same. When you choose to forget the planning and focus on Christ, you will experience the ‘perfect’ Christmas – one filled with peace and joy, an oasis amidst the chaos of our messy world.
I think about past Christmas calamities: fallen trees, power outages, plumbing debacles, weather delays, unexpected guests, family dramas, illnesses, even deaths – the list is endless. However, none of them ever stopped Christmas from coming. Just as the Grinch discovered, “it came just the same.” Sometimes the only definitive thing we have control over is how we choose to receive it, or more aptly – Him.
Christ is the hope of heaven we celebrate on Christmas. His birth began the divine process of cleaning up our messy world. I see glimpses of His ongoing work every day. He is the peace that transcends human understanding and the joy that can overcome any circumstance or Christmas crisis. So, if you find yourself in the middle of the Christmas crazies, why not choose to “Let His presence bring order to your thoughts, infusing peace into your entire being.”