On this Christmas Eve, we invite you to take a journey with storyteller Sherri Gragg as she leads us in a meditation on what Christ’s birth might have been like. This story is likely not the version you are accustomed to, but based on historical and cultural evidence, this very well may have been closer to Mary’s experience.
Regardless of the details, we pray that your heart will be led to the celebration and worship of our humble, miraculous Savior!
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“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:6-7 NIV
Mary couldn’t sit still.
With great effort she rose from the low stool in the courtyard where she and the other women were preparing the evening meal. She placed one hand on her lower back and began to pace back and forth. She felt restless, uneasy.
The older women watched her for a moment before casting knowing looks to each other. Mary’s baby was ready to make His entrance.
As the family sat in a circle on the floor, tearing off pieces of pita bread and scooping up couscous and yogurt from the large communal bowl, Mary sat looking at the piece of bread in her hand.
She knew she should be ravenous, but somehow she couldn’t eat. She reached up to wipe a trickle of sweat from her temple. The packed room was stifling despite the fact that the sun had set long ago.
A moment later Mary gasped as the dull ache in her lower abdomen suddenly intensified. One of Joseph’s aunts, seated next to her, frowned, reached out to place a hand on her stomach, and found the muscles clenched tight. “It’s time,” she said.
Joseph leapt to his feet, his face white with alarm. His uncle chuckled, patted him on the shoulder, and sent him off to get the town midwife. As two of the women helped Mary to her feet, the matriarch of the family began barking orders to the rest of the clan. Normally Mary would have been offered the privacy and comfort of the kataluma, the guest room, but since the house was full of guests and her labor could possibly stretch into the early hours of the morning, they would need to improvise.
Quickly, the animals were evicted from the stables beneath the main living area. The children were tasked with sweeping the area clean and placing fresh straw on the floor. By the time the midwife arrived, Mary was leaning against the cool stone wall of the stables as she waited for the next contraction to pass.
The jovial older woman shuffled into the stables, birthing stool hooked over her arm. Joseph peeked anxiously through the doorway at his wife for a moment before one of the women shooed him away to wait upstairs.
The moment his foot landed on the first step leading to the main living room, Mary cried out in pain. Joseph froze. Beside him, his uncle laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.“Come, Joseph,” he said. “She is in good hands.”
Hours later, in the dark early hours of the morning, Mary gasped for air and cried out in pain from the birthing stool, where she leaned back into the supportive arms of Joseph’s aunt. The midwife crouched low in front of her, murmuring encouragement.
“It is time to push, my daughter,” she said. “Be strong now.”
The next contraction tore through Mary’s body only seconds after the last one subsided. Then, with a cry of agony, she bore down with all of her remaining strength.
The pain faded as her baby’s first cry pierced the night.
“You have a son!” the midwife announced. Upstairs, Joseph’s ecstatic shout was joined by the joyful celebration of his uncles and cousins.
In the stables below, the midwife tenderly placed the crying baby on His young mother’s chest. Tears flowed down Mary’s face as she bent to kiss her son’s forehead for the first time.
Joseph peeked around the corner of the stables. His aunt turned to wave him into the room. “Come,” she said. “Come meet your son.”Joseph rushed to Mary’s side and knelt down to wrap an arm around her. Gently he placed a calloused hand on the baby’s head as he blinked back tears of joy.
“Have you chosen a name?” his aunt asked.
“Yeshua,” Mary said as she gazed tenderly into the eyes of her son, now quiet and alert. “Yeshua…”
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus [Yeshua], because He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 NIV
By Sherri Gragg from Advent: The Story of Christmas.
We’ve been journeying with this ancient story each week during the season of Advent, and it’s led us here to Christmas Eve. May you experience God’s Word in fresh ways as you anticipate Christmas morning.
Mary says
Beautiful and powerful! Exactly what my heart needed this Christmas eve.
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
In the Celebration of this time of year. I believe God would want us to do what Mary did ponter all these things in our heart. We are as the saved to do the same. Ponter why Jesus was born and why he then went to the cross. Keep all that in our hearts like Mary keep all in her heart. Thank God for the wonder of what he did because he loved us. By having his son born who would go to die at Calvary for our sins. Oh no greater love for our world. But we see as we read in the Bible. When Mary and Joseph went to look for somewhere to have the Baby of the world Jesus. All doors we shut. People said no room at the inn. That tells me like the world today they shut the saviour of world out of their hearts. God knew this would happen. As he had his son Jesus born in Stable with animals. To teach us we don’t need anywhere fancy. Or fancy things things in our lives. To be just thankful for what we have and what God as done for us. Like Jesus he didn’t need fancy things in his life just love. We are to have the same for all the world that know Jesus as their Saviour. Shine like the star ⭐ that took them in the story the Shepherds to see the best lamb of the world Baby Jesus Heavens perfect lamb. Who teaches us how to live for him in a dark world. Shine like the star so bright with his love. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co Fermanagh N.Ireland. Happy Christmas to everyone at incourage. Keeping you all in my prayers. Xx
Lisa wilt says
Love this realistic version of the nativity!
Merry Christmas Dayspring family!
Sending you Advent joy,
Lisa
Janet W says
Thank you Jesus \0/
Betsy Basile says
What a beautiful story you have told to us this morning of Christmas Eve. Yes it was just a little different than what we heard in church, but I think it helped all of us to really picture what happened that day. Thank you so much for your words. It truly touched my heart and even though I am alone today and tomorrow, I know that my Holy Spirit and Jesus and the Lord are here with me and I will not be alone with them around me with the angels whispering their songs in my ear. Thank you again (in)courage women who I know are very busy preparing for the next days . Merry Christmas and we should all pray that 2025 helps to straighten out our upside down world before something serious happens in our country. I love all of you for being my anchor and may peace, joy and love fill your days in this very special season………………….Betsy Basile
Emily says
I love this! Thank you!
Stephanie says
Merry Christmas to you all! ❤️❤️
Elaine Pool says
Beautiful. Thank you so much, and Merry Christmas!