A Christmas Story Narrative Part 1

The end of 2020 I was asked to read the "Christmas Story" from the book of Luke. As I sat and reminded myself of the story, I began to think about the story and what it would have looked like as a story told by someone who wanted to give it somewhat chronologically. I think many people get a little "turned off" with reading the Bible because it doesn't make sense as it doesn't read like a typical novel. When I looked at the Biblical narrative from both Matthew and Luke, they tell the story differently. I wanted to tell the story from the "theological, historical, and Biblical" of what I knew and had studied in college. I trusted God would lead me thru and so I wrote my own narrative and have broken it up in 5 separate small stories to tie the one piece to why we celebrate this Jesus, Emmanuel - God with us.

This will be a 5-day piece that will end on Christmas day.

Mary's Story (from Luke 1:26-28)

In the land of Galilee, in the town of Nazareth, there was a young maiden about 15, who had found favor in the eyes of her God. Her name was, Mary, and she was the apple of her parents’ eye. Mary was sweet and obedient. She followed the Law of Moses and loved her God. Many thought her in high regard as well as the single males. One of them her parents had chosen to be her husband, Joseph. He was a man of right standing in their community and in the eyes of the LORD. While Mary waited to go to the home of her betrothed, she continued to tend to her daily chores. One day as Mary tended to these chores an angel appeared before her. He introduced himself as, Gabriel. He said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with Child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The LORD God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:26-38 NIV).

Mary thought to herself, “How can this be? I am to be married to Joseph; will he abandon me? Will he seek justice for something I have not done? What kind of favor could God possibly have bestowed upon me that I would be seen as unfaithful?” Mary contemplates this news throughout the day, she wonders if she should tell her parents; should she run away; should she believe; what should she do? What could she do?

About 3 months later Mary, hears that her cousin Elizabeth, who is old and barren, has miraculously conceived a child. Mary thought, “Could this be true? I have to see this for myself, is this another miracle or is it just rumors and gossip?” Mary knew she had to do something, for she had been feeling different for the past 3 months and was beginning to notice a rounder belly. Mary would leave with the next caravan in a few days and travel to see her cousin Elizabeth, into the hill country of Judea. (Luke 1:39-45 NIV). A week later Mary finds herself at the end of the trip to Elizabeth’s home. Sore and tired from the long dusty ride, Mary is anxious to see her cousin. Hoping, praying she has not come all this way to find God has left her without the answers she so desperately needed.

As Mary approaches Elizabeth’s home, she caught a glimpse of Elizabeth. Could it be her? No! Is that a pregnant belly she sees? IT WAS HER! Elizabeth was pregnant! It wasn’t some cruel rumor. Elizabeth spots Mary in the distance and as she approaches, the child she carried seemed to be jumping, dancing, laughing within her. A wave of overwhelming joy came over Elizabeth at the sight of Mary. In that moment Elizabeth knew in her heart, Mary was pregnant, even if it wasn’t noticeable. Mary was glowing and this was the glow only God would give. And she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” As they embraced, Elizabeth told her of the joy she and her unborn child felt at the sight of Mary, and so they talked. Mary stayed with Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah, for 3 months, and her belly grew.

This concludes the part 1 narrative, and I pray you have found this to be a story you would like to continue.

Warrior On.