The Christmas account in Luke is the most treasured one and the story found there receives the most traditional additions–I call them “sacred cows” suggesting they have become as hallowed as Scripture itself. The first chapter goes into the events preceding the birth of Jesus, but it is the second chapter that is best known—in A Charlie Brown Christmas, for example, the passage was even quoted in full by Linus. I insert the familiar KJV version here.
Luke 2:1-20 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
You may be surprised to discover that several cherished traditions are not in the Luke account:
- There is no mention of an innkeeper or any special arrangements or non-arrangements.
- There was no indication that they were turned away by a cruel innkeeper or that a last minute act of mercy directed them to a stable.
- There is no record of searching through the city and dropping exhausted in a stable. Actually there is no mention of a stable at all—just the manger. There are even traditions that it was in a cave.
- There is no indication that the angels hovered up in the sky—they might have been on the ground like when the three appeared to Abraham.[1]
- The message was delivered by one angel. It is as though the rest of the heavenly host just couldn’t help themselves and burst out in joy at the news.
- There is no mention of a bright star in the field or over the stable—the star was in the magi account in Matthew. There are no angels visible at the manger—they all appeared at the first announcement to the shepherds out in the field.
- The shepherds were not commanded to go—they took the hint and made their own decision, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
- The shepherds were not guided by a star. There was no mention of a special star over the stable. The treasure hunt for the baby depended on the provided clues—the manger and the swaddling clothes. As the Christmas carol says, Bethlehem was probably a little town, so their search was very likely not difficult. Note that the record only mentions the inn—there must not have been a lot of accommodation choices.
- There is no mention of animals around the manger one way or the other—no specific mention of oxen, asses, sheep, cows, camels or any other animal you could choose to mention. No mention one way or the other about a roof over their heads even though it might have been a cool or even cold time of year. One tradition says it was a cave. There is no indication if the manger was fastened in place or portable. One theory has the accommodation as a raised common people-living area with a lower area where the animals were sheltered. All those animals would make an excellent heat source in the cool time of year.
When you come right down to it, Luke left out all sorts of cherished traditional details. After the shepherds had seen the baby, they spread the word all over the town. Then they went back to their sheep and are never heard of again in Scripture, but they were obviously affected by the experience.
So what does revisiting the Christmas Scriptures do for me? It brings up all sorts of warm feelings from my childhood. Do not abandon your traditions. There is no Scripture that commands you to switch to an accurate, stark, unembellished crèche with just the Holy Couple, the baby, and a few shepherds by a manger out in the open. At least don’t go around attacking others’ traditions. Instead, recognize what the writer thought was important—the future significance of the baby who was also the Savior.
[1] As in Genesis 18:1-2 (NET) The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.