The Greatest Story Ever Told

There are so many captivating storylines that go with the narrative surrounding Jesus’ birth. Some miraculous, some mysterious, some inspiring, some amusing. Some dramatic, some ironic, some delightful, some heart-breaking.

I find myself reading the story and wishing that the gospel writers would have provided a little more detail to clear up certain scenes. But then sometimes a little holy imagination can go a long way.

Think about the conversation that Mary would have had with Joseph, the one where she tells him that she’s pregnant. “Joseph, dear, are you sitting down? I have some news to share with you…” Obviously he knows it’s not his baby. An angel visit? A virgin conceiving? No way! Joseph watched the film about that stuff in 5th grade; he knew how these things work.

Then there’s the part about when Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Remember Elizabeth? She’s the mother of John the Baptist, whose pregnancy was also miraculous. She was way past her prime when the angel told her husband, Zechariah, that this couple would bear a son who would make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

Anyway, she’s in the last trimester of her pregnancy when Mary, who has just found out that she’s carrying the Savior of the world, comes to visit. Here’s the part I love: when Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaps for joy! Somehow there’s this supernatural spiritual connection between these unborn children in the wombs of their mothers, and the result is great joy.

And I think about the scene in which Joseph and Mary are preparing to travel to Bethlehem for this census. Mary’s just about to pop (I mean that in a delicate way) and now her husband-to-be wants to take her on this cross-country trip in the family mini-van? Wait, they didn’t even have vehicles back then. They’d be walking? Hiking up and down mountainous terrain? Maybe she’s riding on a donkey, but is that any better than walking?

And seriously, Mary’s father allows her to go? If I would have tried to take my wife on such a journey when she’s nine months along, my father-in-law would have politely suggested I not. On the other hand, perhaps Mary insisted on going with Joseph. Maybe she knew of Micah’s prophesy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and that this was all God’s providence to fulfill it.

You want to talk drama? Look at Herod, the drama king. These wise men roll into town causing no little commotion. They start asking people in Jerusalem where the King of the Jews was to be born. Herod hears of it and whines to himself, “Wait a minute! I’m the king around here!” But he obliges these strange visitors and directs them to Bethlehem.

The story continues with Herod telling the wise men to report back to him when they’ve found Him, so that he, too, may go and (wink, wink) “worship” Him. Of course the wise men are warned in a dream to avoid Herod like the plague, so they take the back roads home. Herod finds out he’s been had, gets furious and orders every baby boy under two years old in Bethlehem to be killed.

Meanwhile, an angel of the Lord has appeared to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take the baby and Mary on the next flight to Egypt.

So many sub-plots and twists and turns and adventures! I don’t have room to tell about Simeon or Anna or the shepherds or the people that argued with a mute Zechariah about what to name his baby. I wish I could tell you about the blindness of all the religious leaders in Jerusalem who figured out from the Scriptures where the Messiah would be born, but would only smile and wave as these foreigners went to worship the very One they were waiting for!

I don’t know all the details of all the stories, but of this I’m sure: every account points to the redemptive plan of God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. We needed a Savior, and God made good on His promise to save us. He brought it all about perfectly, in His way, in His time, fulfilling every prophecy and thrilling the hearts of every man, woman, boy and girl who finds the true joy and peace and hope and love of Christmas not in presents nor eggnog nor tinsel nor lights, but in the Light of the world, Jesus our salvation, the greatest gift of all, Immanuel, God with us.