News: December 2006 Archives

"The Justice of Christmas" (Christmas Eve) - Readings from the New Testament
Pastor Jeff
December 24, 2006

"Thanksgiving Service" - Readings from Scripture
Wendy Fisher
November 22, 2006

The traditional understanding of the birth of Jesus is well known... This view is deeply rooted in Western popular culture and the church today. But it contains some critical problems regardless of whether the account is seen as history or ficition or some combination of both. Does any society known to us fail to help a young woman about to give birth? ... Would a farm family anywhere in the world tell a young couple (of their own community) who was seeking help for an imminent birth, "There's the barn. Use it if you like. We can't be bothered with you!"

...the shepherds visited Mary and Joseph and the infant.. they went home "praising God for all that they had seen and heard." The word "all" includes the quality of hospitality...

...Jesus was not born the night the family arrived... Mary's "days were fulfilled" while they were in Bethlehem. So Joseph had time to arrange appropriate lodging either with his relatives or with hers.

...the so-called "inn" that appears in English in Luke 2:7 is a translation of the Greek word kataluma and in Luke (and Mark) the last supper was inaugurated in a kataluma. Thus, for both of these gospel authors a kataluma was a "guest room" in a private home. In light of this meaning for kataluma, Luke 2:7 really says that Jesus was born in a private home where the guest room (not a community inn) was already full.

...Most simple village homes had a guest room, which Luke callas a kataluma, and mangers were available in the family room. In the light of these two realities, it is clear that Jesus was born in the family room of a private home where the guest room was full. Naturally, the family room had a blocked off area at one end for a few animals where mangers would naturally be available...

It is from this understanding of Luke 2:1-7 that this drama unfolds.
This Christmas... find yourself at the manger again.