The Holy Family And Yours

I write on the Eve of this year's joyous Christian celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the long-awaited Messiah. In this season the family is very important. Families around the world gather to celebrate what happened to the Holy Family in Bethlehem where Jesus was born and placed in a manger. My family is gathered this Christmas at the home of our daughter in South Texas.


The old question of Jesus' own family—and his later possible marriage–arises unbidden. A few years earlier it was all the rage as people read in novels that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife. The news was filled with the nonsense. If you'd like an extended conversation about the issue, you may want to read the long article "Was Jesus Married? A Careful Look At The Real Evidence" by Dr. Mark D. Roberts. He says there is hardly even a hint from the sources that Jesus was. His conclusion:

Once when Jesus was preaching he was approached by his natural family. The crowd told him that they were there to see him. Jesus responded, “Who are my mother and brothers?” Then, looking at his disciples, he answered the question: “Here are my mother and brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:33-35). Ironically, therefore, Jesus is more inclusive and counter-cultural than those who would tie Mary Magdalene’s significance primarily to her filling the traditional role of wife. Though much in Scripture supports the importance of natural family, the relationship that matters most of all is our relationship with Jesus Christ as his disciple. We disciples are, together, the true and only bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:21-33).

As you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus again this year, I invite you to join me in celebrating the wonder of it all. Our Lord chose to become one with His precious bride. We are His and because of this birth, we shall always be so. So I wish for you and your family a joyous celebration of Emmanuel, God with us. Hallelujah. Do have a most merry Christmas.

The Place of Jesus' Birth

It's the first week of Advent, the first of the four weeks leading up to the celebration of our Lord Jesus' birth. And it's high time we started celebrating. Our congregation is planning to decorate the church building with garlands and poinsettias this weekend. We're also getting the Christmas tree in place. After all, it's less than a month to Christmas Day.


Today I'm also putting the final touches on a midweek Advent sermon I'll be preaching to a small congregation located less than an hour from where I live. I'm preaching a series entitled "Back to Basics," based upon readings from the Apostle Peter's letters. This week's sermon is based upon 1 Peter 2:6-8. It's all about the precious cornerstone laid in Zion, so I'm calling it simply "Stone."

Interior of the Basilica of the Holy Nativity

When a Holy Land tour group I led many years ago visited the probable location of the original manger in Bethlehem, we were surprised to learn that the Holy Family spent the night of Jesus' birth in a cave, carved out of stone. It was not the wooden structure our Nativity creches suggest. For over 1700 years there has been a large church building, a basilica, built over that cave. It's called the Church of the Nativity. It was was begun by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine I, and completed in 333. Over the centuries the church was burned down, rebuilt and expanded until today it is a compound covering approximately 12,000 square meters.


The stone cave in which Jesus was born is in stark contrast to the very elaborate Church of the Nativity. Those who built, rebuilt and maintained that structure over the centuries probably did so out of reverence, but in so doing they have made it difficult to see how simple, humble and basic was the place of Jesus' birth. To remember this is also to recall that the Creator and Ruler of the universe chose to become a tiny child born for us in the lowliest of conditions. In this manner He has become a cornerstone upon which we may build our lives, a Rock that will never be destroyed. No matter how humble, difficult, stressful and lonely our condition of life, we can rest securely on this Rock, this Prince of Peace, born in a stable.