The Nativity Story

Anyone who celebrates Christmas has some understanding of the Nativity story. It's read every year in churches and Catholic/Evangelical homes. It's one of the most recognized stories in the Bible as well as the most loved. This story in its simplicity is more than just the birth of Christ. It's a story of obedience, love, courage and absolute faith. It's the story that is not too different from out times. While this is a story of Christmas, this is more than anything a story that is the quintessential pro-life message.

An unmarried teenage girl finds herself pregnant. This situation could cause her to be killed.

Her fiancé must choose what is right in the eyes of society and what is right in the eyes of God. 

An unexpected baby who was almost put to death, comes to Earth to ransom those that wanted him killed. 

Nazareth, a poor farming town is beginning to suffer under the tyrannical rule of the Romans. Caesar is taxing them so heavily that if the people cannot pay, then the consequences are unimaginable. After witnessing a man's daughter being taken by the Romans because her father could not pay his monthly taxes, Joaquim and Anna realize that their own daughter is now in danger. Mary, a teenage girl between 14-16 years old, works hard and enjoys what little fun she has. However, times are hard and Mary's already large family has taken in some her mother's relatives. The pressure to marry a man as soon as possible for her family's sake as well as her own safety is becoming paramount. 

Joaquim and Anna choose Joseph, a carpenter who has always shown interest in Mary, to be betrothed to their daughter. Mary is less than thrilled in this decision, seeing as Joseph is much older and far more serious than the boys she likes. Yet, she has no choice or say in the matter. 

Then the absolute unexpected happens. Mary has a visitation from an angel who informs her that God has chosen her to carry his son, the long prophesied Messiah. Confused and scared, Mary wonders why she would be chosen and how she will have a child without a husband, but the angel, Gabriel, reassures her of God's plan. Once again, Mary complies in obedience although more scared than ever of carrying a child that is not Joseph's or any man's for that matter.

While visiting her cousin, Elizabeth, Mary finds comfort with her cousin who  truly believes that Mary's unborn child is from God. Elizabeth is also pregnant, in spite of her old age and never being able to have children before. Her child was foretold by the angel Gabriel to her husband Zachariah, the High Priest. However, Zachariah refused to believe the news and lost his ability to speak. When Elizabeth gives birth to a son, John, Zachariah finally speaks and tells them that John has been chosen by God to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Mary's child. 

When Mary returns home, she must face the frightening task of revealing her pregnancy to her parents and to Joseph. Naturally Joseph is angry and confused and refuses to believes Mary's story that she is carrying God's child. Not being a cruel man, Joseph chooses to divorce her quietly, but that still doesn't keep Mary safe from her judgmental and traditional community who see her as an adulterous and immoral woman. Joseph's heart is turned when he hears Gabriel's message of Mary's honesty and innocence. He wastes no time in finding Mary and tells her that he believes her, he will stay with her and raise this child. Nothing else matters to him. Not what people say or think or even his reputation. Only his obedience to God. 

When the news of Caesar's census arrives, Mary, now heavily pregnant, and Joseph must make the long arduous trip to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed. Amid danger and fear, both find themselves growing closer to one another. Joseph protects Mary and her child from frequent attacks and Mary begins to love him new husband in a way she never imagined. 

Mary and Joseph are not the only travelers to Bethlehem. Three scholars and astrologists have been following a strange star that has been seen over a little town in Judea. In their studies they come across the prophecy of a baby boy that will be the savior of the Jewish nation. They make a trek across the desert and narrowly escape the evil trap of King Herod, who is also aware of the news of this baby and what it will mean with his relationship with Rome. 

The Wise Men or Magi arrive in a crowded town called Bethlehem and arrive at a stable that is right under the star they have been following. There they see a young woman and a young man, with a newborn baby, that they have named Jesus. In spite of their differing cultures and beliefs, the Magi accept that this child is the promised Messiah and know that God's plan for his people has now been set in motion. 

Mary and Joseph's journey is far from over, though. King Herod sends out a decree to kill all male children born within the last 6 months. Unable to return home, the young family journey to Egypt with only one another, their faith and their unwavering obedience to God and his plan for mankind. 

If you've been following me for a while, you know that I'm not afraid to speak about abortion. One of the most ridiculous arguments I read  (from Tumblr of course) was someone trying to to validate abortion by saying, 

"God really did give Mary a choice. He said, you can carry my son if you want to. If not, I'll find someone else."

 Or, "What would Jesus do? He would allow women to have their rights." 

No. He wouldn't.

I don't know what kind of Bible you're reading, but nowhere does it say that God gave Mary the choice to say yes or no. He told her that she would carry his son. The only choice that was made in the situation was Mary's choice to obey. 

In spite of what people might think, God doesn't care about your happiness or your rights. He cares about your obedience. Jesus would have pointed you to his parents. He would have said that I was an unplanned pregnancy, I could have gotten my mother killed. Instead, Mary and Joseph obeyed God, both of them having enough faith to trust in his plan, even if it might mean rejection, humiliation and even death. 

The Nativity Story really did focus on the faith of both Mary and Joseph and what they were willing to sacrifice on Earth to honor God's plan. It may not have the grand Biblical epic feel like The Ten Commandments or One Night with the King, however, it told the story in its most basic form. The story of a nation desperate for their Messiah. Of cruel rulers with no regard to life and of three men whose hearts were drawn to a divine plan. And of a young man, a young women and their unexpected baby.