Who Was In Bethlehem?

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Nativity scenes are abundant this time of year. They serve as a reminder of the birth of a Savior. Since we don’t really know what Mary, Joseph, or Jesus looked like, I prefer simple silhouettes, similar to the one above. It forces us to use our imagination of that glorious night. 

Many depictions include shepherds and wise men in the scene. We know the shepherds were there, but we aren’t told how many of them came. Since the wise men were traveling far from the East, we can assume it took them a while to get there, and didn’t arrive until much later. The gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh make it easy for us to believe there were three wise men. However, we can’t be certain since the Bible doesn’t specify.

One thing we can be sure of is this… No matter who all was present on that night in Bethlehem… Jesus was there. Immanuel, God With Us. He was there in a manager, there on a cross, there in a tomb, and is there at the right hand of the Father. 

This Christmas, I pray that I keep my focus on the One that was born, the One that Died, and the One that rose again. 

Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 & 2

Because of Bethlehem - Matthew West


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