The Bible tells us Jesus was God, but He was also human in every way that counts. God chose to live the full picture of being human.
And young Mary and Joseph were definitely human.
We often picture a nice Hallmark card nativity scene. Mary and Joseph have every hair in place. Their clothes are clean. They look happy and peaceful.
We buy into the Away In A Manger song that says, “The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.” The Bible does not say that at all. He likely cried like any other baby.
He needed his diapers changed. He needed to be fed. He needed to be burped.
Mary had just endured a journey while being close to time to deliver. With a crowd of people headed for Bethlehem for the census, it is likely they made their journey in plenty of traffic. Were they worried about whether they would get there before she delivered?
I wonder how many questions Mary and Joseph had to answer about the unusual pregnancy. We never hear that side of the story. Was there gossip? Was there finger pointing and judgement? Was there curiosity about how such a thing had happened?
And once they got to where they were going, how did Mary and Joseph feel about ending up with the animals? Did they have any thoughts that a very pregnant woman deserved some better accommodations?
But perhaps Mary and Joseph were so tired, they may have been grateful to bunk in with the animals away from the noise of prying people.
And what about the birth itself? If everything went according to human scenarios, Mary had labor pains. We don’t know for how long.
If Jesus was not spared the pain of crucifixion, it is unlikely Mary would have been spared the pain of childbirth.
Did Joseph deliver Jesus? Did an unnamed relative help? Were the animals in the way? Who cleaned up after the birth?
Even though it might shake up our picture perfect nativity scene, it is possible Jesus’ first cries were heard by his exhausted parents lying in uncomfortable, itchy hay with the smell of animal excrement in their nostrils.
Why even think of it this way?
Because Jesus comes to us in our very real world of unexpected joys and sorrows. He comes to us when life isn’t working like we planned.
He comes to us when our backs are against the wall and we don’t know what we are going to do next.
He comes to us in our pain, in our questioning of why we have to have pain. He pushes on us and then gives us moments to rest.
He tears through our defenses and bursts into our world whether we are ready or not.
He comes to us in our exhaustion and in the middle of our messes. He cries, He poops, He pees with us.
But He also smiles, laughs and reaches out and touches our face, like we are the most special people in His World.
He doesn’t care whether we look picture perfect or not. He sees us as we are and He loves us. He has come to stay.
I wonder what Jesus was like as a toddler. What was His First Word? Do we maybe have no record of his toddler antics because Mary was too tired to record anything after running after Him all day? (Toddler mothers will understand.)
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things… He had to be made like His brothers in every respect.
Hebrews 2:14 and 16
Jesus came to be like us so He can reveal to us how much we are like Him!
