Exploring the Nativity
Join Us Christmas EveExploring the Nativity
Join Us Christmas EveExplore the Christmas Story through the Nativity
If you look around this Christmas at any holiday decorations, you will likely see an outdoor nativity scene or a manger scene. It’s a common Christmas decoration in an endless variety of styles: lit with LED lights, hand painted, lawn ornaments, over the fireplace. But what does the nativity actually represent?
The Nativity Set is a picture of the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus) and often sets include other major characters in the Christmas story. We use these decor Nativity sets to remind us of the original Christmas story.
Explore the Christmas story through your nativity set, and have a Merry Christmas!
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Baby Jesus
Arguably the most important figure in the nativity, Baby Jesus is the central figure in the Christmas story. Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger to remind us that He came into the world with humility. Baby Jesus may be the smallest piece in a nativity set, but He sets the stage for a much bigger story. Jesus was born into the world to save us. It is because of Him that Christmas is a season of joy and celebration!
Mother Mary
Mary is the mother of Jesus. She is called “blessed” by the angels because she was given the great honor of being the human mother of Jesus. An angel appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen her to bring the savior into the world. Mary is in the Nativity scene because she was specially chosen to be Jesus’ earthly mother. Mary reminds us that God uses everyone for His purposes.
Joseph
Joseph is the earthly father of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary, his betrothed, would give birth to a son, Jesus. And so Joseph faithfully packed up his family and took them to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Joseph was a faithful follower of God and protected his family. Joseph reminds us that God protects His family: us.
The Three Wise Men
The story of the wise men, or the “magi”, is told in many Christmas carols and stories. Three kings of faraway countries saw a magnificent star in the sky and knew it meant that the savior was born. So they traveled to visit and worship this savior, Jesus. They came with the three famous gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Wise Men remind us that Jesus came for all people, no matter where they are from.
Shepherd
The night that Jesus was born, a heavenly host of angels appeared to a group of shepherds in a field. They proclaimed the coming of Jesus to the most plain and lowly of people: shepherds. These shepherds left their sheep in the fields to go worship the baby Jesus. The shepherds remind us that Jesus came for those that the world thinks are lowly and unimportant.
The Angel
The angel in the nativity scene is meant to be the angel who told Mary and Joseph that they would be the earthly parents of Jesus. It is also meant to be the angels who told the Shepherds of the coming of Jesus. God uses angels as holy messengers in the Bible. The angel reminds us that God speaks to His people.
Donkey
According to ancient prophecies in the Old Testament, the “Messiah”, or savior, was supposed to enter Bethlehem on a donkey. So Joseph and Mary rode this donkey into Bethlehem so that the prophecy would be fulfilled. The donkey reminds us that God answers His promises and provides for His people.
The Sheep
Oftentimes there is a sheep in the nativity scene. Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, so there would have been farm animals present. But the sheep has another meaning. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the “lamb of God” because He became the ultimate “passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus would one day die for our sins and become the sacrifice that covered our sins. The sheep symbolizes Jesus’ role as the lamb of God and reminds us of His work on the Cross.
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