My mom’s nativity scene decor has been lying to me all of these years!?

It’s easy to picture the nativity as we’ve always seen it—stable, shepherds and wise men—but some fascinating details often get overlooked. Whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are exploring it anew, let’s take a closer look at what we might have missed in the greatest story ever told.

1. No word by Joseph is ever recorded in the Bible.

The gospels never record Joseph saying a word in the Bible. Arguably outside of him naming his son Jesus, which was his instructions from Gabriel:

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.” | Matthew 1:24-25

Most biblical scholars believe that Joseph died before Jesus because he was not present at the crucifixion and Jesus entrusts His mother to the Apostle John. The last time Joseph is mentioned is when 12-year-old Jesus was separated from him and Mary in Luke 2.

2. The Wisemen did not meet baby Jesus.

First of all, it is never specified that three magi came to see Jesus; only three gifts were mentioned. In Luke 2:16 it says that the shepherds came to see the “babe” and in Matthew 2:11, it says the wisemen came to see the “young child.” The Greek word for young child was paidion, meaning little boy/little girl.

It is theorized that the wisemen’s journey would have taken them 3-12 months and Jesus could have been as old as two years when they arrived with their gifts. This is also supported by Herod’s census to kill all baby boy’s under two years of age in Matthew 2:16.

3. Jesus’ birth was most likely not in December.

The only minor details that point to Jesus’ birth not being in December is that the shepherds would not have been “watching their flocks by night” in Luke 2:8 in a cold winter month. No one really knows the exact time of year that Jesus was born. The important thing is celebrating God sending His son to save us all.

4. Mary was likely 12-14 years old when she gave birth to Jesus.

According to Jewish custom, Mary could have been betrothed by 12 years old. We imagine Mary to be a lot older because she was extremely spiritually mature. Her willingness to embrace God’s plan shows incredible maturity and trust.

“Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.’ And then the angel left her.” | Luke 1:38

5. Both Joseph AND Mary were descendants of David.

Matthew 1 outlines Joseph’s genealogy, while Luke 3 is believed by many scholars to trace Mary’s lineage. Either way, this fulfills the prophecy in 2 Samuel that the Messiah would come from David’s house.

“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.” | 2 Samuel 7:12-13

6. Joseph could have killed Mary for adultery.

Under Jewish law, betrothal was as binding as marriage, and adultery during this period was punishable by stoning (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he could have publicly accused her, but instead, he chose mercy and only planned to divorce her. But after the angel visited him in his dream, he remained in the betrothal, keeping her a virgin until Jesus was born.

7. The Star of Bethlehem might have been a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter.

One theory suggests that The Star of Bethlehem was a rare conjunction (which means two planets aligning, so they look close together in the sky) of Saturn and Jupiter, which occurred around 7-6 BC. This celestial event would have created an exceptionally bright light in the sky, guiding the Magi to Jesus.

After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! | Matthew 2:9-10

Although it’s fun to theorize about the details and history of Jesus’ life, we all know one thing for sure- Jesus was born to save us all. Without the manger, we can’t have the cross. Even though Jesus existed eternally with God in Heaven before “taking on the form of man.” John 1:1-3, 14; Phil. 2:7, One of the most beautiful things about having a relationship with Jesus is just that idea- Emmanuel (God with us.)

No matter what life is throwing your way, Jesus is always with you and He will never leave you. Merry Christmas!

If you want to hear a beautiful retelling of a classic Christmas story about forgiveness and redemption check out the SCROOGE Christmas Carol podcast!

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