I recall as a child my siblings and I receiving a ‘lift the flap’ storybook in the shape of Noah’s ark. It was fun to open the little windows and see inside the ark. Thankfully children’s Bible storybooks often simplify the biblical accounts found within scriptures. So, while we children thought Noah gathered only two of every kind of animal, as an adult I would come to understand his ark manifest was a bit more detailed: “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female” Genesis 7:2 (KJV). The traditional nativity scene depicting the birth of Christ is no different.
The history of our much loved traditional nativity scene can be found in the Smithsonian Magazine short essay “The Nativity Scene Was Created in 1223“. As well, during the week long series, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland of Believer’s Voice of Victory joined by their daughter, Kellie Copeland, dig deeper into the biblical history behind our traditional nativity scene.
Many details including time frames, locations, and the wise men’s visit have been composited into one very special night. And that’s absolutely okay by me. Our much loved and traditional nativity scene gathers all the essential, historical and biblical details together for us to reflect, to celebrate, and to honor the much awaited birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11 (KJV).
Image by Christoph Meinersmann from Pixabay
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