That Night in Bethlehem

That Night in Bethlehem

          This year, I was blessed with being able to play the role of Mary in my church’s Christmas night. It is a night where we deck out our church to look like Bethlehem in Jesus’ time. Tents with games and food to make a market, tax collectors, shepherds and (fake) sheep, and a time where the children get to go into the sanctuary and meet baby Jesus.

          As said above, I was asked to be Mary along side one of my good friends who was Joseph. A precious baby, who was the easiest (and most awake) baby for it being night time, was chosen to be Jesus. I came into it nervous. Being 19 and asked to hold an almost newborn for an hour and a half was a little intimidating. But I also was aware of the part I was portraying.

          I was portraying a young woman, chosen by God to bring the savior into the world.

          I took this part with the utmost respect, and reverence.

          So I got into my robe and head covering, and took my “baby Jesus” in my arms, ready for the little children to come see him, and receive candles from Joseph asking them to tell about Jesus, the light of the world.

          Now, Joseph and I were in the sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the market. It was lit with only candles and a few soft lights.

          It felt real.  

          Children began shuffling in, along side parents, who were whispering “Look, its Jesus!” and “Oh! It’s a real baby!” They came up and smiled at me, and my wide-awake Jesus telling me he was beautiful. Then answering Joseph’s request to share the light of Jesus.   

          The families coming in and out were not constant, so I did have some time alone with Joseph and Jesus. There were times if Jesus fussed, I would stand and rock or bounce letting him look around and be mesmerized. Joseph would fix my head covering occasionally as I stood, and I once handed him Jesus just to give my arms a break, and tie that darn head covering back in place.

          This felt real. Yes, it is the 21^st century, and I did not give birth to this tiny human who would one day save the world from their sins. No, I was not married to my friend who graciously sat there for that hour and a half with me. Never the less it was real to me. I tried looking at that baby through the eyes of Mary.

          “This is God.” “He is going to save the world.” “He is going to die for them.” Were all thoughts that I continued to echo in my mind as the people continued to flow through. I told “Jesus” on multiple occasions, “You have the most important role of the night you know. You are the savior of the world.” Being a baby who was fixated on the candles and lights, I didn’t get much of a response, but that’s okay.

          When I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my humility, God and a little boy decided to wreck that opinion.

          Some of the little kids had plastic crowns (that I think was from the market area…but who knows) that they wore when they came to see Jesus. Up until this point, I hadn’t thought anything about them.

          A little boy with his family came in and marveled at the sight of Jesus, whispering the same things to their kids as the families before. But this little boy, came up to my feet, and looked at Jesus. The biggest grin I had seen all night spread across his face, and said “Hi Jesus.”

          He then, took off his crown, and laid it at my feet as he bowed before Jesus.

          I lost it. Everyone in the room gasped, and the proud parents watched as their son (who was maybe 7) bowed at Jesus’ feet.

          The children were not asked to do this, and he was the only one who did. We were just roles, he did not have to bow to actors. But yet he did.

          He saw and knew that this meant so much more. It didn’t matter that this child was not Jesus, and that this church was not early century Bethlehem. But he still bowed. He still gave honor.

          He took his candle from Joseph, picked up his crown and walked out with his family. Leaving us three in the sanctuary, and leaving me humbled beyond words.

          I now understand why Luke finds it necessary in his gospel to write, “But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

          It is not every day that the Savior of the world is born on earth. In fact, it was only one. And Mary was chosen to bring that life into our wretched world. Chosen to bring God in human flesh to earth.

          The true night that Jesus was born, must have been ten times as humbling and crazy, as my night. We did not have angels singing praises to shepherds who ran to us. We did not have wise men bring us gifts. We did not have the ride to the inn, telling us no room. I did not have to give birth in a barn (praise the Lord) and lay my baby in a manger.

          But, I was blessed to see the same honor and humbling effect that the baby Jesus had on people. To not be laid incense at my feet, but a plastic toy crown. To hear people whisper, “that is Jesus”. And to see the same awe and love in people’s eyes as they looked upon this baby.

          I don’t know if that sweet baby will remember the night that he was held by some nervous 19-year-old and portray the role of Jesus. Or if he will remember all the adoring faces of children and adults beaming with happiness that their savior was born. Or that one little boy who bowed at his feet. But, this 19-year-old will do the same as young Mary did on that precious night in Bethlehem. I will treasure all that I was blessed to see, and ponder them in my heart.