News of the unfortunate couple no doubt spread through the crowded inn that morning. It’s bad enough traveling while pregnant, but to have to give birth in a barn couldn’t have been any fun. Most likely a few curious guests wandered out to the stable to see what was up. I imagine the conversation went something like this.
Guest: “Such a beautiful baby. What’s his name?”
Mary: “We named him Jesus.”
Guest: “Oh. Is that from your side of the family, or your husband’s?”
Joseph: “Neither. An angel appeared to me in a dream and told me to name him that because it means ‘Savior’, and this baby is going to save people from their sins.”
Mary: “And we plan to call him ‘Emmanuel’, or maybe just ‘God with us’ as the prophet Isaiah said we would.”
Guest: “Umm. Very interesting.”
Mary: “Thanks. And by the way, I’m still a virgin.”
Guest: “OK. Well, nice talking to you. See you at the breakfast buffet.”
When I read the words “God with us”, I felt a literal sense of relief, as I do each time I read those words!
Blessings to you and your family this Christmas season!