The Nativity Story

While Jules’ adaptations of the Nativity story may be innovative interpretations, the story that has been passed down for millennia is much more straightforward.

In the Bible, the accounts of the story vary based on which book you are reading, The Gospels of either Matthew or Luke, but the basics of the story are similar.

Young Mary is engaged to Joseph. An angel appears to Mary and tells her that she will bear God’s child, the savior. In Matthew, Joseph is upset by Mary’s pregnancy out of wedlock (he doesn’t know it’s God’s child), so he’s going to quietly end the betrothal. In Matthew’s account, an angel appears to Joseph and reveals God’s plan and that Joseph is an important part of it. In Luke’s version, Joseph and Mary travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted for the census. Mary is pregnant as they travel, and when they arrive in Bethlehem she is about to give birth. There is no room at an inn, so they go to the stable.

Mary gives birth amongst the animals in the stable and places the baby Jesus in a manger.

In most accounts, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are visited by several guests after the birth. A group of shepherds arrives after being visited by a holy angel heralding Jesus’ birth. In most versions, the holy family is also visited by three wise men from afar bearing gifts for the child.