Open Advent Window 5 – Mary, Joseph and Donkey

Or is it?

Reflection by James Watson
(Minister of Westbury Baptist Church)

I’ve got a secret to tell you. It’s a bit outrageous. You might get a bit angry…or upset. Are you ready?

There may have never been a donkey in the first nativity.

I know…it’s shocking! That would be like having Harry Potter without Ron and Hermione. Batman without Robin. Mario without Luigi.

But it’s true that the Bible makes no mention of Mary actually riding a donkey. It’s possible she did. Maybe even probable. But it’s not certain. And that seems wrong! Some things just go together. Fish and…chips. Bread and…butter. And one thing that goes with the nativity story is the donkey.

But in fact, it gets worse. There’s also no mention of the inn-keeper or a stable!

But you know what? Perhaps recognising that not everything we thought was in the nativity was actually there could be quite good for us. Because this helps us focus on what, or who, was there. And there was certainly Mary and Joseph. And there was certainly Jesus, God’s own Son – the Saviour of the world.

We all know that Christmas comes with all the trimmings – the trees, the lights, the turkeys, the jumpers, the presents, and even the donkeys. And these things are great! Gifts from God to be enjoyed. However, let’s not let them lead us away from the One who this is all about, but instead let them fuel our senses and imaginations with wonder and worship of him – the Lord Jesus Christ, God with us.

Print and Colour a Nativity Scene

Each Advent Day we will provide one page for you to print, colour, cut and arrange in to a Nativity Tableaux.

Introduction to the Printable Nativity Advent Calendar to ColourDownload