I love Christmas and especially, Christmas music, but arguably my favorite song virtually no one has ever heard is “Anything But A Silent Night” by Aaron Pelsue Band. [Please watch this music video. You will not be disappointed!]

Now I have previously written blog posts on three of their songs (attached below) mainly because I love their style of music, but also because they led worship at a church in Indianapolis my wife and I attended many years ago, which ironically I helped lead worship at as well.

This song, though, is absolutely worth 4-minutes of everyone’s time to enjoy because it is truly that good! Keep in mind, “Anything But A Silent Night” is actually a bonus track off their first Christmas album, “One Small Child,” so if you look for it online, you’ll be hard-pressed to find it.

Thankfully, Aaron posted this fun video online last Christmas and I’m extremely excited to help spread the word about it, because the idea behind the song challenges us to think about the Nativity from a fresh perspective.

In many ways, “Anything But A Silent Night” is an accurate description of all that transpired over 2,000-years ago for Mary & Joseph, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, especially when we examine the finer details of the Nativity story.

DIFFICULT JOURNEY:

Sometimes in the midst of holiday pageantry, we lose sight of the Christmas story and forget how grueling the journey must have been for Mary and Joseph, traveling on foot through rugged terrain, brutal weather, and dangerous conditions, simply to comply with a government mandate.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Luke 2:1–5).

An article published in 1995 by the Los Angeles Times entitled, “A Long, Cold Road to Bethlehem,” helps bring the enormity of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem into proper focus.

Writers of the gospels of Matthew and Luke “are so laconic about the [Nativity] event because they assume the reader would know what it was like,” said James F. Strange, a New Testament and biblical archeology professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Today, he added, “we have no idea how difficult it was.”

They had to travel 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. And the trip through the Judean desert would have taken place during the winter, when “it’s in the 30s during the day [and] rains like heck,” said Strange. “It’s nasty, miserable. And at night it would be freezing.”

To protect themselves during inclement weather, Mary and Joseph would likely have worn heavy woolen cloaks, constructed to shed rain and snow. Under their cloaks, the ancient residents wore long robes, belted at the waist. Tube-like socks and enclosed shoes protected the feet, Strange said.

And the unpaved, hilly trails and harsh weather were not the only hazards Joseph and Mary would have faced on their journey south. One of the most terrifying dangers in ancient Palestine was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River, Strange said. Lions and bears lived in the woods, and travelers had to fend off wild boars.

And “bandits, pirates of the desert and robbers” were also common hazards along the major trade routes like the one Joseph and Mary would have traveled, said the Rev. Peter Vasko, a Catholic priest and director of the Holy Land Foundation. The threat of outlaws often forced solitary travelers to join trade caravans for protection.

What an incredible sacrifice to make by two betrothed, young teenagers who chose to trust the promise of an angel and risk their lives in order to accept the role of adoptive parents for the Son of the Most High God.

SURVIVAL MODE:

Unfortunately, by the time they arrived in Bethlehem, all lodging options were taken. Mary was pre-labor and Joseph was desperate to find any lodging available where she could deliver her baby safely with some semblance of privacy.

Keep in mind, these weren’t veteran parents with prior children. Rather, they were inexperienced and likely scared teenagers who traveled 90 miles on foot in less than 2-weeks to reach an unfamiliar destination with no vacancy.

Undoubtedly, they were exhausted, sore, cold, hungry and thirsty, and to top it all off, Mary was likely experiencing contractions and about to give birth. Stress and anxiety were running high.

What is often overlooked, though, is how Joseph managed to collect his thoughts, manage his emotions, and shift into “survival mode.” Mary needed proper lodging from the cold and his primary role was to protect his betrothed wife as best he knew how and quickly. Truthfully, Joseph provided an outstanding blueprint of what self-sacrifice looks like as a husband.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

“Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28).

DIVINE INTERVENTION:

What is beautiful to watch is how great a man of character Joseph was. In many ways, he could have protected his own honor and had Mary stoned to death, for she was found pregnant (not of his own doing) despite being betrothed to him.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:18–19).

Jewish law provided Joseph opportune justice for the public shame Mary had brought upon him. Nonetheless, Joseph loved Mary and did not want any harm to come upon her, though he could not comprehend why all this was happening—that is, until God intervened.

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’” (Matthew 1:20–23).

What an incredible moment! In the midst of doubt and confusion, God spoke directly to Joseph’s heart and gave him the assurance he needed to see the forest through the trees and fulfill his calling to protect Mary’s health and ensure her safety.

INTEGRITY & HONOR:

Another overlooked detail is the amount of honor and respect Joseph gave Mary by not “knowing her” sexually until months after she gave birth (in order to consummate their marital covenant/union) is highly commendable.

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus” (Matthew 1:24–25).

Keep in mind, because their marriage was arranged, Joseph’s parents would have paid a bride price, thus creating a binding contract which considered Mary and Joseph married, even though an actual ceremony and consummation had not taken place yet.

Joseph knew this, though, as it was common Jewish law. Therefore, the amount of love, self-control, and personal restraint he demonstrated toward Mary is worthy of recognition, for there was nothing stopping him from “knowing” his wife sexually during her pregnancy if he so chose.

“Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Joseph exemplified what it means to be a man of integrity, showing honor to God who orchestrated this miraculous event, and to Mary by understanding how difficult this entire pregnancy was on her—physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:

Now there are varying interpretations regarding specifics of the nativity which are intriguing to consider, but are they doctrinally important?

Was Jesus born in a barn, a cave, or a peasant room? Were there many animals present, if at all? Did Mary have a mid-wife to help her deliver baby Jesus? Historians have debated questions such as these (and more) for centuries to no avail.

However, what we do know is that Jesus’s birth began in the most meager and humble of circumstances, attended by lowly shepherds, yet honored with prestigious gifts by wise men who traveled from afar to pay homage and worship the prophesied, “King of the Jews.”

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6–7).

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:15–16).

When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:10–11).

GIFT OF SALVATION:

Jesus’ entry into this world was truly extraordinary. For people expected a Savior like King David, a mighty warrior, to rescue them from the bondage of their oppressors with power and might. And in actuality, that’s exactly what Jesus did—just not how they’d envisioned.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Therefore, let us embrace the Nativity story with teachable hearts and renewed vision as we treasure what Scripture details, so that we might not take for granted the enormous gift and subsequent sacrifice God made, sending His beloved Son to earth to save us eternally from our sins.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16–17).