The Greatest Story: Danger, Romance, Mystique, and a Message!

Every year Christians try to find just the right spin to tell an old story in a new way. From the perspective of shepherds to the account of wise men to a modern day recasting of the story, no Christmas is complete without a church, school, or community production of the nativity. Ultimately, the story of Jesus Christ's birth is a miracle in itself that needs no help.

Yet have you ever thought of the Christmas story in terms of literature?

What do you mean "literature," you might ask? Well without rehashing an academic lecture on literary criteria, let's just simply look at the nativity in the Gospels as a story.

Like Any Great Story....
Everyone has his or her take on just what quality is the most important element of a story, but let's focus on three: plot, theme, and characters.

Action!
Start with a dramatic love story. Compound the intricacy with angelic encounters and a hard-to-explain pregnancy. Toss in a subplot of political intrigue and the danger of execution by a power-threatened monarch. Add a surprise element when the birth scene unfolds in the least likely of places with visits from unexpected guests. The result is an account still as captivating today as ever.

Quite the Characters
Meet Joe the Carpenter--not to be confused with the Joe the Plumber--and yet just a little-known character until his supernatural experience. Suddenly he faces a labyrinth of emotions. Every literary critic on the planet should take a second look.

Then there's Mary and her classic line: "be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). What a response!

No study is complete without acknowledging the central character of it all: the Christ child. Juxtaposed against society's stereotype of a king, He humbly takes center stage in the drama He designed from the foundation of the world.

The Most Timeless of Themes
While the greats of the canon are celebrated for their timelessness, none compares to the eternal value of this miracle story. The hope breathed into the hearts of humbled worshipers at that manger still gives life and hope to humanity for all time.

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
I submit it is the greatest story. Whether told by an elementary class, preached by a minister, or remembered in your heart, take another look and see the beauty of the story once again.

Lagniappe
P.s. - On a related note, see what we were talking about on Word one year ago.

Images Source: http://tdwotd.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html