The Original Christmas Photo Blog

What if the stars of the original nativity used their photo cameras, to document everything they saw and felt? From the makers of The Church Sofa

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ten random thoughts

So.... Its now all finished

 Here are ten random thoughts that we've had while putting it together.

What would Mary and Joseph look like these days? 

How old would Mary and Joseph be?

Would they have problems finding space in a Hospital? 

Would they end up homeless for a period of time?

Are today's wise men rich?

What do the Wise Men of today do? Do the general public have access to really know? 

What does power really look like?

How welcoming are we as a country to people that need our help?

Who are the shepherds of today?

What view do we have of Christmas? 

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"Amen"

From Revelation 22

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And being found in appearance as a man,     he humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death—        even death on a cross!

 Philippians 2:8

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A number of years later, an Angel appeared to Joseph, and told him to return Home.

Based on Matthew 2

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 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,     weeping and great mourning,  Rachel weeping for her children     and refusing to be comforted,     because they are no more.”[d]

Matthew 2:16-18

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 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt...

Matthew 2:13 - 14

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12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Matthew 2

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 9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2

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Matthew 2

Visitors from the East

   Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we have come to worship him.”

 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,       are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah,    for a ruler will come from you       who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]”

 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

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They saw something in the sky, and were sent out to discover the truth.

Based on Matthew 2

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There were some wise men watching the skies...

Based on Matthew 2

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 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,       and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2:13-14

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8 That night there were some street sweepers in the streets nearby. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, 

Based on Luke 2

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...She gave birth to a son, her firstborn...

Luke 2:6

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They couldn’t find anywhere warm and sensible to go, and because the hospital couldn’t have them, they had to settle on the best shelter they could find.

Based on Luke 2:1-7

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...there was no room in the hospital...

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... they had to use the cheapest transport they could find to get there...