Dr.
Ken Bailey challenges the traditional Christmas narrative that proclaims that
Jesus was born in a stable because “there was no room in the inn.” Dr. Bailey,
a New Testament scholar who spent his career teaching in seminaries in the
Israel, Egypt and Lebanon, argues that the word translated as “inn” in our
English Bibles, kataluma, actually
means “guest room” or “extra room.” Kataluma
is the word used to describe the upper room where Jesus and the disciples ate
his last supper (Luke 22:11). The word for inn is a different word, pandocheion, and we hear Luke use this
wordwhen the Good Samaritan brings the beaten man to the
innkeeper (Luke 10:34).
Dr.
Bailey’s argument then extends toward a discussion of first-century
architecture. The traditional peasant home was a one room affair, with the
family’s animals, brought in each night for protection, housed at one end of
the room and the family at the other end. Some families would have been able to
build an extra room, a kataluma or
guest room, for visiting family. In Dr. Bailey’s reading of Luke’s telling of
Jesus’ birth, Jesus was born at the stable end of the family home because other
family were staying in the kataluma,
which, as Dr. Bailey points out, is to be expected given that Ceasar had
ordered a census; Joseph and Mary were not the only family visiting at that
time.
What
are we to make of Dr. Bailey’s interpretation? Is he trying to stir the pot and
upset folks? Anyone who has met Dr. Bailey will know the answer to these
questions is an emphatic no. Rather, Dr. Bailey is a humble and devout scholar
with a passion for reading the text carefully. As such, he affirms with the
traditional interpretation that Jesus was born of humble beginnings; yes, born
in a stable, just not rejected by a mean, old innkeeper. Instead, Jesus was
born in the midst of a family’s love; Mary supported in labor by her
mother-in-law and other kinswomen. Joseph counseled by his father and other
kinsmen on the challenges that lay ahead. Dr. Bailey argues that this reading
of Jesus’ birth does not diminish the love of God in sending his son, for Jesus
was still born into flesh and blood, still lived under the maniacal eye of
Herod and iron fist of Rome, still lived in the shadow of his own mortality and
a looming cross. There would be enough heartache and difficulty in Jesus’ life;
at his birth there was caring family and there was peace.
As
I roam Arizona, western New Mexico and a sliver of Utah, I am reminded
continually of the challenges facing our families, our churches and our
communities. They are vast, stark and relentless. But this week I remind us all
that before the cross came the cradle; before Jesus walked a lonesome valley he
was nurtured by loving (and courageous) parents, surrounded at birth by both
cattle and cousins. This week, as we ourselves travel to see family, please
take a moment to give thanks. If family remains distant this Christmas, pray from
afar that the bonds of communion may be renewed by the one proclaimed Prince of
Peace.
Wishing
you a Happy Fourth Sunday in Advent and a Merry Christmas,
Brad
Munroe
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