The Smells of Christmas

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ 

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” (Luke 2:4-16 NIV)

If I were to ask what your favorite smells of Christmas are, you would probably say the scent of the Christmas tree or the smell of fresh baked cookies, or the aroma of Christmas dinner.  During my childhood, it was the smell of pancakes.  It was our family tradition to have a pancake dinner on Christmas Eve and then open most of our presents.  

Pleasant smells are what we associate with Christmas, but the smells of the original Christmas were not that pleasant.  In the cave or stable where Jesus was born, there was the barnyard smell of livestock.  And there was the odor of human beings.  Joseph and Mary had traveled over 70 miles on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  There were no showers along the way and they were poor and probably didn’t even have a change of clothes.  There were also the shepherds who were also poor, and by definition were filthy because of their work.  Add to that the baby Jesus who dirtied His diapers just like any other baby.  These are the smells of that first Christmas.  

They are the smells of 1st Century life.  What they tell us is Jesus was born into unprivileged real life.  He was not born into royalty, but was born into poverty.  The smells tell us Jesus did not consider Himself too holy to live among us—even the poorest among us.  They tell us He is willing to go to the greatest lengths and make the great sacrifices to make it possible for us to know Him personally.  

Today, imagine the smells of that first Christmas.  They remind us just how much we are loved.  

© Jim Musser 2013