The Christmas Story We’ve Missed
Power, Resistance, and Liberation
When you think about the Christmas story, what comes to mind? For many, it’s images of a serene nativity scene: Mary and Joseph gazing lovingly at the baby Jesus, surrounded by animals, shepherds, and a bright star overhead.
But what if the story is far more radical than we’ve been led to believe?
I want to invite us to see the birth of Jesus not as a sentimental tale, but as a powerful narrative of resistance, liberation, and hope for the oppressed. The nativity stories in Matthew and Luke weren’t written for Hallmark cards—they were proclamations of a new kind of kingdom breaking into a world of injustice.
Christmas in the Shadow of Empire
To understand the true power of the Christmas story, we have to start with its context. The birth of Jesus took place under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire. This was a world where power was concentrated in the hands of a few, where the poor were crushed under heavy taxation, and where violence was used to maintain control.
For Jewish communities under Roman rule, survival itself was an act of defiance. The nativity narratives emerged from this context of suffering and resistance, offering a vision of liberation that challenged the empire’s claims to power.
Take, for example, Luke’s account of Mary’s Magnificat:
“He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:52-53)
These aren’t just words of worship—they are a revolutionary declaration. Mary proclaims a God who overturns the existing order, lifting up the marginalized and humbling the powerful.
The Politics of the Nativity
The nativity story carries more than religion; it carries incredible economical and political weight:
A census under Caesar Augustus: This was no mere background detail. The census was a reminder of Roman control, a mechanism for taxation and exploitation.
The setting in Bethlehem: Rooting Jesus’ birth in David’s ancestral city wasn’t just about fulfilling prophecy—it was a bold statement that a new, Davidic king had arrived, one who would challenge the empire.
Herod’s violent response: The slaughter of the innocents underscores the threat Jesus posed to systems of power. From the moment of his birth, his life was a challenge to rulers who relied on domination and fear.
In both Matthew and Luke, the nativity stories proclaim that Jesus’ birth marks the arrival of a new kind of kingdom—a kingdom that stands in stark contrast to the empire.
Liberation for All Creation
This doesn’t stop at human liberation. He expands the vision to include all of creation, reminding us that the Christmas story is about cosmic renewal. The arrival of Jesus isn’t just good news for a select group; it’s a promise that all things—earth, humanity, and the systems that govern them—will be reconciled and restored.
A Story for Our Time
Why does this matter today? Because the systems of inequality, oppression, and exploitation that defined the Roman Empire still exist in different forms. The nativity story, stripped of its sentimental trappings, calls us to see Jesus’ birth as a declaration that God is on the side of the oppressed.
It challenges us to ask:
Who holds power in our world, and how is that power wielded?
Where are the marginalized voices that need lifting up?
How are we called to participate in God’s work of renewal and liberation?
Christmas isn’t just a celebration—it’s a call to action.
The birth of Jesus is a reminder that God works in the margins, that liberation begins in unexpected places, and that even in the shadow of empire, hope is breaking through.
As we prepare for Christmas this year, let’s hold onto the radical promise of the nativity story: that the world can be made new, and that we are invited to be part of the renewal.
Reflection Questions:
How does seeing the Christmas story through the lens of liberation change the way you experience it?
What does it mean for you to participate in God’s work of justice and renewal today?
Let’s explore this together—share your thoughts in the comments.