A gentle warmth spreads through the small cave as the soft crackling of the fire illuminates every corner of the white limestone walls. At the entrance, enclosed by a wooden fence, stands a small gate through which the sheep pass. Inside, a young man and woman sit quietly, chatting with a boy who looks a little younger. The cave floor is thickly layered with straw, and unused bundles of hay are stacked high against one wall. As if someone had carefully tidied up after taking the sheep out to pasture, there isn’t a trace of the usual filth or refuse found in villages. Even the feeding trough gleams, polished to a shine.
All the sheep of Bethlehem are destined for temple sacrifices-sin offerings and guilt offerings for forgiveness, burnt offerings to please God, peace offerings to restore fellowship with Him. The shepherds who raise these unblemished lambs are no less devoted than the priests who perform the rituals. In this stable, their zeal for God infuses every aspect of life.
A small insect chirps somewhere in the cave. In a dark corner, a baby bat slowly opens its round eyes, waking from its slumber, while a lizard emerges from a crevice in the rock. At the entrance, a procavia pokes its cute face inside, and a mountain bird that has soared all day comes in to rest its wings. Even the donkey, weary from the long journey, lifts its head and lets out a soft, quiet bray.
Above, the Milky Way shines brilliantly in the night sky, bathing them in starlight. The wind that roams the wilderness pauses and lingers around the cave. Branches and blades of grass sway gently in the breeze, leaning toward the cave as if trying to draw nearer. On this beautiful and silent night, the world’s attention seems to focus on this humble cave.
* * *
"Have you eaten, mister? And how about you?"
"We had a little on the way up."
"A pregnant woman shouldn’t eat so little. Wait a moment, I’ll bring some water and food."
"You don’t have to go to so much trouble… How can we ever thank you?"
"It’s nothing. It’s simply what anyone should do."
A smile quickly spreads across the boy’s face.
"Thank you so much."
"By the way, may I ask how old you are? You don’t look much younger than us."
"I’m fourteen."
"Ah, then just call me ‘bro’ instead of ‘mister.’ I’m not that old."
"Wait, you’re not a mister?"
Joseph wiped the dust off his face and proudly pushed it forward.
"Ta-da!"
"Oh… so you really are a bro, huh?“
She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Pff, hahaha. Oh, my stomach hurts because this is so funny. Hahaha. Hmmm... hehe."
Mary couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. It was understandable; anyone would react that way seeing Joseph’s expression.
"I’m just teasing. You really are a bro."
"R-right? I’m not that old…"
"You’re a funny kid."
"Of course. Do you know how hard I try?"
"In what way?"
"I read a lot of books. I can’t go now because I’m busy, but when I was younger, I would spend all day at the library. You’ve never been to the Library of Alexandria, have you? You wouldn’t believe it, but there are over 700,000 documents and more than 100,000 books."
"Wow. The library must be enormous."
"It is. It’s truly amazing when you see it in person. If you ever have the chance, you should definitely visit Alexandria."
"We will."
"Oh, look at me. I’ll go get the food quickly."
The boy dashed away.
"Oh my goodness, I’m losing my mind."
"But it was fun."
"Yes, I thought so too. God really guides us in ways we never expect."
"That’s true. Oh, my stomach still hurts from laughing so much."
"But do I really look that old?"
"No, you’re fine… Ah…"
Mary clutched her belly.
"What’s wrong?"
"I think the baby is coming."
Startled, Joseph spread his cloak over the soft straw and helped Mary lie down. Warm water was needed, but he couldn’t leave her side until the boy returned. Joseph had no idea what to do in this unfamiliar situation. All he could do for his wife, struggling with contractions, was hold her hand tightly, sharing in her pain and distress.
* * *
The whole house was quiet, as if everyone had fallen asleep. Because of this, the boy knew he would have to be extra careful and discreet in carrying out his plan to bring food and water. If he woke even one person, he would surely face his father’s angry scolding the next morning.
He crept quietly to the kitchen and carefully checked each container, scooping out portions to bring to the two guests. Holding a large bowl filled with food tucked under one arm, he carried an empty water bucket in the other hand, doing his best not to make a sound.
"Oops."
The bucket he was holding slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a thud. Fortunately, it didn’t break. As he sighed in relief and reached for it again, a large shadow appeared.
"What are you doing?"
A low voice. It was his father.
"Ah… well…"
"Speak clearly so I can understand you."
"I… I was hungry."
His father looked at him disapprovingly. The boy, flustered and red-faced even in the darkness, clung tightly to the food bowl and water bucket.
"Tsk tsk. That’s what happens when you keep wandering around… Will that be enough to fill you? Take this as well."
His father handed him a large piece of unleavened bread-a fresh loaf no one had touched.
"Th-thank you."
"What are you waiting for? Eat."
"Um… I feel a bit stuffy inside. I’ll eat outside and come back."
His father’s face darkened.
"I-I’m sorry."
"Sigh… Fine, you’d disturb the others if you stayed. Eat quickly and come back in. It’s cold, so don’t wander around again."
"Okay…"
The boy stepped outside and glanced back. He thought he glimpsed his father’s figure behind the tightly closed door. For reasons he couldn’t understand, his father was occasionally kind to him-sometimes when he was in an unusually good mood, or after something difficult had happened. If he had a conscience, perhaps his kindness now was driven by guilt over how he’d treated the two guests earlier. Maybe he needed to reassure himself that he wasn’t a bad person. But these confusing changes only made the boy trust him less. Not wanting to dwell on it, the boy took a deep breath, turned, and hurried toward the well.
* * *
The labor pains continued for quite some time. Mary was experiencing the travail of childbirth, just as God had declared to Eve:
"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth; with pain you will give birth to children."
It was the pain of childbirth that all women have endured since the beginning of time-a pain no mother can escape. But for Mary, exhausted from the long journey, it was even harder to bear. If she were at home, her mother would have helped her, but here there was only Joseph, who knew nothing about childbirth, and herself. Just as Eve had faced childbirth alone, without any help or guidance, so now did Mary. Yet, since God does not allow trials beyond what people can endure, Mary, like Eve before her, would overcome this hardship on her own.
"Waaah."
A loud cry echoed through the stable.
"Waaah, waaah."
The Son of God was born in human flesh. The Most High had come into the world at its lowest place.
"You went through so much. Are you alright?"
Joseph, tears in his eyes, looked at Mary with a mixture of worry and gratitude.
"How’s the baby?"
Joseph gently lifted the baby to show Mary. In his slightly trembling hands was a beautiful, tiny life, breathing softly.
"Isn’t he beautiful?"
"Yes."
"Hold him."
Mary cradled the baby in her arms. In a corner of the village where no one rejoiced at his birth, a child had been born-a child destined to live and die according to God’s plan. The Son of God, born as the Son of Man. Jesus Christ, who came to save humanity. He would live as the Son of Man, without miracles, until he was anointed and the Holy Spirit came upon him. With the heart of God, experiencing human life in its fullness, he would pass through all the world’s trials and remain without sin. Like the unblemished lambs of Bethlehem, wholly prepared for sacrifice, he would devote every moment of his life to God.
Outside, the wind wandered around the cave, as birds and insects sang joyfully. Trees and grasses swayed in the breeze, dancing in celebration of the Savior’s birth. Small animals that had entered the cave hopped excitedly, as if cheering the arrival.
If they could speak, they would have cried out like this.
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
The passage from Genesis 3:16, Matthew 21:9 quoted in this narrative is taken directly from the World English Bible (WEB) translation.
Listen to the audiobook now.
