Sandy and I have always had nativity scenes in our home. At least one larger set on a table or mantle and a few smaller ones on our Christmas tree and/or scattered elsewhere throughout the house. Gradually, we started collecting them, one by one. And over the years, the number of our nativity sets has increased. We didn’t really intend to start a collection. It just sort of happened.
Our international mission trips became the primary impetus for this "hobby". We've always liked bringing back articles of remembrance from places we visit. And we've found that nativity sets are among the most meaningful items we can obtain.
It all started back in 1988. While in Tanzania (Africa) I happened upon a
wood carver who was making and selling large nativity sets made out of dark, heavy ebony wood. The sets were quite impressive. The pieces were very large, the tallest human figures rising to about 10 to 12 inches in height. And there were 13 figures in all—shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph, baby Jesus, animals, and an angel. So it was a massive set, once arranged and displayed.
What most intrigued me about this work of art was the ethnicity of the figures. They were clearly African. An African
Mary and Joseph, African magi and sheepherders, and an African baby Jesus in a manger! Typically, people have always tended to visualize Jesus through the lens of their own culture. For many Americans, that means seeing Jesus as a fair-skinned North American or European-looking male. And many of our manmade depictions of Jesus indeed render him that way. But Jesus actually came in the flesh as a Middle Eastern/ Jewish male. So our typical American perception of Jesus is no more accurate than that of the Africans. (Hence, we shouldn’t be so arrogant as to think we got it “right” and they got it “wrong”!)
But right then and there, in Tanzania some 20 years ago, was when I first started considering how intriguing (and precious) it was for various peoples of the world to envision the birth of Jesus against the backdrop of their own familiar cultural context. Because the Savior of the world indeed came for ALL of us.
I bought two identical ebony wood sets from the African vendor. After packing all of those heavy items and bringing them back to the States with me, I gave one of the sets to my parents as a gift. But the one we kept was destroyed when our home burned a few months later. So we lost it before we ever got to use it. Then, several years later, when my parents were downsizing and moving to a new home, they gave their set back to us. (They had tried to give it back much earlier, but we repeatedly had refused their offer.)
With the passage of time, Sandy and I collected other nativity scenes. A set from Honduras made out of brightly colored cornhusks. A simple three-piece, hand-painted wooden set from Ecuador. A beautifully crafted three-figure set from the Dominican Republic. (All of these reflecting a distinctive Spanish or Latin American flavor.) There’s also a simple olive wood nativity set from Israel. Plus, from Israel also, an olive wood Mary and child riding on the back of a donkey during their flight to Egypt. Sandy and I even have an unusual set we brought back with us from predominantly-Buddhist Cambodia, made by local Christian craftsmen there. All of these sets are hand-made. And each holds special meaning for us. For every time we look at them, we are reminded of the global scope of Jesus' redemptive mission.
The Bible frequently talks about the “nations”. When it does so, it’s not speaking of nations as we typically think of nations, i.e., political states. Rather, it’s referring to the various language groups, people groups, ethnic groups and racial groups that populate this planet. Jesus commissioned us 
to “Go and teach all nations…” And Jesus told us that before He comes again the Gospel “must first be preached to all nations.” So, God wants every unreached people group of the world to hear the good news of salvation in Christ prior to Jesus returning to gather up His own. Because someday, in Heaven, the Bible tells us that people from every tribe and every tongue will gather to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I truly look forward to that great day with anticipation and joy!
Whenever I look at our various nativity sets from around the world, it reminds me that Jesus came for people from every nation. It also reminds me we have a responsibility to take the Gospel to people of every nation. And it also reminds me that someday, around the Throne of God, we will worship together with Christian brothers and sisters representing every nation. Hallelujah! What a kaleidoscope of color and symphony of praise that will be! And what a beautiful testimony to the greatness of our God!
Hmm. When you think about it, it’s quite amazing what a little nativity set can teach you.
Pastor Danny
Our international mission trips became the primary impetus for this "hobby". We've always liked bringing back articles of remembrance from places we visit. And we've found that nativity sets are among the most meaningful items we can obtain.It all started back in 1988. While in Tanzania (Africa) I happened upon a
wood carver who was making and selling large nativity sets made out of dark, heavy ebony wood. The sets were quite impressive. The pieces were very large, the tallest human figures rising to about 10 to 12 inches in height. And there were 13 figures in all—shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph, baby Jesus, animals, and an angel. So it was a massive set, once arranged and displayed.What most intrigued me about this work of art was the ethnicity of the figures. They were clearly African. An African
Mary and Joseph, African magi and sheepherders, and an African baby Jesus in a manger! Typically, people have always tended to visualize Jesus through the lens of their own culture. For many Americans, that means seeing Jesus as a fair-skinned North American or European-looking male. And many of our manmade depictions of Jesus indeed render him that way. But Jesus actually came in the flesh as a Middle Eastern/ Jewish male. So our typical American perception of Jesus is no more accurate than that of the Africans. (Hence, we shouldn’t be so arrogant as to think we got it “right” and they got it “wrong”!)But right then and there, in Tanzania some 20 years ago, was when I first started considering how intriguing (and precious) it was for various peoples of the world to envision the birth of Jesus against the backdrop of their own familiar cultural context. Because the Savior of the world indeed came for ALL of us.
I bought two identical ebony wood sets from the African vendor. After packing all of those heavy items and bringing them back to the States with me, I gave one of the sets to my parents as a gift. But the one we kept was destroyed when our home burned a few months later. So we lost it before we ever got to use it. Then, several years later, when my parents were downsizing and moving to a new home, they gave their set back to us. (They had tried to give it back much earlier, but we repeatedly had refused their offer.)
With the passage of time, Sandy and I collected other nativity scenes. A set from Honduras made out of brightly colored cornhusks. A simple three-piece, hand-painted wooden set from Ecuador. A beautifully crafted three-figure set from the Dominican Republic. (All of these reflecting a distinctive Spanish or Latin American flavor.) There’s also a simple olive wood nativity set from Israel. Plus, from Israel also, an olive wood Mary and child riding on the back of a donkey during their flight to Egypt. Sandy and I even have an unusual set we brought back with us from predominantly-Buddhist Cambodia, made by local Christian craftsmen there. All of these sets are hand-made. And each holds special meaning for us. For every time we look at them, we are reminded of the global scope of Jesus' redemptive mission.
The Bible frequently talks about the “nations”. When it does so, it’s not speaking of nations as we typically think of nations, i.e., political states. Rather, it’s referring to the various language groups, people groups, ethnic groups and racial groups that populate this planet. Jesus commissioned us 
to “Go and teach all nations…” And Jesus told us that before He comes again the Gospel “must first be preached to all nations.” So, God wants every unreached people group of the world to hear the good news of salvation in Christ prior to Jesus returning to gather up His own. Because someday, in Heaven, the Bible tells us that people from every tribe and every tongue will gather to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I truly look forward to that great day with anticipation and joy!
Whenever I look at our various nativity sets from around the world, it reminds me that Jesus came for people from every nation. It also reminds me we have a responsibility to take the Gospel to people of every nation. And it also reminds me that someday, around the Throne of God, we will worship together with Christian brothers and sisters representing every nation. Hallelujah! What a kaleidoscope of color and symphony of praise that will be! And what a beautiful testimony to the greatness of our God!Hmm. When you think about it, it’s quite amazing what a little nativity set can teach you.
Pastor Danny
