Some Christmas Cards Don't Show the Correct Story of Jesus' Birth

If you want to know the real story about the birth of Jesus, read what is in the Bible, specifically in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Do not rely on what you see on some Christmas cards. Card companies mix and match scenes surrounding Jesus' birth and put them all on the same card. Some people were not with Jesus when He was a baby in a manger, as is shown on the Nativity scene on some Christmas cards.

The Magi (Wise Men)

A popular Christmas card features a picture of the Three Wise Men (also known as the Magi). There is nothing really wrong with showing only three wise men, but people should know that there were more than three. It was an entire caravan of at least twelve of them. Understandably, only three wise men took center stage because they presented three gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Scripture does not say that the Magi saw the newborn baby in a manger, but that is what people believe. Let's set the record straight. The Wise Men did not arrive until about two years after Jesus was born. The trip was long, and remember the star took them in a roundabout way to Jerusalem before continuing to Bethlehem. While there, King Herod asked them questions about Jesus because he had a plot in mind. Herod felt threatened and wanted to know where Jesus was (Matthew 2:1-12).

By the time the Magi reached their destination, Jesus was not a newborn. He was a “young child.” The family was no longer in a stable, and Jesus was not in a manger. The family was living in a house.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him." (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus was approaching two years old. That's why Herod sent out a decree for all boy babies two years old and under to be killed (Matthew 2:16). So, you see, the Wise Men did not visit the young child until much later. The lowly shepherds did arrive on the night of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:8-20). They are seen on some Christmas cards and in the Nativity scene below.

The Nativity Scene

Whenever you see the Nativity scene on a Christmas card or in a painting, it will have a big group of people and animals. However, not all those in the Nativity scene were present at Jesus' birth. People should know that only Mary, Joseph, and the animals in the stable were present at that time.

The Nativity scene you see on Christmas cards is similar to the end of a play when the entire cast comes out to take a bow, even though not everyone was present in every part of the play.

Song: “Joy to the World”

On Christmas cards, the song mistakenly says, “The Lord HAS come” rather than the correct lyric: “The Lord IS come.”

Some Christmas cards have the lyrics of the first verse of “Joy to the World” written by Isaac Watts, who composed it based on Psalms 98. The words on some Christmas cards are wrong. Watts wrote, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come,” not “Joy to the world! The Lord has come” as many people sing, and Christmas cards depict.

Variety of Christmas Cards

Not all Christmas cards are religious. They may feature biblical scriptures or Christian symbols, such as the Magi, the Nativity scene, or the Star of Bethlehem. Other Christmas and winter symbols are also printed on some cards.

Often, the cards have traditional seasonal greetings, such as “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” or “Season's Greetings.” A popular wish on Christmas cards is “Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”

Secular symbols include Santa Claus, reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, caroling, shopping, and decorations. The centerpiece of the decoration is the Christmas tree, along with a wreath, poinsettia, candles, holly, and mistletoe.

Final Thoughts

We must keep in mind that makers of greeting cards might not have searched the scriptures before designing some Christmas cards.

No matter what picture is on the Christmas cards you receive, and no matter what picture is on the Christmas cards you send, the Christmas greeting from this writer is very simple.