While designing and decorating our graphic for Christmas, an assistant decided to be selective with the manger post this year.
This is the area associated with nativity. The Bible says that Mary and Joseph were forced by necessity to stay in a space for animals, and used a manger as a makeshift crib for the Baby Jesus.
Trying not to separate both groups while not offending anyone, a staff member said it may require removing Palestinians and or Jews. But if they did that all that remains are assorted animals, including a few sheep and jackasses.
Christmas Nativity scenes feature Jesus, Mary, Joseph, some barnyard animals, and, of course, the three wise men led there by a star.
Within the New Testament, the story of the wise men is found only in the Gospel of Matthew. It spans 12 short verses. Three wise men arrive in Jerusalem from an unnamed location “in the East,” led by a star and in search of a new king. They make their way to Bethlehem, where they bow before Jesus and offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then, they return home by a different route.