Nathan Gwilliam Blog :: Social Media, Social Entrepreneurship, Faith

On this beautiful Easter when we celebrate the resurrection of the Savior, I remember a gospel doctrine lesson I taught over a year ago about the symbols at the birth of Christ. Most of the members of the class had heard and read the story of the birth of Christ many times and knew the facts, such as the star, the stable, the manger, the shepherds, the gifts of the wise men, etc. My goal in this lesson was to help us understand the reasons why the story has these elements, and how these elements are not just facts of a beautiful story, but are themselves essential witnesses of Christ.

I compiled this list of symbols from various sources, such as the Gospel Doctrine manual, Truman Madsen, and lesson outlines posted by other Gospel Doctrine teachers. As such, I do not take credit for most of this list. All things testify of Him, and so with the symbolism of the babe of Bethlehem:

1. SPRING: It was spring, the season when life begins, when Christ was born and he came to bring life to the world.

2. PASSOVER: It was during the season of Passover, when the Jews were remembering their deliverance from Egypt that Jesus was born into the world as the Deliverer from death and sin.

3. TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM: Luke 2:4 – In order to fulfill the requirements of the census or registration, Joseph and Mary had to travel between 80 and 92 miles, depending on which rout was taken from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. The last leg from Jericho through the desert of Bethlehem (if that is the rout they took) is an uphill climb of 3,300 feet. 80 miles doesn’t seem like much to us in our day. We can drive that distance in an hour and a half. Consider walking that distance, or riding a donkey on unfinished roads while 9 months pregnant. This difficult road Joseph and Mary traveled is a symbol of difficult roads we must travel in our lives. However, if we successfully follow these roads, will reach the foreordained destination in our lives.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “We cannot suppose that a considerate and loving husband, having a wife big with child, would cause her to walk, or ride a slow stepping donkey, or traverse in any manner the dusty roads of Palestine, camping out overnight as they traveled—all as the hour of her confinement approached—unless there was a reason. Joseph and Mary were going to Bethlehem for a purpose. It was the one and only place where the Messiah could be born, and we cannot but suppose that they knew it and acted wittingly.” (Mortal Messiah, 1:341)

4. ROYAL LINEAGE: Luke 2:1&4 – Christ was the literal heir to be King of Israel had it not been under Roman bondage. Yet, His kingdom was not of this world.

Elder James E. Talmage: ‘Had Judah been a free and independent nation, ruled by her rightful sovereign, Joseph the carpenter would have been her crowned king; and his lawful successor to the throne would have been Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ (Jesus the Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1948], p. 87).” (Robert J. Matthews, Behold the Messiah [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994], 78-79.)

5. CITY OF DAVID: Luke 2:4 – It was in the City of David (Bethlehem) where Christ came, a Son of David, to be the King of kings.

6. BETHLEHEM / HOUSE OF BREAD: Luke 2:4 – Bethlehem in Hebrew means “house of bread,” and Christ was born there to be the Bread of Life to a spiritually hungry world.

7. LITERAL BIRTH: Luke 2:6 – In Portugues “give birth” is “dar a luz”. In Spanish it is “dio a luz”. Both of these are directly translated as “give light”. On that holy night the world was given light as the Light of the World was born.

8. NO ROOM IN THE “INNS”: Luke 2:7 – In what ways do people today refuse to make room for the Savior in their lives? What can we do to make room for him in our lives? In Bethlehem, “there was no room for them in the inn,” but the Joseph Smith Translation tells us: “There was none to give room for them in the inn” (JST Luke 2:7) It is hard to imagine that no one could find room for a woman who was clearly in travail and close to delivery. But, apparently, it wasn’t just a question of room, but, as it always is, of heart. This is a symbol of our lives and our willingness to make room for Him.

9. HUMBLE BIRTH: Luke 2:7 – Christ came in humility to Bethlehem, with an estimated population at the time of about 25 families, yet he came to be the King of kings to rule the earth. He was the creator of the star that shone, the rock manger he laid his head on. He was the creator of everything grand, yet he chose to come into the most humble circumstances. He was clothed in swaddling clothes, not fine linens. The least among you shall be the greatest. The Greatest of all would enter mortality in virtually the humblest circumstances imaginable. Christ was born and died with virtually nothing of this earth. Christ’s humble birth was a symbol of his condescension, and our need to humble ourselves to be like Him. How did these circumstances foreshadow his mortal ministry and his atoning sacrifice? If the Savior can condescend to come to earth to do the will of the Father, then surely we should humble ourselves and submit our will to the Father.

Orson F. Whitney: “We are too prone to judge by outward appearances. Men are often estimated by what they possess of this world’s goods. What would the answer have been two thousand years ago had the question been asked: Who is the greatest man in all the world? Augustus Caesar, the Roman emperor, would doubtless have been the general reply. It would certainly not have been Jesus of Nazareth. And yet in the body of that babe, who was born in a manger, was enshrined the spirit of a God. He came to save that great emperor, if he would be saved. Jesus was infinitely the greater, though cast out and spit upon, and hung as one accursed upon the cross.” (Brian H. Stuy, ed., Collected Discourses, 5 vols. [Burbank, Calif., and Woodland Hills, Ut.: B.H.S. Publishing, 1987-1992], vol. 2, June 21, 1891)

10. STONE MANGER: Luke 2:7 – We have been trained by European nativity scenes to think of the manger as a wooden trough. In Palestine, animals were fed from stone troughs. Even the resting place of the infant Jesus was symbolic. The Rock of Israel was laid in a stone crib.

11. CAVE: Again, the European nativity scenes generally depict the stable as a wooden building. However, it is commonly believed that the stable was actually a cave where animals were held. This cave where Christ was born was also a symbol of death and burial in the tomb, which was also a cave.

12. SACRIFICIAL LAMBS: Luke 2:8 – This is one of the most misquoted scriptures in the Bible. We generally hear that the shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks”. However, the verse actually reads “flock” not “flocks”. Some authorities propose that the flocks destined for sacrifice on the great altar of the Temple were kept year round in the fields near Bethlehem. Lambs to be sacrificed in the temple roamed its countryside, and Christ was born to be the sacrificial Lamb.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “In the fields of Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem and the Temple of Jehovah, there were shepherds watching their flocks by night. These were not ordinary shepherds nor ordinary flocks. The sheep there being herded—nay, not herded, but watched over, cared for with love and devotion—were destined for sacrifice on the great altar in the Lord’s House, in similitude of the eternal sacrifice of Him who that wondrous night lay in a stable, perhaps among sheep of lesser destiny…. As there were many widows in Israel, and only to the one in Zarephath was Elijah sent, so there were many shepherds in Palestine, but only to those who watched over the temple flocks did the herald angel come; only they heard the heavenly choir.” (Mortal Messiah, 1:347)

13. PRINCE OF PEACE: What did the angels say as they announced Jesus’ birth? (See Luke 2:13–14.) How has Jesus glorified the Father? How has he brought peace and goodwill to all people and to you personally? Christ came to be the Prince of Peace, born in a land that had been vanquished by foreign conquerors for centuries, born near Jerusalem, which has been destroyed and rebuilt dozens of time.

14. SHEPHERDS: The news of his birth was proclaimed to the shepherds, who came to visit the baby born to be the Good Shepherd. What can we as shepherds in Israel do to follow their example?

15. POOLS OF SOLOMON: Bethlehem’s Pools of Solomon were a principle clean water source for Jerusalem. Christ was born near these pools and his mission was to be the source of living water.

16. SHEPHERDS CAME WITH HASTE: Luke 2:16 – After the angels appeared to the shepherds, the came with haste. They didn’t wait. Their action is a symbol of our need for immediate obedience to the Lord’s commands so that we are able to come to him.

17. SHEPHERDS MADE IT KNOWN ABROAD: Luke 2:17 – Not many people were privileged to know the Savior at the time of his birth. The Shepherds who did have this privilege, were commanded to proclaim it to others. A very small percentage of the people on the earth or who have ever lived the earth have had the privilege to know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who have his privilege have been commanded to proclaim it to others. The shepherds at the time of Christ making the glad tidings known abroad is a symbol of our responsibility to share our witnesses of Christ once we have the privilege of knowing him.

18. MARY PONDERING IN HER HEART: Luke 2:19 – After Jesus’ birth and the visit of the shepherds Mary pondered those things in her heart. Like Mary it is important for us to take time to cherish and ponder sacred experiences and responsibilities.

Elder James E. Talmage: “There is meaning as deep as the pathos that all must feel in the seemingly parenthetical remark by Luke. ‘But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.’ It is apparent that the great truth as to the personality and mission of her divine Son had not yet unfolded itself in its fullness to her mind. The whole course of events, from the salutation of Gabriel to the reverent testimony of the shepherds concerning the announcing angel and the heavenly hosts, was largely a mystery to that stainless mother and wife” (Jesus the Christ, p95).

19. CIRCUMCISION AFTER 8 DAYS: Luke 2: 21 – According to Truman Madsen, Christ was circumcised after 8 days, and this is a symbol that a child is not accountable until 8 years of age.

20. SACRIFICE TO REDEEM FROM TEMPLE SERVICE: Luke 2:24 – Christ’s parents offered a traditional sacrifice to redeem their newborn son from otherwise required temple service. This was a symbol that Christ was the sacrifice to redeem the world.

21. NAMING OF JESUS – Luke 2:21 – In Hebrew Christ was named “Yeshua”, which is in English translated to “Jesus”. This means “Savior” or “Salvation”.

22. ADOPTIVE FATHER/STEPPARENT: Luke 2:33 and Matt 1:24 – Christ was adopted by Joseph, and so we are adopted into the family of Christ when we are baptized.

23. PART HUMAN/PART GOD: Matt 1:20 – God was Christ’s literal father and Mary, a mortal woman was his mother. As such, Christ was part God and part human. This is symbolic of how each of us is also part human and part God. We are each Gods in embryo who need to overcome the natural man

24. WISE MEN SEEKING JESUS: Matthew 2:1–2 – “Wise men from the east” sought Jesus. The Bible Dictionary teaches that these “Maggi” may have been prophets. This is a symbol of how wise men and women still seek him today.

25. STAR LIGHT: Matt 2:2 – A new star, brighter than any other, shone over Bethlehem to announce Christ’s birth, as He came to be the Light of the world.

26. STAR MOVEMENT: Matt. 2:9 – Only recently did I realize that the star moved as it guided the wise men to the babe of Bethlehem. Matt 2:9 says that “The star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child wad. This star movement is a symbol for our lives and how we must take the first steps in following Savior. Then, when we obediently reach that point, more light and knowledge can be given to lead us to our next destination, or the next step in our progression or journey.

27. SYMBOLISM OF GIFTS: Matthew 2:11 – The three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh which the wise men brought to the Christ child were also symbols. The gold symbolized Christ’s royalty. The frankincense, which was burned by the priests in religious rites, symbolized the priesthood Christ held. The myrrh symbolized Christ’s death as it was used in the embalming of bodies prior to burial. What gifts can we offer to the Lord?

28. HEROD’S HATRED: Matthew 2:6 & 13 – Herod was threatened by this story of a baby born to be the King of the Jews. He wanted to find Jesus so that he could destroy this threat to his rule. This hatred is a symbol of eternal hatred of forces who had fought against Christ and his followers and who would fight against him throughout his life.

29. CHRIST’S PRESEVATION FROM HEROD: Matthew 2:13–14 – An angel was sent to warn Joseph to take his family and flee into Egypt to protect them from Herod. This divine protection as an infant is a symbol of divine assistance Christ would receive and possess throughout his life until His time of martyrdom, and how we can be likewise preserved.

30. HEROD’S INFANTICIDE: Matt 2:16 – When the wise men did not return to report to Herod of Christ’s location, as they had promised, Herod became “exceedingly wroth” and send soldiers to kill all of the children two years old or younger in the region around Bethlehem. This failed infanticide of Christ is a symbol that the Christ’s death would ultimately not have power over Him.

31. GRACE FOR GRACE: D&C 93:12-13 – In his preparation to be our Redeemer, Jesus did not receive all the necessary intelligence, power, wisdom, and glory at once. He received these things “grace for grace,” or a little at a time. This gradual enlightenment is a symbol of our spiritual preparation and progression. (D&C 93:20 – How does this truth apply to us? Preparation precedes power.

President Thomas S. Monson: “When we contemplate the eternal nature of our choices, preparation is a vital factor in our lives. The day will come when we will look back upon our period of preparation and be grateful that we properly applied ourselves… Preparation precedes power. To obtain the knowledge and skill we require need not be an insurmountable task if we adopt for our pattern the experience of the sons of Mosiah. Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, when he met the sons of Mosiah journeying toward the land of Zarahemla. Alma rejoiced “exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and had searched the scriptures diligently that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore, they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.” (Alma 17:1-3) (Pathways to Perfection, 276-277)

Posted on March 23rd, 2008 by Nathan Gwilliam
Filed under: Faith, Jesus Christ