Good tidings of great joy

The existence or otherwise of "angels" – benevolent and invisible spiritual beings who mediate between God and His followers – is a subject which divides Christians themselves. Yet, however perplexing it may be for some, their existence is repeatedly affirmed in the New Testament, in terms which are not obviously metaphorical (see, e.g., Hebrews 1:14).

As far as the Nativity is concerned, the Gospels record several discrete episodes. Famously, the Angel Gabriel is said to have gone to Mary and foretold her pregnancy (Luke 1:26-38); a few months later, when Mary had fallen pregnant, an (unamed) angel persuaded Joseph not to renounce her (Matthew 1:20-24).

Angels are also supposed to have appeared on various occasions after Jesus' birth, most notably to "shepherds abiding in the fields watching their flocks by night" (Luke 2:8-15 (KJV)). And there were three further visitations to Joseph (Matthew 2:13, 19-20, 22).

What are we to make of all this? Joseph's experiences are explicitly described as "dreams" and I am content to understand them as premonitions of some sort, brought about by God through the Holy Spirit. Likewise the young Mary's strange encounter (which she may well have kept to herself until the end of her life, when the evangelists were gathering their material).

The account of the "star" seen by the Magi (cf. Matthew 2:2, 7-10) is intriguing. Though possibly a literary embellishment, or even (as the Eastern Orthodox Church teaches) a supernatural occurrence, there is another alternative. It may have been something quite real.

Modern astronomers have made numerous suggestions as to comets, constellations and planetary configurations visible in the Middle East during the relevant years. Incredibly, the appearance of the night sky on any given date and at any given place in the recent history of the Earth can now be represented exactly.

Here is a link to an image of the night sky as it appeared looking south from Jerusalem on 12 November, 7 BC, between 6 pm and 9:30 pm!

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Opinions about so iconic a subject as the birth of Christ will not readily be swayed by a short essay such as this. All one can ask for is open-mindedness.

Speaking for myself, the Christmas story holds water – including the Virgin Birth. If you believe on other grounds in the divinity of Jesus, it is not a giant leap. C.S. Lewis put the matter well:

I can understand the man who denies miracles altogether: but what is one to make of people who will believe other miracles and 'draw the line' at the Virgin Birth? … In reality the miracle is no less, and no more, surprising than any others.

Whether you regard that analysis as astute or as baloney, contemplation this December of Rembrandt's sublime paintings and sketches of the Nativity could do no one any harm. The birth of Jesus of Nazareth – however it happened – was the most important birth in history.