Bethlehem Miracle

Did you know that in ancient Israel, stables were often located in the lower levels of people’s homes? When we see paintings of nativities, we usually see a stable out in a field on a hillside, and it makes it hard to imagine it otherwise! When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem for the census, it was a busy place! They tried to find somewhere to stay and were told, “There’s no room in the inn.” Back then, an “inn” would usually refer to a guest bedroom in the home, so while there was no space in the main living areas, they were likely offered the stable in the lower part of the house. And though no one knows the exact location, there’s much reason to believe that Jesus was born in the middle of the bustling little town of Bethlehem.✨

With “Bethlehem Miracle,” I’m not trying to ruffle feathers or ruin anyone’s beautiful hillside nativity nostalgia….I love those scenes and paint them too! But I did want to show the contrast between the quiet, humble stable and the busy town around it. Everyone is so busy and focused on what they are there for, seeing friends they haven’t seen in a while, catching up and maybe even frustration and friction as normal life brings. And while the rest of the town is going about its business, the Son of God, the Savior of the world is being born right in their midst, and no one knew it! It’s a reminder of how, in the middle of everyday life, something most extraordinary was happening.✨

This one took a lot of time as I layered on gouache, acrylics, and oil pastels on hot pressed watercolor paper, and I love the end result!❤️