Myth #1 - The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Magi to announce the coming of the Messiah.
An angel did appear to Zacharias, and did identify himself as Gabriel. Gabriel announced the birth of a son to him, and that this child would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. The Gospels never indicate that an angel visited Elizabeth. It is interesting to note however that Elizabeth said to Mary when filled with the Holy Spirit “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your offspring! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Obviously the Holy Spirit informed Elizabeth of the coming of the Messiah. Mary was visited by Gabriel and told that she had found favor in God’s sight and would give birth to the Son of God. Joseph it says was visited in a dream by an angel of the Lord. He was told the child was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Joseph was visited again by an angel of the Lord in his dreams and told to flee to Egypt, shortly after the visit of the Magi. In Egypt, Joseph was told in a dream to return to Israel now that Herod had died and it was safe for them to return. However, when he heard that Herod’s son was ruling in Judea, he was again warned in a dream to go to Galilee instead. The Gospels do not say who the “angel of the Lord” was, or why Joseph was only communicated to in dreams. The Shepherds were visited by an “Angel of the Lord” which may have been Gabriel, but is never identified as such. The Magi learned of the new born king of the Jews by observing the stars and signs in the night sky. They were warned in a dream by God not to return to Herod, and instead went back to their own country another way.
Myth #2 - Mary and Joseph could not get a room in the “inn” so Jesus was born in a barn surrounded by barnyard animals and laid in a manger filled with hay.
Christmas plays always depict Mary and Joseph standing at the door of a building the Bethlehem equivalent of the Motel 6, being told there is no room in the inn. They then mosey around back and camp out in the barn, always filled with sheep, horses, cows, and chickens. The little baby Jesus is then wrapped up and placed in a hay filled manger, or feed trough. But, where was this manger located? Luke says there was no room, or space (greek=topos) for them in the guestroom (greek=kataluma). If Luke had wanted to use the word for an “inn” he could have. Luke uses that exact word when he relates Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34). The word used for the place where the Good Samaritan takes the man injured by robbers is “inn” (greek=pandocheion). Luke also has a word for “guestroom” that he uses when describing the upper room or guest room (kataluma) where the disciples and Jesus held the last supper and celebrated the Passover together (Luke 22:11). So, Joseph and Mary laid the baby Jesus in a manger because there was no room in the guestroom. In first century middle eastern houses, the top floor was the sleeping quarters. The bottom floor was typically used as a kitchen area. At night, animals were brought into the first floor area to keep them safe from danger and theft. It is logical that Joseph and Mary were staying at a relative’s house, as this is where Joseph’s family is from. The upper floor/guest room was already full, but Joseph and Mary stayed downstairs. A manger more than likely would have been in the lower level of the house for the animals. It is not known whether the animals were allowed to stay in the house while a pregnant Mary was staying there, but I imagine they were moved outside temporarily.
Myth #3 - The Shepherds heard a multitude of heavenly hosts singing “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
The shepherds were visited by a multitude of heavenly hosts, but they did not sing. They are reported as saying, not singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Myth #4 - Three Kings from the East brought gifts to the baby Jesus. They followed a blazing star in the night sky which led them directly to the place in Bethlehem where Jesus was.
