043 The Forgotten Nativity with Julie Remington

Send us Fan Mail Your mental picture of the Nativity might be built on a few tiny assumptions that snowballed into a whole Christmas “scene” we all take for granted. Jessica sits down with author Julie Remington to pull those assumptions apart gently and rebuild the story using what Luke and Matthew actually say, what Bible translation choices imply, and what archaeology suggests about daily life in first-century Judea.  Julie shares why she wrote The Forgotten Nativity, a historically accurate children’s book that refuses to settle for the usual romanticized stable, pale-skinned characters, and one-size-fits-all “Bible robe” visuals. We talk about why illustrations matter for faith formation, how creators can sort through conflicting sources, and what it looks like to imagine responsibly when the text is silent. Along the way, we tackle details people rarely discuss out loud: What did homes look like? Where would animals be at night? What kind of jewelry did women wear? How do we think about Mary and Joseph’s likely ages without importing later tradition?  Then we zoom in on the big shift: Luke 2’s “no room in the inn” and why the Greek points to a guest room in a family home. That changes everything, including the meaning of the manger as a sign and the emotional feel of the incarnation. We also explore why the shepherds were likely local village kids, why girls can fit the scene, and why portraying Mary’s labor with a midwife and other women may be the most historically grounded choice of all. Julie also explains her use of reconstructed Aramaic names and an accessible, neurodivergent-friendly font for young readers.  If you care about Bible context, the historical Nativity, and giving your family a Christmas story that feels rooted in real history, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Christmas traditions, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Additional Resources: Kenneth Bailey's chapter: https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/2568-excerpt.pdf Nativity Paper Dolls: https://wewhothirst.com/product/small-nativity-paper-dolls/ With house: https://wewhothirst.com/product/historically-accurate-nativity-bundle/ Advent Devotional and Calendar: https://wewhothirst.com/product/advent-devotional-calendar/ Podcasts:013 Historical Context of the Nativity: Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JB2UbMLt76nX2YhzMEKpP?si=3yeE4Or8Q3q6K28EYPHzcw 014 Historical Context of the Nativity: Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5idrcfr5CdKazCf8bDe572?si=ad3Z5qZxT9CcLTqO9mQFTQ 031 Presence Over Power: The Nativity as God's Answer to Trauma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3U3MaDfCnBQA0QhTzmlmaC?si=6abdeffa9d1642f0  We Who Thirst's Christmas Shop: https://wewhothirst.com/product-category/christmas-and-advent/  Support the show ................... Follow We Who Thirst on Instagram, Threads, or YouTube!  To join Jessica LM Jenkins' mailing list, or access the full research bibliography for this episode visit www.wewhothirst.com/links . Thank you for supporting the Women of the Bible in Context podcast, your contributions make this ministry possible!