#it's optional but it's just a thing for the bigger ministry organizations for their pastors to need a Bachelor in Theology or Philosophy

[e-adlirez]

OKAY SO I DID ASK MY PASTOR ABOUT IT AND HE DID GIVE AN ANSWER :DDD

So Mary would've known that her son would become the Messiah, but she wouldn't have known the how of the Messiah's prophesied salvation. See, at the time the Israelites would've known about the Messiah prophecy and that one day He will come down and free Israel of its oppressors and bring them into a golden age-- if anything, they were praying and banking on the possibility that it'll happen soon because they didn't like their arrangement with the Romans, being taxed stifling amounts and dealing with the government corruption and all.

Sooooo the reason why everyone portrays the Nativity as a happy, triumphant event... because no one at the time knew the how of Jesus performing his role as the Messiah. Everyone was expecting a mighty figure leading the people to storm the gates and cast out the Romans, and when Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30, everyone got their hopes up with Him. He had very based takes that most people agreed with, He performed miracles, He was overall very chill and gave a lot of people the comfort and healing they needed, and His name meant "Savior"! Ain't no way this isn't the Messiah! Jesus of Nazareth, the King of Jews!

And then He died about three years into His ministry, accused, condemned and executed for blasphemy.

Yes it all went according to plan, but no one knew that. No one could've foreseen that Jesus was born to live to die, even with a wise man offering Jesus myrrh (which yes is enbalming fluid but is also an acceptable bougie af gift to give at the time) and Simeon's prophecy, which is the vaguest prophecy ever written on paper ("[Jesus] is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too." - Luke 2:34-35).

Until Jesus was apprehended at Gethsemane, no one had for a moment thought that their King, their Savior would be put to death before any front could be made behind him. Which I would argue is even angstier :]c A person a good half of the population loved and thought would free them of their oppression, only for that person to be convicted and put to death. And unlike the disciples, who scattered and hid from the Roman guards throughout Jesus' trial, Mary, Mother of Jesus, stayed and watched a few paces away from the cross. Her beloved son, dying in pain, mocked by the Jews, slandered by the Romans, jeered by the criminals on either side of him. The Man who was destined to save Israel.

why is religious Christmas imagery all so joyful and pleasant? where is the inherent horror of the birth of Christ? A mother is handed her newborn child, wailing and innocent. Her hands come away sticky. Red. Simply by giving her son life she has already killed him. He is doomed from the beginning. Her love will not save him from suffering. Because the thing cradled in her arms is not a baby, it is a sacrifice: born amongst the other bleating animals whose blood will one day be spilled in the name of what demands it. the night is silent with anticipation. Mary, did you know? That your womb was also a grave?