Renowned outdoorsman Bear Grylls has received backlash over a message he shared to social media on Christmas Eve claiming the Virgin Mary was a “Palestinian” and that she and Joseph were “refugees” when they were traveling to Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born. Leftists have often been criticized for distorting the story of Jesus’ birth to make it fit into their narratives about social issues of the day.
In his message, Grylls said, “In these next few days, billions of us around the world celebrate the birth of a Middle Eastern refugee who, 2,000 years ago, changed the course of the world forever.” He continued, “Let me tell you some of his story. This is just a short extract from near the beginning of the adventure. When Maryam, a young, poor, and no doubt terrified Palestinian girl, gives birth in a run-down animal pen, to a baby who was foretold for hundreds of years.”
“Yet she was not alone. And she never would be. Because this was the moment that God Almighty broke into our fallen world in person,” Grylls added, concluding, “To many of us, it is undoubtedly: The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Subsequently, the survivalist has received immense pushback when many fact-checking his version of Jesus’ birth.
A community note on X, fact-checked the post explaining that Mary and Joseph were not refugees, giving historical context. “They were not refugees. Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken. Joseph and Mary traveled to Judea, to the town of Bethlehem (the town of David) because Joseph belonged to the house and line of David,” the note read.
Mark Wallace, chief executive of Total Politics and former Conservative Home boss, weighed in, “In what sense – historical, archaeological, political, religious, geographic, ethnic, literally any sense at all – would Mary have regarded herself as a Palestinian?”. Furthermore, The Campaign Against Antisemitism set the record straight, stating “was a Jewish woman from Judea, under Roman rule”.
“The region wasn’t called ‘Palestine’ until 100 years later when the Judeans (Jews) were exiled and Emperor Hadrian renamed it Syria Palaestina after the Bar Kokhba Revolt to try to sever the Jewish connection to the land,” the Jewish group added. “A lot of people over the millennia since have believed his propaganda.”
The organization further explained how the biblical account was being distorted in a modern context. “While Mary’s family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod’s persecution, calling her a ‘Palestinian refugee’ not only imposes modern terminology on ancient history but completely eradicates her Jewish identity. It’s historical nonsense, with an agenda. If you want to honour her story, tell it properly,” they said.
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Furthermore, Luke 2:1-7 explains the correct version of the account. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register,” the verses read.
The passage continued, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.”
Watch Trump deliver a heartwarming Christmas message below: