This week, the characters Not Found in the Nativity Scene are the shaming neighbors (Matt. 1:18-25). In Jesus, God’s plans from the beginning of time were coming to fruition. But those plans had to come through a young couple, Mary and Joseph, and one cost to them was enduring the shame that came from a birth out of wedlock. Jesus goes on to endure shame as well, and he tells his followers that their experience will also be that of enduring shame for his name. This particular story provides a valuable lesson in how we can weather shame for Christ’s name as it comes our way.