The story of Christmas began centuries prior to the actual event. Prophets promised that a Savior and Redeemer, a King and Messiah, the Son of God would be born into the world. Prior to this blessed event, God sent the Angel Gabriel to the humble Jewish girl named Mary. She had been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. With this heavenly announcement, the Greatest Story ever told began to unfold.

During the years when Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome, and Herod was king of Judea, the time drew near for the promised Messiah to be born. At this time, a girl, named Mary, lived in a small village of Galilee called Nazareth. She was engaged to be married to a carpenter named Joseph. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David.

One day, an angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary. Mary was afraid, and she wondered why the angel would visit her. Then, Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you are blessed by God.” He then announced, “You will have a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” She humbly accepted the angel’s words.

When Joseph heard that Mary was going to have a baby, he was concerned. He wanted to cancel the wedding. However, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph in a dream. He told him to proceed with his marriage to Mary. He was not to worry, because the baby that Mary would have, was the Son of God. He obeyed the angel and they were married and eagerly awaited the coming of this special baby, Jesus.

The time for the baby to be born was coming soon. As Mary and Joseph looked forward to that blessed day, they received a message. The Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, had issued a decree. It proclaimed that throughout the Roman Empire a census was to be taken. All people were to travel to their own towns to be registered for this census and to pay their taxes.

Both Mary and Joseph were from the family line of David. This meant that they must travel from their town of Nazareth in Galilee, to the city of David in Judea. The city of David was also called Bethlehem. How worried were Joseph and Mary! Because of the distance they must travel, it would be too hard for the pregnant Mary to walk. So, it was decided that she would ride a donkey.

Soon the travelers began the required journey south, to Jerusalem, from Nazareth. Joseph led the donkey that Mary was riding. It was a long dusty road. It led them through Samaria, and over the hilly country of Judea.

Once the tired travelers reached Bethlehem, they found it very crowded. Jews, who were descendants of David, had traveled from all throughout the land to pay their taxes. How exhausted Mary was from the long, hard journey! Joseph looked all over the small town to find a place for Mary and him to stay, but there was no place to be found. Because Mary was pregnant, and the time was near for the baby to be born, Joseph diligently continued the search to find them a room.

Finally, he found an innkeeper who told him that because there was no room at the inn, he could not offer them a room. However, they were welcome to stay in the stable. This was not great news, but at least they would have a place to stay. They graciously accepted the offer.

The stable was a cave that was carved in the rock wall behind the inn where many animals were kept. In the center of the stable, there was a feeding trough, called a manger, filled with hay for the animals to eat. Even though the stable was dark and dirty, Joseph cleaned it up and made Mary as comfortable as possible.

During the night, Mary gave birth to the Baby Jesus. As was the custom, Mary wrapped the newborn infant in soft strips of cloth called swaddling clothes. Because there was no bed, the manger was cleaned and fresh hay placed in it. Here, upon the fresh hay in the manger, Mary laid the Baby Jesus.

That night, shepherds were near Bethlehem, watching their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel appeared, and a great light shone in the darkness. How afraid were the shepherds! Never before had they seen anything like this. The angel said, “Do not be afraid! I am bringing you good news of great joy that shall be a blessing for all people.” Then, the angel declared to them a wondrous message. “This night is born, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. You shall find the Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, a large heavenly choir of angels joined this angel. They sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” After singing, all of the angels returned to heaven, and the light faded into the still, darkness of the night. At once, the shepherds excitedly said to each other, “Let us go now to Bethlehem, and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.”

Leaving their flocks, they hurried to Bethlehem. They found the stable. They went inside, and there they met Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. Just as the angel had told them, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. They knelt down before the tiny Savior and worshipped Him while He lay sleeping in the manger, on the soft bed of hay.

The shepherds told Mary and Joseph, “An angel of the Lord told us the news of the birth of the Savior. Then, an angelic choir appeared from heaven and sang praises to God.” Mary listened quietly and treasured in her heart the words of the shepherds.

The shepherds joyously returned to their flocks. They told all whom they met about the visit by the angels, and about the birth of the Baby Jesus. All who heard were amazed at their words.

At the time that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there were some men living in a far eastern country. These men of high position were called Wise Men. They spent a lot of their time studying the stars. On the night that Jesus was born, as the Wise Men were gazing into the sky, they discovered as new star. They had been looking for a sign.

This new star was the sign from God that the Messiah had been born. How excited the Wise Men were!

These Wise Men knew that the prophets of old had foretold the coming of the Savior. They loved God and wanted to see the Child who was the Son of God and King of the world. At once, they planned a journey so that they could see and worship Him as their Savior and Redeemer. They also wanted to take rich and beautiful gifts to the newborn King.

The Wise Men set off on their journey. They traveled many days across the hot desert following the star that guided them towards the Savior. As they rode into Jerusalem on their caravan of camels, they asked the people, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and we have come to worship Him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply troubled as were all of the people of Jerusalem. At once, Herod called together all of the chief priests and scribes. He asked them where this Messiah, that the prophets had promised would come, should be born.

The chief priests and scribes looked through the records, which contained the words of the prophets, which had been written many years before. They said to Herod, “This is what the prophets wrote: ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for My people Israel.’”

Herod worried that this newborn King would take away his throne. He called for the Wise Men and learned from them the exact time that the star had appeared. Then Herod told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search diligently for the child. When you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too.”

After the Wise Men left King Herod, the star guided them, and stopped over the house where the Child lived. Their journey was now finished. They entered the house where they found the Child and His mother, Mary. At last they had found the newborn King. How joyous were the Wise Men! They fell down before Jesus and worshipped Him. Then, they opened their bundles containing their treasured gifts. They gave Jesus the expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Before the Wise Men left Bethlehem, God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. They obeyed God, and returned to their country by another road. They were happy that they had met, worshipped, and presented gifts to their Savior and Redeemer, their Messiah and King - Jesus, the Son of God.

Read more about “The First Christmas” Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:5 – 2:20.

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:9-11

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