THE CHRISTMAS STORY

Two thousand years ago, when the Roman Empire was ruling most of the known world, a small country on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean was part of their kingdom. The people of Israel were zealous for God. They worked hard, lived in accordance to divine law and worshiped the one true Lord. They were expecting someone to lead them to deliverance from all tyranny. Old Testament prophets promised a Messiah and they fervently prayed for His coming. Before the divine deliverer came a man was born to prepare His way.

            From the hills of Judea was a priest named Zacharias, married to a woman named Elizabeth. They were an honorable couple. Elizabeth, however, never had children and both were very old.

            One day Zacharias was chosen to provide service in the temple. While performing his duty a multitude of people were outside praying. All of a sudden an angel appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. He became very afraid, full of fear.

The angel said, “Do not be afraid for your prayers have been heard and your wife will have a son, whom you will call John. You will be happy and glad, Zacharias, and many will rejoice at his birth for he will turn back many to the Lord their God. He will go as a forerunner before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah, making ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zacharias replied, “How? My wife and I are old, too old to have children.”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. He sent me to tell you this wonderful news. Because you did not believe when I told you what is going to happen, you will be unable to speak, not even make a sound, until the day these things take place.”

While this was occurring the people outside were waiting and wondering what was taking so long. Finally Zacharias returned but, as the angel had said, he was unable to speak. The crowd then realized he had seen a vision. He tried to tell them but was unable.

When Zacharias duties as priest were over he went back home and Elizabeth was soon with child.

            Six months after Gabriel visited Zacharias the angel was sent by God to Nazareth, a city in the Galilean hills, to a young woman named Mary engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David.

            The angel said to her, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

            Mary was scared and thought, “What does this mean?” 

The angel, knowing her thoughts, said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You are going to have a child, a little boy. He shall be great and called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord will give Him the throne of King David. His kingdom will have no end.”

            Mary replied, “How? I am only engaged, not married.”

            The angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The Holy Offspring shall be called the Son of God. Believe, Mary! Look at your relative Elizabeth. She has conceived a son in her old age and is now in the sixth month. Nothing is impossible with God.”

            Mary responded, “Let everything be done to me according to your word.”

            After the angel left Mary, she got up and hurriedly went to the city in Judah where Elizabeth lived. As soon as she heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped inside her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice, “Blessed among women are you, Mary, and blessed is the baby in your womb. Blessed are you because you believed everything would come to pass as the angel told you.”

Mary was glad for her comment and began to praise God. She stayed with Elizabeth and Zacharias for three months and then returned to her home.

When Joseph, an upright man, found out Mary was having a baby, he wanted to deal with the situation secretly. He did not want to disgrace her. While considering what to do an angel appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby she is carrying is a Holy Child conceived by God. The child shall be a Son and you will call Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins.” Joseph arose from his sleep and did what the angel said, taking Mary as his wife.

Later a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of the whole Roman Empire. Everyone was to return to their ancestral city. Joseph, with Mary, went from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea, the city of King David. No rooms were available and they stayed in the stable. Mary was ready to give birth and Jesus was born. She wrapped Him in a cloth and laid Him in a manger.

In the same region that night was some shepherds. They were staying in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. An angel suddenly appeared, standing before them. The glory of the Lord shone around them. The shepherds were very frightened but the angel said, “Be glad! I bring you Good News of a great joy which shall be for all the people. Today, in the city of David, has been born for you a Savior, Christ the Lord. As a sign you will find a baby wrapped in a cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angel had gone back to heaven the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what was made known to us.”  They came in haste and found Mary, Joseph and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they saw Him, they made known the statement told about the Child. All who heard wondered at the things being said but Mary treasured up everything, pondering them in her heart. Afterwards the shepherds went back to their flock, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen.

An English theologian once commented, “Why was it necessary for Jesus to be born in a stable, laid in a manger and viewed by shepherds? Jesus is the Lamb of God. Where else but at a stable would the Lamb of God be born? What else but in a manger would the Lamb of God be laid? Who else but shepherds would view the birth of the Lamb of God?

            Eight days after the Child was born, He was circumcised and given the name Jesus, as the angel had told them He was to be named. When the days of purification were completed, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as was customary for first born male children. They offered a sacrifice according to the Mosaic Law, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

            In Jerusalem was a righteous and devout man named Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit. One day the Holy Spirit revealed to him he would not see death before seeing the Lord’s Christ. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus for dedication, Simeon, led by the Spirit, went into the temple. He took Jesus into his arms, blessed God and said, “Now Lord, you can let me die in peace. Mine eyes have seen your Son, sent to save the world.”

            Jesus’ parents were amazed at the things being said. Simeon blessed them, saying to Mary, “Behold, this Child shall be rejected by many in Israel to their undoing. But He will be the greatest joy of many others. The deepest thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed.”

            This took place when Herod was king in Judea. A little while later Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is the One born king of the Jews?  We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

            Herod was troubled when he heard this, along with all of Jerusalem. He gathered together the chief priests and scribes to inquire where the Christ was to be born. They answered him, “He is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, as written by the prophet Micah.”

            Herod secretly called the Magi to him and found out when the star first appeared to them.  After they told him, he sent them to Bethlehem saying, “Go and make a careful search for this child and when you find him come tell me, so I can come and worship Him too.”

            After hearing the king they left. Once again the star, the one seen in the east, went before them until it stood directly over the place where the Child was located. When they saw the star they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. They entered the house, fell down and worshiped.

            After opening their treasures they presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men left but went to their country another way. God had warned them in a dream not to return to King Herod.

            When they departed an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother to Egypt. Remain there until I tell you. Herod is coming to search for Him, wanting to destroy Him.” Joseph arose and did as the angel said.

When Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men he became furious. He gathered all the soldiers and sent them to Bethlehem saying, “Kill all the male children two years old and younger.”  This was the time told him when the star was seen. The soldiers did what they were commanded to do.

            After Herod died an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Now take the Child and His mother back to the land of Israel. Those who sought His life are dead.” Joseph brought them back to Israel but when he heard Herod’s son was king of Judea, he departed for the regions of Galilee and resided in the city of Nazareth, where Jesus grew into manhood.

            The birth of Jesus is not like the birth of ordinary children. As the birth of the King, He had a forerunner proclaiming His coming. As the birth of the Lamb of God, He was born in a stable. As the birth of the Savior of the world, those who saw Him rejoiced, worshipped and gave gifts.

The greatest miracle of His birth is that Jesus knew, before He came, He would die a cruel and ugly death on a cross. He decided to come out of a tremendous love for you.

No greater love will the world ever know then the love God showed through His Son Jesus, the Lord. He came into the world as a babe and left the world as the Victor over death.

Experience peace, true inner peace given only by Jesus, and give genuine good will to others on account of His birth. Amen!