A long time ago, something miraculous happened. It started in a small town called Nazareth, where a young woman named Maria lived. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. One day, God sent an angel named Gabriel to Mary. The angel said: “Do not be afraid, Mary! God loves you. You will soon have a very special son. You shall call him Jesus. He will be called the Son of God.”
Mary was surprised and asked: “How can this happen?” Gabriel answered, “Nothing is impossible for God.” Mary believed the angel and said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done as you have said.”
At the same time, Joseph also appeared to an angel in a dream to bring him the good news. “Do not be afraid to take Mary to yourself,” said the angel. “The child she is waiting for is from God, and you shall call him Jesus.” Joseph was glad and did as the angel had said.
Soon after, the emperor ordered that all people should go to the village of their ancestors to be counted. So Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, the city of King David, Joseph’s ancestor.
It was a long journey, and Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem very tired. But when they got there, they couldn’t find a place to spend the night. All the inns were full. Finally, they found a simple stable where they could stay.
That night, the greatest miracle happened: Jesus was born! Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and put him in a manger, where the animals usually eat. It was not a palace, but it was a special place, because this is where Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born.
Nearby were shepherds who took care of their sheep at night. Suddenly, an angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid! I bring good news for all people. Today, in the city of David, the Savior is born to you. You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there were many angels in the sky, singing, “Glory to God in the highest!”
The shepherds rejoiced and ran quickly to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. When they arrived, they found everything exactly as the angel had said. They told Mary and Joseph what they had experienced, and they were all amazed.
Wise men from the east, who had followed a bright star, also came soon afterwards to find Jesus. They brought him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh, for they knew that this child was the King of kings.
Message of history
Jesus came into the world to show us how much God loves us. We can rejoice in His birth and know that God’s love is always with us.
Bible passage
The accounts of the birth of Jesus are found in the Gospels according to Luke and Matthew. Here are the corresponding passages in the Schlachter 2000 translation:
Luke 2:1-7:
“Now it came to pass in those days that a commandment went out from Caesar Augustus to enroll the whole world. This inscription was the first and took place at the time when Quirinius was governor in Syria. And every one went to be enrolled, each one to his own city. Then Joseph also set out from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, up to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was pregnant. And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days were fulfilled that she should give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for her in the inn.”
Matthew 1:18-25:
“Now it was with the birth of Jesus Christ: When Mary, his mother, was betrothed to Joseph before they had come together, it turned out that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph, her husband, who was righteous and did not want to expose her publicly, secretly intended to dismiss her. While he was thinking about this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife to yourself; for what is begotten in it is of the Holy Spirit. And she will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will deliver his people from their sins. But all this was done in order that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be given to Emmanuel,” which translates as “God with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took his wife with him; and he did not recognize her until she had given birth to a son; and he gave him the name Jesus.”
