It is the Christmas season and most all writers have a Christmas Story they want to share for their audiences and I wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to share a Christmas Story” that I’ve taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, and the Old and New Testament and Books and Verses as stated.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) God created all things to form a world for people to live in and in Genesis 1: 26 – 27 it tells people, “And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Joseph and Mary lived in the town of Nazareth which is in the heart of the Galilee region; and it was a small and insignificant agricultural village in the time of Jesus. Archaeological excavations indicate Nazareth was settled continuously from 900 – 600 BCE. It is believed that during the lifetime of Mary, Joseph and Jesus the population was around 500. It was a small Jewish community. Joseph was known for his carpenter skills.
The angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to visit a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, “Hail, you that art highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed art you among women. And when Mary saw Gabriel, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1: 26 – 33)
Mary questioned the angel saying, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Am a virgin) (Luke 1: 34)
Gabriel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called, ‘The Son of God.’” (Luke 1: 35)
Gabriel also tells Mary that her cousin Elisabeth has conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called “barren; for with God nothing shall be impossible. “ (Luke 1: 36 – 37)
Mary said to Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1: 38)
God has performed miraculously in the lives of Elisabeth and Mary; and Mary went to live in the city of Juda and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this to me that the mother of my Lord should could to me?” (Luke 1: 39 – 44)
Many people might speculate why anyone would ever believe Joseph and Mary’s story about the birth of Jesus. Mary knew of God’s greatness because she had enjoyed God’s almighty grace in the past. She’d had a warm close relationship with God. Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord; and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1: 46)
Once Mary return from Judea after three months it was obvious she was with child; and then Joseph her husband to be, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. While Joseph thought about all of the things, behold, “The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1: 19 – 21)
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him a wife: And ‘knew her not’ till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name ‘JESUS.’” (Matthew 1: 23 – 25)
Can people see during this story the faith that Mary and Joseph had in God? They trusted God and believed in His messages and they knew God would make all gossipers words as nothingness’ in their eyes. This is a good example that people must have “faith and trust God’s word” in all things pertaining to their life. People must wait upon His response to their prayer requests and not question the hour or the time.
It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the entire world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of the city of David, which is called the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David. (Luke 2: 1 – 4)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 5 – 7)
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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 are born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 8 – 12)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 14)
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of Mary’s purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.) (Luke 2: 21 – 23)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men…Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men…Away in the manger a crib for a bed the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head…Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, and good will toward men.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this story and it is based on the Holy Bible, King James Version and in the Old & New Testament and in the Books and Verses as stated.