The Christmas Story, As Told To The Children

A long time ago in a land very far away a very special event was getting ready to happen.

The government had told the people living there that they must go  and register in the census.  For some folks it was a long way and of course they didn’t have cars back in those days so they had to walk or ride a donkey or whatever they had.

Well, there was a young couple named Mary and Joseph who had to make this trip.  Mary was going to have a baby just anytime so this was really a difficult trip for her to make but she had to go.  Of course all this had been planned by God many years before and even told about by Isaiah so this was all according to a greater plan.

Well as I said, it was a long way but Mary and Joseph made it. When they got to the town, Bethlehem, they found it was really crowded and they couldn’t find a hotel room, which was not a good thing because it looked like Mary was going to have her baby just any time. They finally found a man who said they could stay in the stable behind the Inn.
It wasn’t much but it was all he had, so Mary and Joseph made their way to the stable where the animals were kept... Probably some cattle and maybe some sheep or even a donkey.  At least it was a place out of the cool night air and they could use the hay to make a comfortable bed.

Well it wasn’t long before Mary told Joseph that  it was time for the baby to be born.  Of course they didn’t have hospitals and such so Joseph helped deliver the baby and they wrapped him in a soft cloth called swaddling cloth and since they didn’t  have a baby bed or cradle they placed him in the manger. It was nice and soft, filled with hay and the baby slept.

In the meantime out in the  country there were some shepherd's watching their sheep in the night time.  Well lo and behold all of a sudden there was an Angel right there on the side of that hill where the shepherds were.  Can you imagine how shocked and scared they were?  The Angel said, “Don’t be afraid.”  “I have some great news for you and for all the people in the world to hear.”  There is a child born tonight and he will be the savior of the world. He is the Christ that was told about that would come.  So go to Bethlehem and see the child, you will know who he is because he will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Then there was a whole bunch of Angels singing and saying, “Glory to God in the highest . And on earth Peace and good will to all people”

Well, the shepherds got up and off they went to Bethlehem and sure enough there they found the baby Jesus, just like the  Angels said they would.  They knew that this was Jesus and they fell to their knees and worshipped him and then they returned to their flocks.

Way over in another part of the world some wise men had been watching a big bright star and wondering what it meant.  In all their reading they decided that it meant that a King had been born so off they went to find him and to take gifts.

They had a long way to go and might have gotten lost but they followed the star that God gave them to follow.

 When they got to Jerusalem , which was not to far from Bethlehem they stopped at the castle where King Herod lived. He was the ruler of the country and not really a nice man. Of course he had heard about a King that was to be born and was jealous and afraid that he might be replaced.  He told the wise men to find the new king and then come and tell him so he could go and worship him as well.

 Eventually the wise men arrived and  they found Mary, Joseph and  little Jesus.  The Wise Men had brought fine gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh,  those two things are expensive good smelling stuff, to present to the new king. They presented their gifts and worshiped the new King and then God sent an angel to them and said for them not to tell Herod because he was a bad man and would kill the child.  So they went home in another way.

Of course Herod was mad and he was scared that he was going to be replaced so he ordered all the new born babies under the age of three to be killed but Mary and Joseph were warned by an angel and  took Jesus and went to another country to live for a while.

So that’s how Jesus was born and we know that He grew up and taught us many things. Most of all we know that He came to save us from our sin.
This is why we celebrate Christmas.
The gifts from Santa , the big dinners are nice and  of course we always enjoy being together with our family but all in all it should be all about Jesus.

 I hope it is at your house.
Merry Christmas to one and all.