The Christmas Story

The Christmas story is a beautiful story, telling us of the miraculous birth of Jesus.  It is recorded in most detail in the book of Luke, but is also told in Matthew.  The other two of the first four books of the New Testament do not tell of the birth, but rather start the story of Jesus as a grown man.

We should note that Jesus was not likely born on December 25.  There are a number of reasons why this is the case, one being that shepherds are not in the fields typically at this time of year.  But perhaps a better reason is that the date was just picked rather randomly.  And here are a few other facts, all of which you can learn by googling the origins of Christmas. The year of Jesus' birth has been miscalculated; He was apparently born between 7 and 2 BC.  And Christmas seems to have been started some time around the 4th century.  It had some pagan beginnings that came with some gruesome and violent actions on that date.  But that was all long ago and we now find ourselves with Santa Claus, Christmas trees and lights, presents and  many remembering the birth of Jesus.

In the detailed account of Luke, we read of shepherds who were in the fields with their sheep.  An angel appeared to them telling of the birth of the Lord, "a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.......And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' "  The shepherds came to Bethlehem and saw the Christ child lying in a manger; after this, they "returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

In the book of Matthew we read of the wise men from the east; they came to Jerusalem looking for the Christ child who was born.  They had seen a star and were looking for the "King of the Jews.  They were sent by Herod the king to Bethlehem to see the child Jesus; they had read in the OT scriptures that He would be born in Bethlehem.  They followed the star which directed them to the baby.  "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."  Often people make the mistake of saying the three wise men; but there were three types of gifts; we just don't know how many wise men there were.

So we see that there were many miracles involved in the birth of Jesus...and much fulfillment of OT scriptures.  We don't read anywhere in the Bible where Christians were to observe the birth of Jesus, and we don't know when that was.  But the Bible makes quite a significance of the death of Jesus, especially where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, or Communion, and said "Do this in memory of Me." 

Thanks for reading again.  Have a Merry Christmas!!