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The Ch ristmas Story ( Biblical) By Tim Kretzmann

A long time ago in the land of Israel, a girlnamed Mary grew up in a home raised by saintly

parents who loved God very much. They toldher stories of her ancestors, starting withAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob who are the

patriarchs of the people called the children ofIsrael. She learned about Moses, a great Masterwho led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Shelistened in awe to the power of God flowingthrough Moses as he lifted his staff, and partedthe waters of the Red Sea, so the people could befree at last, leaving Egypt where they had beenslaves for hundreds of years, into the PromisedLand of Israel.

There the people lived for many generations,reaching the pinnacle of their glory under thegreat King David, who united the tribes ofIsrael, defeated the neighboring armies. KingDavid led the children of Israel into an era of

prosperity such as they had never known before.Unfortunately, as it often is with the things ofthis world, it didn't last, and for the nexthundreds and hundreds of years the children ofIsrael, were defeated, beaten and overtaken. Butduring these years, every once in a while a great

prophet or sage would arise, and urge thechildren of Israel to trust in God. They

prophesied that a great deliverer, or Messiah,would be sent by God to save the children ofIsrael. For many hundreds of years the childrenof Israel heard these prophesies, and still theywaited for the Messiah to come.

At the time when Mary was born, the RomanEmpire had taken over Israel and placed incommand King Herod. Now King Herod did afew good things for Israel, but he was reallyonly interested in keeping his power, and this

made him do evil things. He even killed his own brothers when he heard a rumor that they were plotting to overthrow him. So still the childrenof Israel, including Mary and her parents, waitedand prayed for their Messiah to come.

26 And then, one day the angel Gabriel was sentfrom God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

27 To Mary, now a young woman of 16 engagedto be married to a man whose name was Joseph, 28 And the angel came to her, and said, Hail,[thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] withyou: blessed [art] thou among women. 29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled athis saying, and wondered why the angel spoke toher this way.

30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: foryou have found favour with God. 31 And, behold, you shall conceive a child, and

bring forth a son, and will call him JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonof the Highest: and God shall give unto him thethrone of his ancestor David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacobfor ever; and of his kingdom there shall be noend. 34 Then said Mary to the angel, How can this

be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her,The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the

power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:therefore also that holy child which shall be born

of thee shall be called the Son of God. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant ofthe Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.And the angel departed from her. 1 And it came to pass in those days, that therewent out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that allthe world should be taxed.

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3 And all went to be taxed, every one into hisown city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of thecity of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city ofDavid, which is called Bethlehem; (because hewas of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,

being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, thedays were accomplished that she should bedelivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, andwrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid himin a manger; because there was no room forthem in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherdsabiding in the field, keeping watch over theirflock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came uponthem, and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,

behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city ofDavid a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shallfind the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel amultitude of the heavenly host praising God, andsaying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace, good will toward men.

Luke Chapter 2 : 8

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were goneaway from them into heaven, the shepherds said

one to another, Let us now go even untoBethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary,and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 7 And when they had seen [it], they madeknown abroad the saying which was told themconcerning this child. 18 And all they that heard [it] wondered at thosethings which were told them by the shepherds.

1 Now at this time, there came wise men fromthe east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of theJews? for we have seen his star in the east, andare come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard [these things],he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

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4 And when he had gathered all the chief priestsand scribes of the people together, he demandedof them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem ofJudaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called thewise men, enquired of them diligently what timethe star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Goand search diligently for the young child; andwhen ye have found [him], bring me word again,that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed;and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went

before them, till it came and stood over wherethe young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced withexceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house,they saw the young child with Mary his mother,and fell down, and worshiped him: and whenthey had opened their treasures, they presentedunto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, andmyrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream thatthey should not return to Herod, they departedinto their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angelof the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,saying, Arise, and take the young child and hismother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou thereuntil I bring thee word: for Herod will seek theyoung child to destroy him.

And so this young, holy family lived in Egyptfor several years; staying there until old KingHerod died, and it was safe again to return toIsrael. And all along, Mary and Joseph taughtthe child Jesus the stories of God, Moses, andtheir ancestors, preparing him for his greatmission. Mary saw the holiness of her son, evenin those young days, and she remembered theangels, and all the special care God showed forthis child. And Mary kept all these things, and

pondered them in her heart.