The Angel's Visit

Long ago in Nazareth there lived a girl called Mary. She was gentle and modest, and was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. Although Joseph was much older than Mary she was looking forward to her marriage, for Joseph was a kind man and a skilled craftsman. Mary knew he would make a good and considerate husband.

One day, when Mary was walking in the countryside, something very strange happened to her, something that would affect the whole world from that time onwards. Mary was suddenly bathed in a dazzling light, so strong that at first she hid her face from it. When she ventured to look up she found herself gazing at a shining, beautiful figure. She knew she was looking at an angel.

1

'Do not be afraid, Mary,' said the angel. 'My name is Gabriel and I have been sent from God with a special message for you.'

Mary trembled. What could such a heavenly being have to say to her, Mary, a mere village girl? What had she done to bring such a visitor to earth? 'You will bear a son,' went on the angel. 'Although you will marry Joseph your son will not be his child. Joseph will be his earthly father, but He will be born the Son of God. You will call Him Jesus, for He will be the Saviour of the World.'

Mary could hardly take it in. The coming of God's son had been foretold for generations. How strange and wonderful that she was chosen to become the mother of the Son of God!
She bowed her head. 'So be it,' she said. 'It is God's will.'
When she looked up again Gabriel had gone. But within her she felt a great surge of joy, and she ran all the way down the hillside to tell the news to Joseph.

Now Joseph knew Mary to be entirely truthful and not given to fanciful dreams. When he saw her face and the joy that shone from it he knew she was telling the truth. Together they planned their forthcoming marriage.

Christ's Birth

Every year Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem in Judea to pay his taxes. It was a long journey, and this particular year Joseph was very worried because his wife Mary's baby was nearly due.
'It would be best for you to stay behind, Mary,' he said gently.
But Mary needed Joseph by her side when the baby came, so she insisted on accompanying him. Joseph saddled the donkey and Mary sat on it while he walked by her side. She looked pale and tired, but her face shone with an inner light as the day approached when she would bear God's son.

At last Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem. It was a cold frosty night and the stars shone brightly. Because they had arrived so late they found that every single inn was fully booked.

Joseph knew that Mary needed shelter and warmth for the birth of her baby.

'We'll try this last inn,' he sighed, but without much hope. Bethlehem was brimming with people like themselves, who had all come to pay their taxes. The innkeeper shook his head as Joseph asked for a bed. 'The last one was taken an hour ago,' he said, starting to close the door.

'Oh, please,' said Mary. 'Have you nowhere at all? My baby will be born soon, and he must have shelter.'

The innkeeper shone his lantern into the young girl's face. She looked exhausted and now sat uncomfortably on the donkey, her head bowed.

The innkeeper was moved with pity. He rubbed his chin and thought hard. 'There's the stable at the back of the inn,' he said. 'If you don't mind sharing it with the cattle, you are welcome to stay there.'

Joseph thanked him warmly and the little party made their way to the stable, which was really a cave carved into the hillside. They found themselves a corner and lay down on the sweet-smelling hay.

Later that night Mary had her baby. She wrapped him in some warm blankets she had brought with her and, because she had no cradle, she laid him gently in the manger.

The night that Jesus, Son of God, was born the world lay sleeping. All was silent in the stable, save for the lowing of the cattle and the cooing of the doves in the rafters. Mary looked down on her tiny son, wondering what the world would hold for Him.

The Shepherds on the Hill

Outside the town of Bethlehem some shepherds were tending their flocks on the hillside. Sometimes these winter nights seemed very long and cold, for there was little to do but huddle round a fire while one of the shepherds kept watch for wolves and sheep-stealers.

This particular night, though, there seemed to be an air of excitement. Perhaps it was the many people they had seen wending their way to the little town. Perhaps it was the stars in the velvet-black sky which shone and sparkled more brightly than they had ever seen them. Suddenly a light appeared that was stronger than the brightest star. The shepherds were so frightened that they flung themselves to the ground, covering their heads.

'Do not be afraid,' came a voice from above them. 'For it is good news that I bring.'

One shepherd cautiously raised his head. A bright and beautiful angel stood there, and it was he who had spoken.

'Go all of you into Bethlehem, for in a stable tonight the Son of God has been born.'

The shepherds all rose to their feet and saw to their amazement a great throng of angels in the sky, singing and giving praise to God for the miracle of this birth.

When the angels had gone the head shepherd said to the others: 'Come, we must go into the town to find this baby. For if angels have appeared to us to tell us the news, then surely He must be the Son of God.' The shepherds hurried down the hillside, the youngest shepherd clutching a lamb that had just been born. 'We must take the baby a gift,' he said.

They had no difficulty in finding the stable, for Joseph's lantern shone out into the night, and the shepherds could see the couple, bending over the manger where the child lay.

They gathered round and marvelled at the tiny child, so peacefully sleeping, who was to become the Saviour of them all.

The Three Wise Men

To the east of Bethlehem, in a far-off country, there lived three wise men. They read many learned books, and they studied the stars. When a new star appeared in the sky and when they learned that it shone over Judea they became very excited.

'It has been foretold by the prophets that an important king will be born in Bethlehem in Judea. And now we have the sign!'

2

The Wise Men hastily packed their belongings and each bought a costly gift for the young king. Then they saddled their camels and set off on the long journey westwards, following the new star to guide them on their way.

First they came to Jerusalem.

Now Herod the King ruled in Jerusalem, and when he heard of the three strangers who were searching for the new king he felt afraid. If there was a new king who had a special star to announce his birth, then he must be very great indeed. What would happen to him, King Herod?

Herod called the Wise Men to his palace and questioned them about the baby.

'He is born in Bethlehem,' said one of the Wise Men. 'For so it has been told by the prophets. This baby will be the greatest king the world has ever known.'

It was as he feared. Herod knew that somehow this baby must be destroyed.

'I, too, will want to visit this new king,' he told the Wise Men. 'When you return to your country, come to Jerusalem first and tell me exactly where he can be found so that I may go there to worship him.'

The Wise Men promised they would, and they left Jerusalem following the star all the way to Bethlehem. There it shone right over the stable, illuminating Mary, Joseph, and the young Jesus who Mary held in her arms.

The Wise Men saw greatness in the tiny child, and they bowed down on their knees to worship him.

Then they presented Him with their gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 'Now we must go back to tell Herod where the young king may be found,' said one of the Wise Men, but that night they all had a dream. They were warned that if they told Herod where Jesus was, the jealous king would go to Bethlehem and kill him.

So the three Wise Men returned to their country by another route.

That night Joseph, too, had a dream. An angel appeared to him and told him to take Mary and Jesus all the way to Egypt. 'For Herod the King will come to Bethlehem and he will search for Jesus and kill him.'

Joseph woke Mary and together they gathered together their belongings. Mary looked fondly at her little sleeping son. How could anyone wish to harm such a young and helpless child? But Mary knew even then that Jesus's life would not be easy. There would be too many people in the world who would be jealous of his goodness and his power. She held him tight, wondering what the future would bring.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Herod waited and waited for the return of the Wise Men. When he finally realised that they had no intention of coming back to tell him where the baby was to be found he was very, very angry. He made a terrible decision. He sent soldiers into Bethlehem who were given orders to kill every male child under two years old. But though there was much weeping and great sorrow in Bethlehem when the soldiers had done their dreadful deeds, Jesus was safe in Egypt with his parents.

A few years later Herod died, and an angel told Joseph it was safe to return home to their own country. So the little family came back to Nazareth where the young Christ Child grew up, helping Joseph in his carpenter's shop.