Christmas Story - The First Christmas

The First Christmas

Many years ago... The angel, Gabriel was sent from God, to visit a young maiden, whose name was Mary. And the angel appeared to her, saying, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."

Mary did not understand these words, and wondered what the angel meant. And the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt give birth to a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."

And in those days, a law was decreed, whereby all the world was to be taxed, and everyone had to return to their own city to be counted. Mary was soon going to have a baby, but she had to go with her husband, Joseph, to be taxed in their city, called Bethlehem. It was a very long journey.

Mary and Joseph were very tired; but when they arrived, they found that there was no room for them at the inn. The innkeeper could see that Mary was pregnant, and took pity, and offered his stable to them. Mary and Joseph had no other choice, so they graciously accepted the innkeeper's offer, and made their bed amidst all the animals in the stable. And so it happened in the stable that night, exactly as the angel had said: Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, and named Him *Jesus*. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.

And in that same country, there were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them; and they were very frightened. And the angel said to them,

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

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."

And when the angels were gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which the Lord hath made known to us." And they came quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger.

And when the shepherds saw it, they told everyone they met, what the angel had told them concerning this. And everyone that heard it wondered at those things which the shepherds had said. Then the shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.