What’s The Basic Christmas Story?

The Christmas story is extremely detailed and draws upon thousands of years of Jewish culture, traditions and prophecies. Here’s a basic narrative of the key events:

Mary, a virgin, lived in the town of Nazareth (in modern day Israel). She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The angel Gabriel visited Mary one day and told her that she would conceive a Son through the Holy Spirit and that she would name him Jesus. When Mary told Joseph that she was pregnant, Joseph was reluctant to divorce her or have her executed as was his right, because he loved her. Gabriel visited Joseph in a dream to verify Mary’s story and to reassure Joseph that marrying her was part of God’s plan.

Meanwhile, the authorities ordered a census and every person had to return to the town of his birth to register. Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem when Mary was close to giving birth. The inn was crowded because of the census and Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed him in a manger.

Outside the town, Gabriel appeared to shepherds who were tending their flocks. He announced that the Saviour had been born and a host of angels appeared in the night sky and sang praises to God. The shepherds travelled to Bethlehem and worshipped Jesus. They told others about the child and everything that the angel had said, but Mary kept quiet, pondering their words in her heart.

After these events, a group of magi (wise men) saw a star in the east and recognised it as announcing the birth of the king of the Jews. They travelled to Jerusalem and learned that according to ancient prophecies, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. King Herod asked the magi to report back to him after they’d found the child, so that he too might worship Him. But the true King of the Jews represented a threat to Herod’s counterfeit reign and he secretly planned to kill Christ instead.

The magi visited Jesus in Bethlehem when He was about two years old. They worshipped him and gave Him symbolic gifts:

• Gold: because He was King
• Incense (which was used in religious ceremonies): because He would make atonement for the sins of the world
• Myrrh (which was used for embalming): because He would die so that others might live

The magi were warned in a dream of Herod’s plot to kill Christ, so they left Bethlehem by another way. When Herod realised that he’d been deceived by the magi, he ordered that all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two years be killed. But God warned Mary and Joseph of the danger and they fled to Egypt where they stayed until it was safe to return.

Already a member? Sign in or Join Now! to add your comment on this article!