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Christmas
: Christmas Stories
: Story 1 |
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When Rome was a great
Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was
governed by King Herod, in the village of Nazareth
lived Joseph and Mary. Joseph was a carpenter and
Mary was a young virgin who would become his wife.
Mary told Joseph of a dream in which she was visited
by an angel who told her she had been chosen to bear
the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus.
One day the emperor sent notice that all persons
were to register for a new tax. They were instructed
to return to the towns of their birth. Joseph and
Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem. Mary who was with
child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey
while Joseph walked beside her. They traveled for
many days and only rested at night.
When they reached Bethlehem it was night. They
looked for a place to rest but there were no empty
rooms when they reached the inn. As they were being
turned away Joseph mentioned his wife was with child
and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them
and told them of some caves in the nearby hills that
shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep.
So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found
the caves. In one cave was a stable room. Joseph
cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a
feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay
to use as a crib. The next night Mary gave birth to
a son and they named him Jesus, as the angel had
said.
When the child was born a great star appeared over
Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In
the fields nearby shepards were tending their
flocks. An angel appeared to them surrounded by
bright light. The shepherds were frightened and
tried to run.
"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I
bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born
this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the
Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying
in a manger."
Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising
God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest,
and on Earth peace, good will toward men."
After the angels departed the shepards set out for
Bethlehem. When they reached the cave they found the
stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling
clothes.
As the star shined over Bethlehem, in the east three
kings would see it. They knew it was a sign and they
set off to follow the star. There was Caspar - the
young King of Tarsus, Melchior - a long bearded old
man and leader of Arabia, and Balthazar - the king
from Ethiopia. They traveled on camels for many days
over the mountains, and through the deserts, and
plains. Always following the bright star.
When they finally arrived in Bethlehem they found
the child in the manger. The 3 kings bowed to their
knees and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. They would stay the night in the cave and the
next day returned to their lands to spread the news.
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