A Christmas Story - What is Christmas, Mama?

 

A Christmas Story

 

What is Christmas, Mama?

 

Christmas is the time of the year when we remember the great gift God gives to us.

God’s gift is for you, for me, and for all the world.

 

" Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." - 2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

What gift does God give us, Mama?

The Lord gives us a gift that prophets from old time spake about.

"As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:" - Luke 1:70 KJV

What are prophets?

Prophets are holy men that God speaks to. The Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, tells the prophets what He wants them to tell His people.

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." - 2 Peter 1:21 KJV

Isaiah was a prophet.

God told Isaiah there would be a child born. He would be a son. He would bring the kingdom of God on earth.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…" - Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Who is this child?

The prophet Isaiah told us this child is Emmanuel, which means God with us.

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:23 KJV

Mama, is this child God?

This child is God inside a human body. God began His life on earth as a baby.

"And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Who is this child’s mama?

His mama’s name is Mary.

Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, visited Mary. He told Mary that God would give her a son. She was to call His name JESUS.

"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." - Luke 1:31 KJV

Joseph was soon to be Mary’s husband.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He told Joseph that Mary was going to have a baby by the power of God’s Spirit.

"Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." - Matthew 1:20 KJV

The angel told Joseph that he was to call the baby’s name JESUS, because He would save His people from their sins. The name JESUS means the LORD is Salvation.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21 KJV

Where was Jesus born?

The prophet Micah told us that Jesus would be born in the town of Bethlehem.

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." - Micah 5:2 KJV

Mary and Joseph had come to Bethlehem to be taxed. There was no room for them in the inn.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." - Luke 2:7 KJV

On the night Jesus was born, there were shepherds watching their flocks of sheep in the fields.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." - Luke 2:8 KJV

All of a sudden, the shepherds saw the angel of the Lord and the glory of the Lord all around them. The angel told them, You have nothing to be afraid of! I have come to tell you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." - Luke 2:9-10 KJV

Mama, what is the good news that would bring great joy?

God had come to save us from our sins. He was bringing peace on earth with mankind. He was born as a baby, the Prince of Peace and Savior of the World.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11 KJV

The angel told the shepherds they would see a sign. They would find Jesus wrapped up snugly and lying in a manger.

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:12 KJV

Why was Jesus in a manger, Mama? Is a manger what animals eat out of?

Yes, animals eat out of a manger. God told us that even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey knows who puts food in the manger, but God’s own people do not know who He is and His care for them. The manger is a sign to show the world Jesus is God.

"The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass [donkey] his master's crib [manger]: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." - Isaiah 1:3 KJV

What happened next, Mama?

Suddenly the sky was filled with angels. They were praising and giving God glory for the peace He was bringing between Himself and man.

"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." - Luke 2:13-14 KJV

The shepherds were excited to go see the Savior that everyone had been waiting so long for!

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." - Luke 2:15 KJV

They hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby lying in a manger, just as the angels had said.

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." - Luke 2:16 KJV

When they saw Jesus in the manger, the shepherds went and told everyone everywhere, Christ the Lord, our Savior has been born! Everyone that heard wondered at the exciting news the shepherds told them.

 "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." - Luke 2:17-18 KJV

Mary kept all these things in her heart, and thought about them often.

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." - Luke 2:19 KJV

The shepherds praised God for all the amazing things they had heard and seen that night of the birth of Jesus! They were the first messengers of the good news that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born.

"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." - Luke 2:20 KJV

Mama, now I know what Christmas is –

It is the time of year we remember the birth of Jesus and the wonderful gift He came to bring – the gift of salvation and peace - for you, for me, and for the whole world!

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[If you would like a copy of this story with the photos as part of the story, feel free to PM (private message) me your email and I will send you a copy. It will be an attachment with the photos inserted on each page.]