THE BIRTHOF JESUS

Bible for Childrenpresents

Written by: Edward Hughes

Illustrated by: M. Maillot

Adapted by: E. Frischbutter & Sarah S.

Produced by: Bible for Childrenwww.M1914.org

©2009 Bible for Children, Inc.License: You have the right to copy or

print this story,as long as you do not sell it.

Long ago, God sent theangel Gabriel to a sweetyoung Jewish maidennamed Mary. He

told her,"You will

have ason…

…and call His NameJesus. He will becalled the Son ofthe Highest. He

willreign

forever."

"How can this be?" theamazed girl asked. "Ihave not been with anyman." The angeltold Mary thechild wouldcome fromGod. There

wouldnot be a human father.

The angel then told Marythat her cousin Elizabethwas having a babyin her old age.This was amiracle, too.Soon after,Mary visitedElizabeth.They praised God together.

Mary was engagedto marry a mannamed Joseph.Joseph wassad when helearned Marywas expecting ababy. He thoughtsome other manwas the father.

In a dream, God'sangel told Josephthat this child wasGod's Son. Josephwas to help Mary lookafter Jesus.

Joseph trusted and obeyed God.He also obeyedhis country'slaws.

Because of a new law, he and Maryleft for theirhometown,Bethlehem,

topay their

taxes.

Mary was readyto have herbaby.

But Josephcould not find aroom anywhere.

All the innswere full.

Joseph finally found a stable.There, Baby Jesus

was born.

His mother laid Him in a manger,a place where the

animals'food was

usuallyput.

Nearby, shepherds guarded theirsleeping flocks. God's

angel appearedand told

themthe

wonderfulnews.

"There is born to you this day in thecity of David a Savior

Who is Christthe Lord.

You willfind the

Babylying in amanger."

Suddenly, many more brightangels appeared, praising

God and saying,…

…"Glory to God in the Highestand on earth peace, good

will toward men."

The shepherds hurried tothe stable.

After seeing the Baby theytold everyone they metwhat the angels had said

about Jesus.

Forty days later,Joseph and Mary

brought Jesusto the templein Jerusalem.There a mannamed Simeonpraised Godfor the Baby,…

…while old Anna,another servant of

the Lord, gavethanks. Bothknew Jesuswas God's Son,the promisedSavior. Josephsacrificed twobirds.

This was the offeringGod's law saidpoor peopleshould bringwhen theypresenteda newbornchild to theLord.

Sometime later, aspecial star led WiseMen from an Easterncountry to Jerusalem.

"Where is He Who isborn King of the Jews?"they asked. "We wantto worship Him."

King Herod heardabout the WiseMen. Troubled,he asked themto tell him whenthey foundJesus.

"I want toworship Him,too," Herod said.But he was lying.Herod wanted tokill Jesus.

The star led the Wise Men to theexact house whereMary and Josephlived with the

youngChild.

Kneeling in worship, the travelersgave Jesus richgifts of goldand perfume.

God warned theWise Men to returnhome secretly.Herod was furious.

Determined todestroy Jesus, thewicked ruler killedall boy babies in

Bethlehem.

But Herod could notharm God's Son!Warned in a dream,Joseph took Mary

and Jesus tosafety in Egypt.

When Heroddied Joseph broughtMary and Jesus back from Egypt.

They lived inthe little town ofNazareth, near the sea of Galilee.

The Birth of Jesus

A story from God's Word, the Bible,

is found in

Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2

"The entrance of Your Word gives light."Psalm 119:130

The End

This Bible story tells us about ourwonderful God who made us and who wants

us to know Him.God knows we have done bad things, which

He calls sin. The punishment for sin isdeath, but God loves us so much He sentHis Son, Jesus, to die on a Cross and bepunished for our sins. Then Jesus came

back to life and went home to Heaven! Ifyou believe in Jesus and ask Him to forgive

your sins, He will do it! He will come andlive in you now, and you will live with Him

forever.

If you want to turn from your sins,say this to God:

Dear God, I believe that Jesus died for meand now lives again. Please come into my

life and forgive my sins, so that I can havenew life now, and one day go to be with Youforever. Help me to live for You as Your

child. Amen.Read the Bible and talk with God every

day! John 3:16