The story of the birth of Jesus has been told and repeated by many people but I wanted to share a version of the story taken directly from the King James Version of the Holy Bible and in the New Testament and in the Verses as stated in the context.
In Matthew Chapters 1 and 2, Verses as stated, "Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." (Matthew 1: 16)
In (Matthew 1: 17 – 18) the Bible tells us, "There are fourteen generations from Abraham to David; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."
The Bible also tells us, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Luke 1: 27)
These verses are important for all of us to distinguish because it is the beginning of showing the lineage of Christ and also the miracles given to Joseph and Mary from God. It also tells us that Joseph, the son of David, was a good and just man, who didn’t want to use Mary as a public example, and he was minded to put her away in private. (Matthew 1: 19)
In Matthew 1: 20 – 21, the Bible tells us, "The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.’ And she will bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus: for he will save his people from their sins."
Can you just imagine the greatness felt in Joseph’s heart as the angel of the Lord appeared and told him he would become a father? This send’s electricity throughout my soul, knowing an angel sent from God came through in a dream and advised Joseph of God’s intention for him and Mary to conceive a child through the means of the Holy Ghost. Mary, a virgin, will be giving birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, which is interpreted is, "God with us." (Matthew 1: 20, 21, 22, 23)
Once Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as he was instructed to do by the angel of the Lord and he took him a wife who was named Mary. Joseph did not know her until Mary had given birth to her firstborn son, who they named Jesus, in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king. There also came wise men from the east to Jersualem too, and they were asking, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to worship him." (Matthew 1: 24, 25; Matthew 2: 1 & 2)
It is my opinion these verses give reason to fill all of us with hope and happiness for Mary who gave birth to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Can you just imagine the greatness that Mary has brought to the world on this special day?
Oh what a blessed miracle and to be the woman who brought this Holy Life into the world. A Savior is born to save the people of the world from their sins and to offer them a way of having an eternal life. This is the real meaning for celebrating Jesus` birth and the meaning for what "Christmas" means to all of us, and we all need to concentrate on this blessed event during this special holdiay season.
We all need to sing, rejoice, and give praise unto Jesus` Holy Name and to celebrate with joy on his blessed birthday. The story of Jesus` birth is rewarding and awesome, and "we" need to receive God’s blessings to us in a powerful and rejoicing manner.
Herod the king heard of these things and he became troubled, and so did all of Jerusalem too. Herod gathered up all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, and he began to demand of them to tell him where Christ was born?
The people told Herod Christ had been born in Bethlehem of Judaea because this is what had been written by the prophet, and also in Bethlehem, land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of there will come a Governor, that will rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2: 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7)
Herod spoke to the wise men and he wanted to know what time the star had appeared. He immediately sent them to Bethlehem, telling them, "Go and search for the young child; and when you have him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him too." (Matthew 2: 8)
This is amazing because it shows God’s almighty power and his greatness; when the men had gotten their orders from Herod, they departed as they watched the star in the east as it went on ahead of them and came to stand where the young child lay. When the men saw the star above them, they were elated and rejoiced in great joy. (Matthew 2: 9 & 10)
They were led into the house; and there, they did see the young child with Mary, his Mother. They fell down and began to worship him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented him with their gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2: 11)
Joseph had been warned in a dream from God that they should not return to Herod and they departed into their own country another way. Once they had departed, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and Mary, and go into Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word because Herod will seek the child to destroy him." (Matthew 2: 12 & 13)
Joseph took them into Egypt and they stayed there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt have I called my Son." (Matthew 2: 14 & 15)
Once Herod saw that he was mocked of the wise men, he was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had inquired of the wise men. (Matthew 2: 16)
When Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. Saying, "Arise, and take the young child and Mary, and go into the land of Israel: for they’re dead which sought the young child’s life." (Matthew 2: 21)
Joseph obeyed the Lord and he took the young child and Mary, and came into the land of Israel; but Joseph had heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, and he was afraid to go there, being wared of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: where he came and he dwelled in the city of Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He will be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2: 20, 22, 23)
This article was written by the sole writer Barbara Kasey Smith and taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version and in the New Testament in Matthew 1 and 2, Verses as indicated in the article.