The First Christmas
WRITER: THE AU LIBRARY
About 2000 years ago in Judea, under King Herod's rule, an angel named Gabriel visited Mary, a young woman in Nazareth. Mary was engaged to Joseph. Gabriel told Mary she was favored by God and would give birth to a son named Jesus, who would be God's Son and have an everlasting kingdom. Despite her fears, Mary trusted in God's plan.
Gabriel also mentioned that Mary's cousin Elizabeth, previously thought unable to have children, would bear a son named John, who would prepare people for Jesus. Mary visited Elizabeth, confirming the angel's words.
Joseph, learning of Mary's pregnancy, considered cancelling their marriage. However, an angel reassured him in a dream, explaining Mary's divine role and instructing him to name the baby Jesus. Joseph followed this guidance and married Mary.
During this time, the Roman Emperor Augustus ordered a census. Mary and Joseph traveled about 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Joseph's ancestral home. Finding no lodging due to the census, they stayed in a stable, where Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Nearby, shepherds witnessed angels announcing Jesus' birth and guiding them to find him in the manger. The shepherds shared this miraculous event with others.
Meanwhile, Wise Men from distant lands, interpreting a new star as the birth of a great king, journeyed to Judea. King Herod, threatened by the prophecy of a new king, deceitfully instructed the Wise Men to inform him of the child's location. Following the star to Bethlehem, they found Jesus, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned by God, they avoided Herod and returned home by a different route.
An angel warned Joseph of Herod's plan to kill Jesus, urging them to flee to Egypt. They remained there until Herod's death. Herod, frustrated by the Wise Men's disobedience, ordered the killing of all boys under two in Bethlehem, but Jesus remained safe in Egypt.
After Herod's death, an angel told Joseph it was safe to return to Israel. However, fearing Herod's successor, they settled in Nazareth, Galilee, where Jesus grew up.
