1. The Real Christmas Story
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this:”

2. “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth

3. to a virgin, called Mary!

4. engaged to a man called Joseph

5. Not yet married, just engaged.
4/14/2017
Not yet married, just engaged.

6. The angel came in unto her, and said,
“Hail you, who is highly favored, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

7. When Mary saw him, she was troubled at his saying & wondered what kind of greeting this should be.
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

8. Mary said to the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’
“He shall be great & called the Son of the Highest. God shall give him the throne of his father David & he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever & his kingdom shall never end.”
Mary said to the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’

9. The angel answered her:
‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon you & the power of the Highest shall overshadow you.’

10. “Also your cousin Elisabeth is expecting a baby son in her old age.
“That’s why that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.”
“Also your cousin Elisabeth is expecting a baby son in her old age.

11. Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; Let it be unto me according to your word.”
Then the angel left her.

12. Mary then went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist.

13. Mary then spoke the “magnificat” prophecy from God about herself as mother of the Savior of the World
Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

14. “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

15. But back home, Joseph finds it hard to believe that Mary is pregnant… from GOD!

16. He wants to break off the engagement & send Mary away quietly to not make a scandal.

17. but…
an angel appears to Joseph in a dream

18. .. telling him to take Mary as wife, and that the baby really is God’s son and will be named ‘Jesus’!

19. Then Joseph agrees to take Mary as wife….
And they get married!

20. In those days , when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

21. …with Mary his wife, highly pregnant.
Joseph, being a descendant of King David, had to travel 150 KM to the city of David, called Bethlehem, to be taxed…
…with Mary his wife, highly pregnant.

22. Bethlehem, 150 years ago!

23. How Bethlehem looks today!

24. But there were many people in Bethlehem to be taxed, so it was hard to find a room.

25. Joseph leaves Mary to find a hotel or Inn!

26. But there was no room in the Inn. No room anywhere!

27. But God always provides for His Children, and so they find a stable outside Bethlehem.

28. Where an exhausted Mary gives birth to Baby Jesus

29. Jesus wasn’t born in a palace,

30. but in a stable with cows, sheep and a donkey.

31. Out in the fields shepherds watch their sheep

32. Suddenly an angel appears to them saying,
“Fear not, for I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

33. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
This shall be a sign to you; You shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (A feedbox for animals!)

34. 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 toward men of good will.

35. And as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other:
“Lets now go to Bethlehem & see this thing which has happened, that the Lord made known to us.”

36. They came quickly & found Mary & Joseph

37. & the baby lying in ... a manger.

38. When they had seen it, they made known the saying that was told them about this child.
And everybody that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

39. But Mary kept all these things & thought them over in her heart.

40. The shepherds returned, glorifying & praising God for all the things they had heard & seen as it was told them

41. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, look! Three wise men came from the East to Jerusalem!
Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the East & are come to worship him.”

42. King Herod called the wise men privately, asking of them what time the star had appeared? After hearing the king, they left.

43. And look, the star which they saw in the East, went before them,
till it came & stood over where the young child was.

44. Seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy.

45. When they came in the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,

46. They fell down & worshipped Him
They fell down & worshipped Him. When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, & frankincense (incense) & myrrh (perfume)

47. Warned by God in a dream that they should not return to King Herod, they left for their own country by another way.

48. Mary & Josef & baby Jesus fled into Egypt, where they stayed for 3 years until King Herod was dead!

49. The End of the most beautiful story
The End of the most beautiful story! Or maybe just the beginning for you?
Ask Jesus the savior of the World into your heart today! And receive his free gift of Eternal Life in Heaven!
Just Say:
Dear Jesus please come into my heart forgive me for my sins and give me eternal life! Help me to love you & others in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
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