The Story of Christmas | Bible Story for Kids

Summary

This heartwarming story follows the birth of Jesus, beginning with Mary's divine announcement from an angel that she would bear the Son of God. With Joseph's support, they travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born in a humble manger. Shepherds are visited by angels who announce the Savior's birth, and wise men follow a star to present gifts to the newborn King. After being warned by angels, the family flees to Egypt to escape King Herod’s wrath. Eventually, they return to Nazareth, where Jesus grows up, fulfilling God's plan to bring peace and joy to the world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mary, the mother of Jesus, was engaged to Joseph when an angel told her she would give birth to the Son of God.
• 😀 The angel reassured Mary that nothing is impossible with God, and that the Holy Spirit would cause her to become pregnant.
• 😀 Joseph initially didn’t understand, but after an angel's visit, he took Mary as his wife.
• 😀 Caesar Augustus ordered a census, requiring Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, his hometown.
• 😀 Upon arrival in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger, as there was no room at the inn.
• 😀 Shepherds were visited by an angel who told them of Jesus' birth and they rushed to Bethlehem to see the newborn king.
• 😀 The angelic announcement was followed by a host of angels praising God for the birth of Jesus and peace on Earth.
• 😀 The shepherds shared the news with others, and everyone was amazed by their story, while Mary reflected on it.
• 😀 Wise men from the East followed a star to find the newborn King, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• 😀 King Herod, feeling threatened by the news of a new King, tried to deceive the wise men but they were warned by God in a dream.
• 😀 After being warned in a dream, the wise men avoided Herod and returned home by another route, while Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled to Egypt for safety.

Q & A

Who was Mary, and what role did she play in the birth of Jesus?

Mary was the mother of Jesus. She was chosen by God to give birth to Jesus, despite being unmarried at the time, through the Holy Spirit, making her pregnancy miraculous.

How did Joseph react to Mary's pregnancy, and what did the angel tell him?

Joseph initially didn't understand Mary's pregnancy but was visited by an angel in a dream. The angel instructed him to marry Mary, assuring him that her pregnancy was divinely planned.

Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken, requiring people to return to their hometowns for registration. Joseph's hometown was Bethlehem.

Where did Mary give birth to Jesus, and why was this significant?

Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, but there was no room in the inn. As a result, she placed Jesus in a manger, which fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah being born in humble circumstances.

Who were the shepherds, and what was their reaction to the angel's announcement?

The shepherds were in the field when an angel appeared to them, announcing the birth of Jesus. They were initially afraid but were reassured by the angel and then went to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.

What did the angels proclaim when they appeared to the shepherds?

The angels proclaimed 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased,' celebrating the birth of Jesus as the Savior of the world.

What did the wise men seek, and what gifts did they bring to Jesus?

The wise men sought the newborn King of the Jews, guided by a star. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor Jesus as the King.

Why did King Herod feel threatened by the birth of Jesus?

King Herod felt threatened because he saw the birth of another king as a challenge to his own rule. He sought to find and eliminate the newborn king of the Jews.

What warning did the wise men receive from God, and how did it impact their actions?

The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod after visiting Jesus. They obeyed and took a different route home to avoid revealing Jesus' location to Herod.

What did the angel instruct Joseph to do after Herod's plan to kill Jesus was revealed?

The angel instructed Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod's threat. They stayed there until it was safe to return after Herod's death.