. . .God created the heaven and the earth. And God said,
Let there be light, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, to divide the waters from the waters, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear, let the grass, herb, and tree come forth, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, let the waters bring forth
abundantly the moving creature that have life, and fowl that may fly above the earth, let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then, God said let us make man in our image, after our likeness, male
and female. And God called the man Adam, and Adam named his wife Eve.
Together they took care of the garden that God had planted in Eden.
All that God had created, from the smallest insect to the largest beast,
even the environment, was in perfect harmony.
But the harmony of Eden did not last. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and
listened to Satan. The harmony that once existed between God and man
and between man and his environment was now disrupted. Paradise was lost.
But God, with unmeasurable mercy, did not give up on mankind. Instead
He had a plan...a plan that would redeem mankind and restore the
perfect relationship back between God and man. The creator would give
His creation the greatest gift that could ever be given. He would send His
only begotten Son...Jesus Christ...our Saviour.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of
Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Gabriel: Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and
the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he
shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end.
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath
also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her,
who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And Mary abode with her about 3 months, and returned to her own house..
Mary: Oh, I have been away from Joseph too long, he is probably worried about me. I must go and tell Joseph of these great things.
Joseph: Mary! What are you doing here at this time of night?
Mary: Joseph, you won't believe what has happened. An angel spoke to me and said that I am with child.
Joseph: Are you mad woman?! How can you be with a child? Surely, Mary, I can't believe that you would play the part of an unfaithful woman!
Mary: But Joseph, you must believe me. I speak the truth! Please Joseph just let me explain.The Angel Gabriel came to me while I was knitting and told me that I was with child and he explained how the child is the Son of God and his name is to be called Jesus. Then he told me that my cousin Elisabeth, as you knew was barren, is to have a son and he is to be
called John. So I went to see Elisabeth and rejoice with her over the birth of her son, for I knew she has wanted so much to have a child. Then I thought I should come and share the news of these great miracles with you.
Joseph: Let me understand: you expect me to believe that an Angel told you that you are to conceive God?s child and call him Jesus? And that God has miraculously given Elisabeth a child to be named John? When did this Angel speak with you?
Mary: About three months ago.
Joseph: Three months ago! You have waited three months to tell me this? Don?t you understand how this looks! You have been away three months and return with this story?
Mary: I?m sorry Joseph, but I . . .was so excited and hoped you would be too.
Joseph: Please Mary, you must leave now. I need some time to think and meditate alone.
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. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away privily.
Joseph: Father, I don't know what to do. Mary was away for three months and returns with this story about her conceiving your Son. Even if Mary is telling the truth, no one will believe that he is your son, and we can not lie and say that he is my son. If I confess this act before the priest, Mary will be taken outside her house and stoned. Oh! Father I don?t know what to
do, I still love Mary, but I do not see how we will get through this situation. I suppose I could privately release her from our engagement, but I don?t want Mary to have to raise her child by herself. Even if he?s not my child, she will need a husband, and he will need a father. Oh! Father! I ask that you guide me and help me to make the right decision, and please send
a special blessing upon Mary and give her the strength and courage she needs to get through this . . .
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream.
Gabriel: Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did
as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he
called his name JESUS.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Joseph: Sir! Are there any rooms to be had?
Inn Keeper: I wish there were. I'm turning people away right and left. If I had a dozen more rooms I could rent them?if I had a hundred more rooms I could rent them!
Joseph: But you don't understand. My wife is about to deliver a child!
Inn Keeper: A Child! Congratulations! But that still won?t get you a room. At least half of the people looking for shelter tonight have told me that their wife is with child. It didn?t get them a room and it won?t get you one either! Look, I'm sorry. It's not my fault that the filthy Romans
decided to take a census and create such a stir in the city.