THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS
Christ Born of Mary – Matthew
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man,
and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do
not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you
shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the
virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name
Immanuel,”[d] which is
translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the
Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her
till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[e] And he
called His name JESUS.
Wise Men from the East - Matthew-2
1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where
is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East
and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to
be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is
written by the prophet:
6 ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in
the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of
Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”[f]
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined
from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to
Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you
have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him
also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star
which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over
where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the
house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts
to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
"Scripture taken
from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
