Birth of Christ - c. 3 B.C.
We learned yesterday about the reign of Caesar Augustus. He was reigning at the time of the birth of Christ. The Bible records what happened when Jesus came to earth and was born as a baby.
There was a young lady named Mary. She was probably somewhere between the ages of 13-16 when she was visited by an angel named Gabriel. Gabriel gave her the message that she would be the mother of Jesus. Mary did not understand how she could have a baby because she was not married, but the angel explained to her that God would give her this baby. This baby was special and did not need an earthly father.
Mary was engaged to a young man named Joseph. They were planning on being married, but Joseph was now troubled when he found out that Mary was going to have a baby. He didn't understand what was going on until the angel Gabriel spoke to him as well.
Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken. A census helps keep records of people and where they lived. When Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, it was time for Mary to give birth. The only place they could find for Mary to deliver her baby was in a stable. All the other places were already filled with people! So Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as was prophesied in Micah 5:2.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds were taking care of the sheep when all of the sudden they looked in the sky and saw a multitude of angels announcing the birth of Jesus, the Savior. They were terrified, but as they got over their fears, they were excited and went to see the baby Jesus as He was lying in the manger. Then they told the people what they saw and all that happened to them that night.
You can read about this in the Bible, in the books of Matthew, chapter 1, and Luke, chapter 2.
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