Around 2000 years ago, King Herod ruled Judea. At that time, God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman named Mary who lived in the northern town of Nazareth. She was engaged to marry Joseph. The angel Gabriel said to Mary, 'God is pleased with you and has blessed you. God has been very kind to you. You will become the mother of a baby boy and you will call him Jesus. He will be God's own Son and his kingdom will never end.' Mary was afraid but she trusted God and his plans.

Joseph became very worried when he got to know that Mary was expecting a baby before their marriage. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in his dream and said not to be afraid and told him to have Mary as his wife. Angel further told him that Mary had been chosen by God to be the mother of his Son. He followed the instructions of the angel and married Mary.

The region where Mary and Joseph used to live is a part of the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor Augustus ordered to make a list of all the people in the empire so that he could collect taxes. He ordered everyone to go back to the town where their families came from, and register their names there. Mary and Joseph travelled a long way from Nazareth to Bethlehem as that was the place where Joseph's family came from. 

After reaching Bethlehem, they had no place to stay. A lot of people had come to register their names. Every house was full and every bed was taken in all of the guest rooms. The only place where they could stay was the place with the animals. So, the place where the animals slept, Mary gave birth to Jesus, Son of God. 

Some shepherds were looking after their sheep through the long night. As the new day began, an angel appeared before them and the glory of God shone around them. The shepherds were very scared, but the angel told him not to be afraid and told him the good news of the birth of their saviour. Then a number of angels appeared lighting up the sky. The shepherds heard them praising God. When the angels had gone, the shepherds discussed with one another that they should go to Bethlehem to see what had happened. They found Mary and Joseph when they went to Bethlehem. They found baby Jesus as they had been told. They all were surprised and told everyone what the angel had said.

A brand new bright star appeared in the sky when Jesus was born. Some Wise Men in faraway countries understood the meaning of that star. They brought gifts for their new king. The Wise Men followed the new star and reached Jerusalem. They asked people about the newborn child who was born to be the king of the Jews. When the king of Judea, Herod, heard this, he got angry and thought that someone might be going to take his place as king. He ordered Wise Men to follow the star until they found the baby king. He told Wise Men that he wanted to worship the newborn king and did not reveal that he had evil plans of killing Jesus. 

These three wise men in a distant country who knew that Jesus’ appearance was a sign of the arrival of a great king and they rushed to find him. King Herod heard that the wise men were looking for the great new king, whom he knew would replace him. King Herod planned to kill the baby, but no one knew about it yet.

...The three sages follow the shining star until they reach the barn, In Bethlehem and they reached the place where Jesus was born. The Wise Men entered the house where Joseph was with his wife and child. They bowed down in honour of the son of God and worshipped him. The Wise Men gave the gifts, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they had brought before Jesus. ...

An angel appeared to Joseph after the departure of the Wise Men and told him to escape to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because one day Herod is going to search for Jesus to kill him. Joseph took Jesus and Mary and during the night they left for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod died.

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

This Is The Story of Christ Jesus Childhood 🌟