In the town of Bethlehem, a young woman named Mary was expecting a child. She was engaged to Joseph, a kind and honest man. As the time of the birth drew near, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that everyone should return to their hometown for a census. So, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, which was Joseph’s ancestral home. The journey was long and tiring, but they persevered.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, the town was bustling with people who had also come for the census. There was no room for them in the inn, so Joseph and Mary had to find shelter in a stable. It was a humble place, filled with animals and hay. But it was there, in that simple stable, that Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
On the night of Jesus’ birth, shepherds were watching their flocks in the fields nearby. Suddenly, an angel appeared to them, shining with a bright light. The shepherds were afraid, but the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, just as the angel had said. They were filled with wonder and joy, praising God for the miracle they had witnessed. Afterward, they went back to their fields, spreading the news about the newborn King.
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was a humble beginning, but it marked the arrival of the promised Messiah, bringing hope and salvation to the world.