JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

Mary was married to a man named Joseph. He was a good man, and rejoiced in the blessing God had promised to Mary. An angel had told him in a dream, that his wife should have a son, and that God himself was the Father of that son; and that his name should be called Jesus, or the Savior, because he should "save his people from their sins."
The Jews were under the government of Augustus, emperor of Rome; and just at this time, he made a law that all his subjects should be taxed; that every person should pay a sum of money to the Roman government. All the people went to their own tribes, and their own cities, according to their families, to have their names taken down before the taxing began; so Joseph left Nazareth, and went to Bethlehem; for that was his city, because he was of the family of David, who was a native of Bethlehem. And Mary went with Joseph. But Joseph and Mary had no possession, no house in Bethlehem; they were poor people; and when they went to the inn, they were told there was no room for them; so they went into a stable to rest there.

JESUS IS BORN

That very night, God's promise to Mary was fulfilled; the child Jesus was born. His mother wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in the manger. He had no kind nurse to take care of Him; only his mother, and she was very poor, and could not do much for Him. How humble and lowly Jesus was!

His body was like that of any other little child; and He suffered pain and hunger like other children and He needed food, and rest, and care, as they do. But there were some things in which Jesus was different from every other child that was ever born into this world. He had no sin.

When Jesus came the first time, He came in great humility, because He was going to suffer and die for sinners. But when He comes again, He will come in power and glory, to punish His enemies, and to take His people to reign with Him for ever. Let us pray that we may be among His people, and that, when He comes, we "...may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3: 14.