Historians agree that Jesus of Nazareth was born over 2,000 years ago and that he lived an amazing life.
The exact time of the year, or even the year itself is unknown, although it was most likely in the autumn about 2 A.
D.
We celebrate his birthday on December 25th to coincide with the already established pagan holiday, which included the celebration of the New Year.
Almost everyone celebrates at this time of year, regardless of their religious beliefs.
True Christians believe in the virgin birth, which makes God, the father of Jesus.
Christians also believe in a triune God.
He is one God but in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
This is a difficult concept, but it is central to the Christmas story.
It is also important to know that God chose the Jewish people to be His children thousands of years ago.
Of those children he chose special ones like Moses, Abraham, Noah, and many prophets.
King David was the most cherished of all the kings of the Jews.
Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married when Mary immaculately conceived the Son of God.
She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit.
God chose her because she was a godly Jewish woman.
In the old testament of the Bible, prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah (Jesus) and that he would come from the line of King David.
Mary and Joseph were both descendents of David.
When Mary told Joseph what had happened he wasn't sure what to believe.
Being a good person, he decided not to have her stoned, as was his right.
He would divorce her quietly to spare her.
That very night an angel came to him and told him that Mary told the truth, and that he should take her as his wife.
They were told to call the child Jesus.
They did not know that he would be born in Bethlehem, as prophets foretold hundreds of years prior to the event.
When Mary was in the ninth month of her pregnancy, there was a Roman edict posted that required everyone to go to Bethlehem to register for the census.
Mary rode a donkey as Joseph led it on the journey.
By the time they got to Bethlehem it was dark and they were exhausted.
The inns were all full and there was nowhere else to go but to the stables where the animals were sheltered.
That very night, Jesus was born.
Shepherds in the area followed the bright star that shone directly above the stable where Jesus was.
They worshipped him along with many others.
They gave the trio blankets and things to make them more comfortable.
Kings from the Orient had journeyed for months following that bright star.
They were astrologers who believed it would lead them to the Messiah.
When the Roman ruler, King Herod asked them about this Messiah, he was jealous, and was afraid that this new King Jesus would take away his crown.
The kings from the orient made sure they were not followed to the place where Jesus lay.
They worshipped baby Jesus and gave him expensive gifts of gold, fragrant oils and spices.
King Herod sent out an order to kill all boy children in his kingdom under the age of two.
Luckily Mary and Joseph were warned to leave immediately and to flee to Egypt with Jesus.
They remained there until the death of Herod.
Then they returned to their home in Nazareth.
That's pretty much the end of the original Christmas Story, but it continues from year to year as the birth of Christ is celebrated.
It's the reason we see stars and lights on the top of houses and on Christmas trees.
It's the reason there is the singing of Christmas worship songs.
It's the reason we give gifts to one another.
A long time ago Saint Nicholas gave presents to poor children, which has now become a Santa Claus tradition.
But it all began over 2,000 years ago with the birth of Christ, our saviour.