Summarized by Harold Pease, Ph. D.

For our newspapers this Christmas season we retell the greatest story ever told, God was Born. It is our almost 800th column telling readers mostly what the Deep State presses do not share. But this story is the reason for the season of America’s most favorite holiday. Unfortunately it is today largely not shared outside christian churches and active members homes. We share it boldly and hope our newspapers will dare share it openly also. This IS the Christmas story.

The wise men, perhaps, “We Three kings from Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar…Following yonder Star,” as the song goes, visited the toddler Jesus. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worship him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented them to him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” This God will be the Savior from the wisest to the most unlearned, from royalty to the “least of these.” It is important to note that Shepards were first to see and worship him outside family.

For four millennia the Old Testament prophets foretold the birth of God (Jesus). The Jewish culture anticipated that he would come to them. He did, but not as the powerful military leader they expected. His birth is the greatest story ever told. An angel revealed his coming to the virgin Mary, the intended mother, and later to Joseph, Mary’s to be husband, of the Christ child, each told separately the child was to be named Jesus. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist, who “leaped in my womb for joy” at Mary’s visit in recognition of the God carried by Mary in her womb (St Luke 1:36, 41, 44, New Testament, King James Version).

We go to Luke for the birth story. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus… that the world should be taxed, … And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

“And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said onto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds, said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad, the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the Shepard’s returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told onto them. (Ibid., St Luke 2:1–20).”

Mary and Joseph next took the Christ child to the temple where the infant was recognized by two temple workers as the expected God prophesied. These were Simeon, who had been promised he would not die before seeing “the Lord’s Christ,” and Anna a prophetess, “who served God with fasting and prayers night and day,” in the temple (Ibid. 2:22-38).

Mary visits her cousin Elisabeth with her good news. Both are pregnant with historic babies shown in this photo, Elisabeth with John the Baptist and Mary with Jesus. Elizabeth notes that John “leaped in my womb for joy” at Mary’s visit in recognition of the God carried by Mary in her womb.

Then when Jesus was a young child about two, three “wise men from the east,” (they knew what the prophets had prophesied concerning the coming of Christ), following a star in the heavens came to worship him. These were men of standing or King Herod would not have seen or believed them. They visited Herod hoping for more specific directions. Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” He called forth his chief priests and scribes and they identified Bethlehem in Judah. Still led by the star, they found the home of Joseph. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented them to him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God, in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way” (St. Matthew 2: 2-5, 8-12, New Testament, King James Version).

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him “(Matthew 2). While Joseph was in Egypt the exceedingly wroth King Herod “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.” When alerted by an angel in a dream that Herod was dead Joseph returned his family to Israel (Ibid. 13-16, 19-21).

With all the prophecies of Christ’s coming fulfilled, the miraculous conception, angels visiting, dreams given to announce or protect, and eyewitnesses attesting that this child is the Lord, it is the greatest story ever told. What other event had such witnesses? He was born in the lowliest of places—a stable—but was ushered in by a heavenly choir. Common Shepards were the first to see and worship him. He is the friend to the lowest among us; our God indeed.

THIS IS THE CHRISTMAS STORY, the first five letters of which is Christ. We will never forget!!!