The Christmas story

Every year as we read the Christmas story, we act it out!

We began when the children were little.

This year we drew names from a bowl to see what parts we would be.

(every girl wants to be Mary, you know)

[We learned in Israel that in 1st century Israel, Joseph and Mary would not have gone to an "inn" - the word for "inn" that we use in the Bible is "kataluma", which means guest room of a house.  The Greek word for a traveler's inn is "pandocheion" (like in the story of the Good Samaritan).  Cultural expectations would be that Joseph and Mary would have gone to the home of an extended family member and as the guest room was full of other family members possibly, they were given the place where the livestock were kept.]

"Uncle Ben!"

"Joseph, welcome!  There is no room in our guest room!"

 "Here is our stable"

The King of the Universe arrived - not in a palace, not in a guest room, but in a stable and placed in an animal feeding trough.

There were shepherds out in the field, watching over their flock by night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to announce the birth of the King!

And a MULTITUDE of angels appeared

 (they covered the sky! - I think perhaps ALL the angelic host!  

who would want to be left out of that kind of announcement??!!)

and sang

and the shepherd went to the place the Babe was sleeping

 The wisemen from the East followed the star

they bowed down and worshipped Him!

One day, EVERY knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!  (Rom. 14:11)

And now, Christmas is over.