# Day 213

# The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18–21; Luke 2:1–7

Joseph was a carpenter in Nazareth. He was soon to be Mary’s husband. One night he had a dream. In it an angel spoke: “Joseph, take Mary as your wife. The child in her is from the Holy Spirit. When he’s born, call him Jesus. He’ll save his people from their sins.”

In those days, Emperor Augustus Caesar commanded that his people be counted. To do this, everyone went to their hometown. For Mary and Joseph, this was Bethlehem. Bethlehem was also King David’s hometown.

It was a long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary, who was almost ready to have her baby, traveled with Joseph. They went down the hills in Galilee to the Jordan River. Then they followed the river to Judea. Up in the Judean hills, they came to Bethlehem. The town was full of people who had come to be counted. An inn was there, but it was full of people.

Suddenly, Mary had to give birth. So they went into a stable. Here Mary had her child, Jesus. She wrapped him in a blanket and put him to sleep in a feed trough.

Questions: What did the angel tell Joseph that Jesus would do? Where was Jesus born?