A Christmas Story

By Isabel Morse Maresh

January 2, 1992

Many, many years ago the world was in a mess, certain groups of people were oppressed by a corrupt government and people were looking for a saviour to lead them into a better life.

In those days the king, Caesar Augustus, had made a law that all the people should be taxed. At that time, Joseph, a carpenter from Galilee, was required to go some distance to Bethlehem, the city of his ancestor King David. His young wife Mary was required to go with him, even though she was nearing the date due to have her baby.

The prophets of old had prophesied that a saviour would be born in the city of David. Every generation had been waiting for the saviour to come to free them from the yoke of Roman oppression.

The journey was long and hard for Joseph and Mary. The roads were rough and she could not walk very fast. They arrived in Bethlehem late in the day. They had meager resources, but as they went from inn to inn, they heard the same. All of the rooms were filled, and there was no place for them to stay. Mary's time for delivery had arrived, and we can imagine that Joseph begged for someplace, any place to stay. Mary was now having pains with the birth of the child near. An innkeeper, being sympathetic, told them that though there were no rooms left, they could stay in the stable behind the inn. It was warm there, and the hay was fresh.

So, in the quiet of the night, a baby boy was born who was named Jesus. So significant was this birth that many magnificent things happened that night.

In that country, there were shepherds watching over their sheep in the fields. A bright light in the sky came down over them which made them very afraid. An angel came down and spoke to them, saying, "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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Then the sky was filled with angels, praising God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men."

After the angels left, the shepherds rushed to the city where they found Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus lying in a manger as the angels had told them. They left the manger telling everyone of what they had seen and heard.

Can't you imagine those who thought that the shepherds were loony? So it is today. It takes a child to believe without question in Santa, and it takes the simple faith as a child to believe in the birth of a Saviour.

In these days of economic depression, we get caught up in the whirlwind of shopping and doing, feeling depressed because we cannot buy and do what we feel that we should do.

Let us look back upon that first Christmas, as it was born in the hearts of the shepherds. Let us keep the peace in our hearts which comes from believing as a little child, with the words of the angels: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men."

That is the true meaning of Christmas!