The Nativity — Bible story for kids

Long ago, Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the Roman world, gave an order. Everyone had to be counted in a great census. Each person was to return to the town of his family.

Joseph lived in Nazareth in Galilee. He belonged to the family of King David, so he had to travel to Bethlehem, David’s city. Mary went with him. She was promised to Joseph in marriage, and she was soon going to have a baby.

When Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the guest room. The town was filled with people who had come to be counted. This was not the welcome anyone might expect for the child God had promised.

While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary’s baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. Tenderly, she wrapped him in strips of cloth. Then she laid him in a manger, the feeding place for animals, because there was no other room for them.

The promised Savior had come. He was not resting in a royal palace or sleeping in a golden bed. He was a tiny baby, wrapped snugly and lying in a manger. Mary and Joseph stayed close beside him.

That night, shepherds were out in the countryside near Bethlehem. They were living in the fields and watching over their sheep in the darkness.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood beside them. The glory of the Lord shone all around, and the shepherds were terribly afraid.

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

The angel gave them a sign. They would find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.

Then the sky was filled with a great company from heaven. They praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

When the angels had gone back into heaven, the shepherds spoke to one another. They decided to go to Bethlehem at once and see what the Lord had made known to them.

They hurried into the town. There they found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying in the manger, just as the angel had said.

After seeing Jesus, the shepherds told others what they had heard about this child. Everyone who heard their words wondered at the amazing news.

The shepherds returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God. Everything had happened just as they had been told.

Mary quietly treasured all these things. She held them close and thought about them in her heart. God’s promised Savior had come, and the joyful news was for everyone.