For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The best books on the christmas story five books expert. The christmas story in 5 bible passages guideposts. Dec 21, 2015 nobody can say for sure what luke thought, but we can propose two hypothesis. Beginning december 1 st, read one chapter of luke each day through december 24 th. Gospel of luke gospel of luke the opening to the christmas story in the gospel of luke is familiar to many of us. While john does not provide many of the historical details that matthew and luke do, john provides a deep christmas story. The choice of luke by the holy spirit to write the third gospel reveals that there are no accidental writers of scripture. Here are two reasons we can find hope in the book of luke this advent. In my home growing up, every christmas we had a tradition of reading the christmas story.
Reading lukes story for clues so lets read lukes christmas story with these clues in mind. Luke is the third gospel an account of jesus life and ministry in the new testament. Most of us are pretty comfortable with the christmas story. Beautiful pictures to accompany the actual text from the gospel of luke. Lets lock into luke so we can hear the message from the manger. What is the passage about the gospel of luke is unique in many ways but one of the most striking areas that this book adds to the message of scripture is the events of the birth narrative. Im going to print out a copy for the classroom as well as a copy for each child to take home. The christmas story with relaxing christmas music and 90 minutes of instrumental christmas music duration. The pinnacle scene in the program is when linus recites the gospel of luke, second chapter, verses 8 to 14, after which he says, thats what christmas is all about, charlie brown. Lets read the book of luke before christmas home facebook. In other words, luke is writing an accurate historical account. Gods message in the christmas story is i am coming.
The christmas story comparisons teaching resources. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Dec 8, 2015 i love to tell the story of jesus birth to my sunday school kids. He was waiting for the time when god would come to help israel. Most likely joseph and mary sought lodging in the public accommodations in the city of bethlehem see j. The real date of christmas the urantia book and the life of. Dec 20, 2012 there are parts of the christmas story that dont fit in the manger scene. Dec 20, 2016 youve heard the christmas story a hundred times. When a mothers first baby is a boy, he shall be called. This census first took place while quirinius was governing syria. It tells of mary and josephs journey to bethlehem, the birth of jesus, the angels announcement to the shepherds in the fields, the shepherds visit to the stable, and even jesus childhood. How did one of the most wellknown stories become one of the least accurate. Luke 3 niv bible in the fifteenth year of the reign of. He claims to write this account so that theophilus will know the exact truth.
These sections are all weaved together to form a more robust narrative of the christmas story. This book is a wonderful addition to a christmas or anytime book collection. He offers us the courage to keep on being like jesus who cared for the human raceevery lost one. Herod and his slaughter of babies in bethlehem, for instance. These sons will be the two greatest people to ever walk the face of the earth matthew 11. The first christmas sermon by david dewitt, luke 2.
I was particularly taken with the youthful rendering of mary. This advent, id like to help you learn the entire christmas story from luke, one verse at a time. As you read it, listen for the hidden clues in the light of what i have written above. Luke 2 new international version niv the birth of jesus.
Whats christmas without the birth of our lord and savior jesus christ. To fully understand the meaning of christmas, lets begin by looking at the christmas story in the gospel of luke, and how both the shepherds and the angels understood the meaning of christmas. Jul 06, 2010 nevertheless, despite these differences, god chooses to bless both zechariah and mary. Step inside the bibles christmas story and relive the events surrounding the birth of jesus christ.
So he was there when mary and joseph brought the baby jesus to do what the jewish law. This advent, let the gospel of luke reawaken your hope. I find that the books of matthew and luke are telling two different stories of christmas. Comparing the luke and matthew versions of the christmas story. A beautiful depiction of the story of the birth of christ with text from the bible. So, today lets unwrap the real story and see it in its real time without all the pretty decorations. Hence this story is the real story of christmas the whole story. They are preschool and kindergarten children and they love story time.
The view that luke knew of matthew is often rejected because it would mean luke did not care if his book was compatible with matthew. This version is paraphrased from the books of matthew and luke. The story of the birth of christ, celebrated around the world at christmas, is one of the most beautiful in the new testament. The true christmas story is a simple retelling of the nativity story, intended for two to sixyearolds, to share the miraculous birth of jesus christ. The notsovirgin birth of the christmas story raw story. Luke again recorded gods providential timing in bringing this godly woman to jesus then cf. In the fifteenth year of the reign of tiberius caesarwhen pontius pilate was governor of judea, herod tetrarch of galilee, his brother philip tetrarch of iturea and traconitis, and lysanias tetrarch of abilene during the highpriesthood of annas. By christmas eve, you will have read all 24 chapters an entire account of the birth, ministry, sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection of jesus. Some have sentimentalized it so much that they skim along on a superficial level, counting down the remaining shopping days, stressing about all the things to do, while neglecting the nativity. Like samson in the book of judges, he would be a nazarite consecrated to god judges 16. I think he meant joseph was the son of heli and thus differed with matthew. This chapter of the new testament tells the ageold christmas story, but its also extremely relevant to our.
Lets go back to first century occupied israel the images in the story are from my studies in israel. The next step is to enter your payment information. Christmas belongs to all of creationyou just need to know where to. I wanted just a simple book to read them this christmas, so i put together this little booklet for them.
The books of matthew and luke both give accounts of the birth of jesus, while the book of john gives a more ethereal account of how the word became flesh john 1. Here is that story from the traditional reinavalera spanish translation of the bible, a translation whose cultural importance is comparable to that of the king james version of the bible in english and comes from the same era. I love to tell the story of jesus birth to my sunday school kids. The christmas story is found in the new testament books of matthew and luke in the bible matthew 1. Much of the imagery which has become a part of the christmas and nativity tradition has been supplied by our filling in the gaps of lukes account. Finding buried treasure in the christmas story new small church. He simply rewrote the story the way he wanted it and ignored matthew.
Matthew has jesus born in bethlehem but jesus family must flee to egypt and nazareth to escape herod. He does add a few insights that many people dont think about, but its a pretty plain and simple reading. The political significance of lukes christmas story by marcus j. Luke s christmas account is one that many english readers will. Young children will be able to see the beauty of the story in the wonderful art work of spirin. The actual christmas story from the gospel of luke. Johns christmas story is found in the first chapter of johns gospel. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. They claim the nativity accounts of matthew and luke do not line up, and therefore the accounts should be discarded. Luke 2 the birth of jesus in those days bible gateway. Read out of the new living translation of the bible. He used more medical terms than hippocrates, the father of medicine.
Unbeknownst to many, johns gospel holds a christmas story as well. The reading age is 48 years, but the illustrations are crammed with things to look at and talk about animals, birds, fabulous patterns, figures doing everyday things in the background and this means that reading it to a younger child say, from. What we are told is that there was not room in the inn, 30 which resulted in the baby jesus being wrapped in rags or strips of cloth and placed in a cattle feeding trough for a crib. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swa. Luke is the story of jesus christexactly as it happened.
In our american understanding of what happened in luke 2, jesus was laid in a clean manger with animals and presents and bright lights. The two accounts agree that jesus was born in bethlehem in judea, his mother mary was betrothed to a man named joseph, who was descended from king david and was not his biological father, and that his birth was caused by divine intervention. Christmas comes to all the world, regardless of humanmade distinctions and barriers. Which is the most likely view as to which luke thought as he was writing joseph, the son of heli. This christmas season, luke 2 will probably be the mostread passage of scripture. The real story of christmas december 23, 2012 jesus probably wasnt born in a manger, but in the main living room of a peasant house, where animals are brought in at night. The classic story of the first christmas from the gospel of luke has enchanted readers for centuries. How to create a christmas story for your family christian. The story of christmas lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry with good things. Dec 20, 2009 the lds nativity video played with amy grants song, breath of heaven marys song. Christmas timeline of the biblical account answers in genesis. Luke tells jesus story in extensive detail, more so than any other gospel. The christmas story in scripture found in the book of luke, chapter 2, verses 120. According to the gospels of matthew and luke from the king james bible.
This was the first census that took place while quirinius was governor of syria. The first 5 scrolls of this set are verses from the old testament foretelling the birth of christ. He miraculously gives each of them a son who will bring about the fulfillment of the ancient promises he made to the patriarchs luke 1. Luke, young readers can begin to incorporate the true christmas story into their lives and holiday traditions celebrating the true meaning of christmas. The next 20 scrolls are the actual christmas story as found in the book of luke beginning with luke 2.
No matter how many others were speaking out to tell the story of jesus the messiah, the world needed luke s particular voice. Warnings of the last days from god christian short film the days of noah have come duration. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. From marys meeting with the angel gabriel to the birth of baby jesus in a stable, to the visit of the shepherds and the three wise men, the story. The christmas story, a harmony of the gospels celebrating. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from caesar augustus that all the world should be registered. The christmas story in the gospel of john bellator christi. Present the christmas story to your family with our new nativity story scrolls.
The christmas story from the gospel of luke in spanish. Anna was a widow who had devoted herself to the worship and service of god in the temple cf. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Lukes christmas story 5 things to notice as you read. Dec 21, 2008 luke hits the matter of jesus identity early and then throughout the book. Luke records miracles, sermons, conversations, and personal feelings lk 2. Borg stories of jesus birth are found in only two of the four new testament gospels, matthew and luke.
Luke contains about43references to women, four of whom were widows luke 2. Learn the bibles christmas story of the birth of jesus. Dec 16, 2012 the christmas story in scripture found in the book of luke, chapter 2, verses 120. Our modern christmas story is a composite drawn from two gospels, meaning devotional accounts of the life of jesus, known as the books of matthew and luke. The nativity of jesus, nativity of christ, birth of christ or birth of jesus is described in the biblical gospels of luke and matthew. You can then check your findings with my brief comments which follow the story. At this point, matthew resumes his story along lines parallel to mark, with his expanded versions of the mission of john the baptist, the baptism of jesus and the temptations that followed.
Read the story of the first christmas, and all of the other beloved stories of jesus life free on our site. I dont recommend traumatizing kids and grandparents on christmas eve with that story, but on a sunday leading up to christmas, a serious look at who herod was is a great way to tell people why jesus came. Mark strauss takes a deep dive into the story of jesus birth as its. Dec 21, 2015 if something appeared in matthew and mark, luke was more careful, and tended to stay with the wording and narrative found there. Henry morningside presbyterian church atlanta, ga december 21, 2008 to you is born this day in the city of david a savior, who is the messiah, the lord. Dec 21, 2010 the christmas timeline of the biblical account is called into question by many skeptics. Dec 23, 2015 the bible has been the exclusive resource for the details of jesus life for centuries, but now, the urantia book restates the jesus story with rich and replete detail seen nowhere else.
This christmas story is drawn wordforword from the bible. Dec 11, 2008 comparing the luke and matthew versions of the christmas story. For luke, the joy of christs birth is that it transforms the ordinary into the miraculous. For somebody who has grown up listening to the christmas stories, or has made the effort to read the gospel stories of jesuss birth in matthew and luke, but has questions about any of the particular things that are said, questions of historicity, all of that can be found in browns book. This is really a stunning book, and if youre stuck for a christmas present, this could be it.
Each day, youll also get a short memory lesson, adapted from my book, christmas by heart. And when she finished reading, she revealed that it was a story my husband had written decades ago in school. May god help us this year to remember and focus on the true. Sometimes they go so far as to say that few are even aware of the issues with the christmas timeline. They brought jesus to jerusalem so that they could present him to the lord. Why are jesus genealogies in matthew and luke different. The christmas story according to matthew thinking faith. The sweet story told of a family who was having a hard time one christmas. Luke, on the other hand, has joseph and mary travel from their home in nazareth on a special trip in which jesus was born. Luke begins his gospel by telling his original reader, theophilus, that he has researched these matters carefully luke 1.