Nelson's
Picture Bible
Just
a Baby in a Manger
Luke
Chapter 2
Soon after the birth of John the Baptist, an angel came to Joseph in a
dream. Joseph was the carpenter from Nazareth who was going to marry
Mary, the cousin of Elisabeth, John's mother. Joseph was a worried
man, because he knew that Mary was going to have a child. He could
not understand how this could have happened. But the angel brought
him a comforting message from God. "Do not be upset, Joseph." he said.
"The baby Mary is going to have is a special gift from God. it is God Who
has brought that baby to life in her. She will have a Son.
You must give Him the name of Jesus, which means 'Jehovah is salvation,'
because He will save His people from their sins. All this is happening
to fulfill the words of the prophets about the Savior God has promised
to His people for many centuries now."
Not long afterward Joseph and Mary were married, and Joseph looked after
her carefully. At this time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decided
that a census should be taken in all his empire. He commanded Cyrenius,
the governor of Syria, to see that this was done in Palestine. All the
people were told to go to the nearest town. There the people were
to tell to the special census officers their names and all about them.
Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to the little town of Bethlehem. It
was very near the time for Mary's baby to be born. Because
it was quite a long journey, nearly a hundred miles the way they had to
go, Mary rode on the back of a donkey. When they reached the little
town of Bethlehem after that very tiring journey, there were so many people
there already that there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn.
The only place that could be found for them was a stable. There Mary
and Joseph had to spend the night. During that night Mary's baby
was born. Because there was no bed for Him, they wrapped Him in swaddling
clothes and laid Him down on the straw in a manger.
Out in the fields near Bethlehem was a little group of shepherds, looking
after their flock of sheep. Suddenly a great light shone around them,
and they saw standing by them, an angel from God. They were terrified,
but the angel said to them: "Don't be afraid. I have come to bring
you wonderful news, which will fill you with joy. Tonight in the
city of David, in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born for you. He is
Christ the Lord. This is how you will know Him. You will find
a little new-born Baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger."
And as he finished speaking, the shepherds saw around him a large number
of angels, all shining bright. They were praising God, and this is
what they sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men
with whom He is pleased!"
As the shepherds watched in amazement, the angels disappeared. Once
again the night was dark. The shepherds decided they must go at once
into Bethlehem. They wanted to see this Baby, about whom God had
sent the angel to tell them. When they came to the stable, they found
Mary and Joseph and the Baby lying in a manger, just as the angel had said.
Then they went out and told everyone they met of the wonderful thing that
had happened.
When the Baby was eight days old, He was circumcised and given the name
of Jesus, just as the angel had told Joseph.
It was a law among the Jews that after the first son was born in any family,
the parents must go up to the Temple in Jerusalem and offer a sacrifice
of thanks-giving to God. Because Joseph was a poor man, the sacrifice
he took was two young pigeons.
When Joseph and Mary carried Jesus into the Temple, they met there an old
man called Simeon. Simeon was a godly man who was longing for the
coming of the Savior God had promised. God's Spirit had told him, in his
heart, that the would not die until he had seen the Savior. On the
day when Joseph and Mary took the little Jesus to the Temple, God's Spirit
sent Simeon there, too. When the old man saw Jesus, he knew that He was
the Savior. He took Jesus in his arms. Then he praised God and said:
"Now, Lord, let Thy servant go in peace, as Thou hast promised; for my
eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence
of all nations."
Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. Then
Simeon prayed for God's blessing on them both. As he gave back the
Baby, he said to Mary: "This Child is appointed for the fall and rise of
many in Isreal, and for a sign of God that will be opposed. A sword
of sorrow will go even through your heart, but He will reveal the true
nature of people's thoughts."
In the Temple that day there was also a very old lady called Anna, who
was a prophetess and brought God's messages to the people. She spent
most of her time in the Temple, fasting and praying. When she saw
the Baby in Mary's arms, she also praised God.
It was just a little Baby Who was born in Bethlehem. But God's angels
and His Holy Spirit told many people in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem that
He was the Savior about Whose coming all the prophets had spoken.