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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS IS The first Christmas ever -- a child is born in Bethlehem WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 1899 By Barbara Pyles About 2,000 years ago, in the landofPalestine, the Jewish people were waiting for someone to come. When will he come and save us? Mary, a shy girl with blue eyes and black hair, had just said good night to her parents. Although she could hear dogs barking in the distance, the animals in the courtyard they asked each other year after were asleep. When Mary reached year after year. There was a deep the terrace, she knelt to pray. Minlonging ... a great hope. (The Old utes later, she heard a sound and Testament, written hundreds of raised her head. Mary was stunned years before Jesus was bom, con- to see a beautiful angel. tained many prophecies about one Greetings,you who are highly called the Messiah who would come favored! The Lord is with you, and save Israel.) But the people said the angel Gabriel. did not expect their Messiah to Mary was greatly troubled at show up. . . as a baby. his words and wondered what Jesus. He will be great and will married (this was a much more be called the Son of the Most binding relationship than a modHigh. The Lord God will give em engagement today) to the him the throne of his father carpenter Joseph, lowered her David, and he will reign over the head. She did not know what to house of Jacob forever; his king- say. Finally she was able to dom will never end. speak: I am the handmaid of But how will this be, Mary the Lord. His will be done. When the angel departed, Mary asked the angel, since I am a fell upon her knees and prayed. virgin ? The young girl could not tell The angel answered, The Holy the will come her parents or even Joseph, upon you, and Spirit power of the Most High will over- whom she loved with her whole shadow you. So the holy one to be heart, about the angels visit. bom will be allied the Son of God. They would say that she had It had been a day just like any kind of greeting this might be. Even Elizabeth your relative is imagined the entire scene. Mary other in the small village of But the angel said to her, Do not going to have a child in her old knew that the angels visit reNazareth. The people had just be afraid Mary, you have found age, and she who was said to be ally happened. She needed to completed a hard days work. favor with God. You will be with barren is in her sixth month. For talk to someone, and felt that Two Roman soldiers strolled child and give birth to a son, and nothing is impossible with God. the one person that she could proudly down the street . . . Mary, who was pledged to be confide in was her cousin, Elizayou are to give him the name of beth. She wrote her parents a note, then hurried to the town where her cousin Elizabeth lived. Mary remained at Elizabeths home until Elizabeths son came into the world. As Mary held baby John in her arms, she knew that one day this child would prepare the way for the coming of the greatest love that the world would ever know. When Mary returned home, she met Joseph in his carpenter shop. Joseph, I am with a child, she said. Then she told him about her visit from the angel Gabriel. Joseph was confused and heartIn tde true spirit of tfie season we express our heartfelt thanks to broken. He needed time to think. those of you who have made our success here at the JfoCiday Inn Express, Because Joseph, her husband, XanaB this past year possiBCe. was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce Seasons (greetings we say . . . 7hank you, By again offering a SpeciaC JfoCiday Hate to you, yourfamiCy, andfriends who may visit you during this 'VonderfiiC JfoCiday Season. This rate wiCCBe $32.00 pCus tax, per room per night, and incfudes our deCuxe continentaC Breakfast. Those caCCusfor reservations at (435) It is in the spirit 644-888- 8. us to host you or your famiCy ye hope you the JfoCiday Inn Express - XanaB. wiCCaCCow Test wishes to adfor a Jfappy & Safe JfoCiday andfriends at Season, from the Staff Toger & Stephanie 'WiCCiams, (general Managers Dale & Tatsy Carkson, Owners her quietly. (A Jewish betrothal could be broken only by divorce). But after he had considered this , an angel of the Lord appeared" to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the natneJesus, because he will save his people from their sins When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Luke tells us in his Gospel: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. This meant Joseph and Mary had to travel all the way to Bethlehem in Judea. Joseph wondered how Mary could travel. She was about to give birth, any day. Mary reminded Joseph of the prophecy that the Messiah would be bom in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary set off from Nazareth in Galilee the next morning. They would travel about 75 miles over rough roads that were crowded with other families who were also traveling to Bethlehem. Mary rode on a donkey while Joseph walked alongside holding on to the reins. On the third day a shout went up Bethlehem. The town of Bethlehem was full of travelers. Joseph went from Inn to Inn, trying to find lodging. When he came to the last tavern in town, he forced his way in. My wife is about to give birth, he pleaded. All Bethlehem is full. There are no rooms, said the innkeeper. The innkeepers wife ignored her husband. There is the cave that is used as a stable, she said. Joseph gently helped Mary to a humble stall. The innkeepers wife brought Mary some warm blankets and cloths for the child. Soon there was the crying of a baby. The King of Kings had been bom. . . .she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the meantime, nearby in a field, some shepherds were tending their sheep. All of a sudden a vision of light came down from the sky. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all thepeople. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." The shepherds were amazed at what happened next. The heavens se?med to split apart like the opening of a tent. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Joseph heard voices, and shuffling feet. Afraid that the baby would awaken, he hurried to the door. Several men stared at him. Has a male child been bom here? asked a bearded man holding on to a walking stick. And did you lay him in a manger? Yes, answered Joseph. The shepherds found the Holy Child sleeping near his mother. It is true, what we saw and heard, said the oldest man. The Savior of the World has been bom. The waiting was over. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Writers note: In writing this article, I used the Concordia Self Study Bible NIV for everything in Italic. The rest came from my imagination Have a blessed Christmas! |