Before time begins, there is God. He exists as a Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. After He created man, the Godhead chose the Hebrew people to later bring forth Himself in human form. Prophecies foretold the coming of Christos over a period of centuries. The Son would descend from the human line of David, Abraham, and Adam, among others.
Before Jesus is born, His forerunner is also prophesied to come. This man will come in the spirit of the great prophet Elijah. A priest named Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel and told that his old and barren wife, Elizabeth, will finally conceive and give birth to a son named John. This same angel also visits Elizabeth’s relative, Mary, and gives similar news of an imminent conception. This virgin teenager, betrothed to a godly man named Joseph, will give birth to a son about six months after Elizabeth does.
While Zechariah has doubts and is disciplined with a muted tongue, Joseph needs supernatural guidance through dreams before and after the birth of Jesus to ensure he knows the proper decisions to make and the right paths to take.
Mary is in awe of what God is up to, and she praises Him with Elizabeth. These two women spend months of blessed fellowship together. When John is born, Zechariah’s speech is loosed, and he, too, praises God.
Joseph and Mary head to Bethlehem, the town of their kingly ancestor David, in order to take part in the Roman census. They likely stay in the crowded and simple house of relatives and await the birth of Jesus.
Jesus is born, swaddled per the normal custom, and laid in an animal feeding trough. The Son has finally come and taken the form of flesh, making His dwelling among us. Hallelujah!
Another supernatural moment arrives as shepherds tending their sheep nearby are visited by an army of angels who herald the birth of the long-awaited Anointed One, Christos. The shepherds then find their Messiah in a simple home much like their own, and they worship Him.
On the eighth day after Jesus is born, Joseph and Mary follow the custom and have Him circumcised. On the 40th day, Jesus is taken to the temple in nearby Jerusalem and is presented to God.
While at the temple, two faithful followers of God are given the long-awaited blessing of beholding the Son in human form. Before their own heaven-going, old Simeon and then the aged Anna encounter their Savior in baby form.
Jesus grows older and later receives a visit from Magi from the East. These exotic visitors have been led by a star to worship the newborn King. Their presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh bless this poor family and also foretell Jesus’ future.
Dreams given to both the Magi and Joseph warn them that King Herod, a worldly and dangerous “king of the Jews,” should be avoided at all costs. So, the Magi head home on a different route, and Joseph leads the family into temporary exile in Egypt. With two more dreams after Herod’s death, they return to Nazareth to raise young Jesus up for a short time of ministry that would change the world forever.
