Jesus Is Born

Long ago, the ruler Caesar Augustus made a rule: everyone had to be counted, each in his own family's town. So Joseph left Nazareth and went to Bethlehem, the city of King David, because his family came from David. Mary went with him, and she was going to have a baby very soon.

While they were in Bethlehem, the time came. Mary's baby boy was born. She wrapped him snugly in cloths and laid him in a manger — a feeding box for animals — because there was no room for them in the inn.

That night, shepherds were out in the fields nearby, watching their sheep. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around. They were very afraid. But the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people. Today, in the city of David, a Saviour is born. He is Christ the Lord. You will find the baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger."

Then, all at once, the sky was full of angels praising God: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

When the angels went back to heaven, the shepherds said, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see!" They hurried, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Then they told everyone what the angel had said, and all who heard it wondered.

The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God for all they had seen. Mary kept these things and thought about them in her heart. And the baby was given the name the angel had said: Jesus.