Excerpt

About one-third of the people in the world are Christians who are associated with thousands of different Christian denominations and cults: each with a different understanding of what Jesus taught and what is important. Between these Christians, there are many degrees of spirituality and many variations in doctrine. That is why it is the do-it-yourself religion.

In addition to Christian congregations that belong to established organizations, many independent congregations meet in small buildings. Some Christians participate in small Bible Studies, but do not attend organized religious services. In spite of all the variations in beliefs and practices, a belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and a belief in the teachings of Jesus define the religion of Christianity. Christians believe that God loves them and all other people of the world; and they believe people must believe Jesus is the Son of God.

The first thing and certainly one of the most remarkable things about Jesus of Nazareth is the manner of his conception and birth. He was born to a Virgin named Mary. Lukes Gospel has the most detailed account of the period surrounding the birth of Jesus. Luke probably wrote the first few chapters based on testimony of Mary, the mother of Jesus, because she was aware of the events; and probably, she was the only one available to the Gospel writer when he began writing his Gospel several decades after the events occurred.

Shortly before the conception of Jesus, a relative of Mary named Elisabeth had a miraculous experience related to what happened to Mary six months later. Elizabeth was an elderly woman who had no children. In response to her prayers, an angel appeared to the husband of Elisabeth and told him that his wife would bear him a son. (Luke 1:5-7, Luke 1:11-19)

Six months after the angel told Elisabeth she would have a son, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. The angel told Mary she would have a son, and he promised Mary that, the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. The child was conceived by the Holy Ghost to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. (Luke 1:26-35 Isaiah 7:10) The angel also told Mary that her cousin Elisabeth had conceived a child; and Mary went to visit her. It is not clear why Maryi went there; perhaps it was to share her miraculous experience. Perhaps she went there to conceal her pregnancy from her neighbors, since she was not married. It is possible that the angel instructed her to go therethe Bible does not elaborate on this. (Luke 1:36-44)

Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, discovered she was with child. Engagement was more than a promise to marry someone; it meant that they were already permanently committed to one another, just as if they were actually married. He decided to put her away privily; but an angel came to him while he slept and convinced him to marry her without scandal. (Matthew 1:18-25)

Just before the birth of Jesus, the parents were required to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David, for census and taxation, even though Mary was almost ready to give birth. Joseph was a descendant of David, and Davids descendants were supposed to go Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The birth of Jesus occurred according to prophecies made many centuries earlier in the book of Isaiah. This passage is quoted frequently during the Christmas season.

When he was born, Angels appeared to shepherds informing them of the birth of a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Angels proclaimed Glory, to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:1-7; Isaiah 9:6 7; Luke 2:8-16)

Eight days after his birth, the new parents took him to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of circumcision. They made a sacrifice of turtledoves, which was the offering of poor people. (Leviticus 12:8) This implies that they had not received gifts from the wise men at this time. After the ritual in Jerusalem, they returned to Nazareth. (Luke 2:21-24; 2:39)

Somehow, wise men from the east were aware of the birth of the remarkable child and came with gifts for his parents in his name. The Bible does not state how many people were among the wise men. It has been a tradition that there were three of them. Neither does the Bible say where in the east they came from. Daniel probably had been a member of the Magi when the Jews were in captivity in Persia; therefore, the belief in the coming of the Savior may have been his contribution to the journey to find Jesus. The wise men provided gifts; but the Bible does not explain exactly why they did that, nor if the wise men had any contact with Jesus in his later life.

Matthew 2:11 states the wise men found the family in a housenot a stable. The Bible does not say that the child was in Bethlehem when the wise men found him. Traditionally, the wise men discovered the Holy Family in Bethlehem, shortly after Jesus was born. However, according to statements in the Gospels, it may have been almost two years after his birth when they found him, after the family had returned to Nazareth.