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Welcome to the Story of Christmas! Here’s your quick-start guide:

Step 1 – Download the resource (or bookmark the web page)

Step 2 – Handwrite out a little bit of the story each day in your own journal. Go at your own pace!

Step 3 – Share the journey with others! Use the hashtag #thestoryofchristmas to post pics/videos of your journal, what you’re learning, etc. Get creative! Have fun! You can also share the resource with others. Encourage people to visit www.DailyChristianAffirmations.com.

Preface

What I love about the Christmas story is that it tells us Immanuel! – or God is with us! He came to join us, to be with us, to walk with us, to relate to us and carry our burdens.

He doesn’t stand off at a distance hoping we will “get it right”. He’s not just over us or for us, but in the person of Jesus is literally with us. Think of that classic story “Footprints” that tells of two footprints in the sand, and when we see only one, it was then that Jesus carried us.

Not only is he a comforting and encouraging presence, but He is also like a king or a General that is with the soldiers on the front line and leads them into battle. He isn’t sitting back giving orders from a safe command center.

The story of Christmas also emphasizes the reality that our lives are not only about what happens after our body dies, but very much about what’s happening right here and now. It’s a very real and tangible sense of what Jesus said in his prayer, “on earth as it is in heaven”. Jesus is exactly what it means to be “on earth as it is in heaven”.

In 2021 my mother passed away a month before Christmas. My father had already passed away a dozen years before that. It made for a very strange Christmas. Yet, despite my mom’s recent physical departure, I could still feel her spirit with me and my family.

It was that Christmas that my family and I first read and sang through this story and these songs together, sitting around my mother’s apartment with all her Christmas decorations. It was a surreal, yet grounding and wonderful, experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did and that you find transformational power in its contents!

Steve Pederson
December 2022

Ways to Use This Resource

The purpose of this resource is to help you to engage in some way with the story of Christmas, and so hopefully to let it transform you. Here are some ideas you can try…

Reading and singing it out loud, alone or in a group, online or off!
Reading and singing it all in one sitting or breaking it up into chunks over time
Writing out the words bit by bit as part of your personal devotional time over the holiday season – go at your own pace!
Create artwork based on what you’re reading.
Feel free to use different versions of the Bible, or substitute different songs.

Share the Experience!

As you go through this journey, I want to invite you to share what you’re doing, and perhaps how it may be changing you, with your friends – either in person or on social media. Let’s encourage one another with this!

When posting on social media, please consider using the hashtag #thestoryofchristmas

Part 1

Setting the Stage: Prophecies About Christ

Isaiah’s prophecies were made some time around the years 740-701 B.C.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of The Lord of Armies will perform this.

Isaiah 11:1-2

A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse,
and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him:
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of The Lord.

For Unto Us a Child is Born
George Frideric Handel – Messiah, 1741
(This song is best left to the professionals to sing, but it’s worth a listen.)

For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a son is given;
And the government shall be upon His shoulder;
And His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

Isaiah 40:3-5

The voice of one who calls out,
“Prepare the way of The Lord in the wilderness!
Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The uneven shall be made level,
and the rough places a plain.
The Lord’s glory shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together;
for the mouth of The Lord has spoken it.”

Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
George Frideric Handel – Messiah, 1741

Every valley shall be exalted
And ev’ry moutain and hill made low
The crooked straight
And the rough places plain

(The following video has a 50-second commentary intro…)

Micah 5:2 (circa 700 B.C.)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
being small among the clans of Judah,
out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (circa 600 B.C.)

“Behold, the days come,” says The Lord,
“that I will raise to David a righteous Branch,
and he will reign as king and deal wisely,
and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell safely.
This is his name by which he will be called:
The Lord our righteousness.”

O Little Town of Bethlehem
Phillips Brooks, 1868

There are two versions of this classic Christmas Carol, both musically and lyrically. The tune (melody) for the American version, entitled “St. Louis”, was written by Lewis Redner. The tune for the English (British) version, entitled “Forest Green”, was an adaptation by Ralph Vaughan Williams of an English folk ballad called “The Ploughboy’s Dream”. ^[1]

(American Version)

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

(English/British Version)

Oh morning stars together proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love

Oh holy child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
Oh come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel

Luke 1:26-38 The birth of Jesus foretold

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36 Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”[a]

38 Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

O come O come Emmanuel
Latin hymn (12th century), tr. John Mason Neale, 1851

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Part 2

The Birth of Christ: Immanuel – God with us!

Luke 2:1-7

Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

What child is this?
William Chatterton Dix, 1865

What Child is this who laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and lamb are feeding
The end of fear for all who hear
The silent Word is speaking

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant king to love him;
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him praise
The babe, the son of Mary

Raise, raise the song on high
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The babe, the son of Mary

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus,[b] for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

22 Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child,
and shall give birth to a son.
They shall call his name Immanuel,”
which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14)

24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

Joy to the world
Isaac Watts 1719

Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

Luke 2:8-14 Angels appear to the shepherds

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
Charles Wesley, 1739

Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest Heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Luke 2:15-21 Shepherds visit baby Jesus

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Angels we have heard on high
Traditional French carol paraphrased in English by James Chadwick, 1862

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

See within in a manger laid
Jesus Lord of heav’n and earth
Mary, Joseph lend your aid
With us sing our Savior’s birth
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

Matthew 2:1-12 The Visit of the Wise Men from the East

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are in no way least among the princes of Judah;
for out of you shall come a governor
who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’” (Micah 5:2)

7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

We three kings
John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857

We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, Moor and mountain
Following yonder star