The verse anchor
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:11 · King James Bible
The story
In the town of Nazareth there lived a young woman named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a carpenter named Joseph.
An angel came to Mary. His name was Gabriel. He said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee. Thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest." Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
In those days the Roman emperor made a law that everyone had to travel to their family town to be counted. Joseph's family was from Bethlehem. So Mary and Joseph made the long journey — over hills and through valleys — from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
When they came to Bethlehem, the town was full. Every inn was crowded. There was no room for them. At last a kind innkeeper let them stay where he kept his animals — a warm stable full of hay.
That night, in the stable, Mary's baby was born. She wrapped him in strips of soft cloth called swaddling clothes. She laid him in a manger — the wooden box where the animals ate their food. And she named him Jesus, as the angel had said.
In the fields nearby there were shepherds watching over their sheep. Suddenly the dark sky filled with light. An angel of the Lord stood before them, and they were afraid. The angel said: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Then a great crowd of angels appeared with him, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
The shepherds ran to Bethlehem and found the baby, just as the angel had said. They told everyone what they had heard. And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
That night, in a stable in Bethlehem, God the Son came to live with us. That is why every Christmas we sing. That is why every Christmas we give. That is why every Christmas the whole earth remembers the manger.
One thing we learn
Jesus is called the Saviour because he came to save us. He was born in a stable — not a palace — so that even the poorest child in the world would know that Jesus came for them, too.
Memory verse
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:11 · KJV
Say it three times before bed. In seven days you will know it forever.
A prayer
Thank you, God, for sending Jesus.
Thank you that the stable had room for him.
Make room for him in my heart.
Amen.
Beneath the story · for grown-ups
To read this whole passage in the King James Bible with your child, or to walk further with the household: