The Start of the Story

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. Luke 2:1

Raised in the church as they say and reading the Bible through much of my life it is easy to recognize this as the start of the story, the Christmas story! We know from Matthew that the story actually began some months before when Mary received a startling announcement. Or, maybe it began when Zacharias, going about his priestly duties, suddenly saw an angel of the Lord. Wait, what about that time Isaiah was given advanced knowledge of the coming Messiah and some of His titles? Yes, we know that the start of the Christmas story goes way back to the beginning when God knew there would be a need for a Savior.

It is wonderful each year to sit down around Christmas Eve and read the story again in Luke 1 and 2, or Matthew, or even in Isaiah and other prophetic books of the Bible. Handel's Messiah captures a great many of the Biblical words and sets them to great music. Plays and musicals at church also tell the story of that first Christmas. David Jeremiah's church service last Sunday had a live camel, who wanted to stop and check out a couple of the folks along the way down to the stage. Even distractions such as that cannot stop the power of the Christmas story!

While the actual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations are still a week and a half away, we have well begun the celebration in our hearts of that great time when our Lord Jesus was born on this earth to save us all from our sins.

Great is His name in all the Earth!
Bucky