The True

Story Of Christmas

By

Abp. Leslie "Mary" Trombly

Copyright © 2005

Biblical references: Matthew 1-3, Luke1:5 – 80; Luke 2:1-49;

The Story of the birth of Christ has been told throughout the generations; but we have an excited little angel here that is so anxious to tell the story from his eyes, that I thought I would give him the honor of doing so. Lets all sit back and listen while Nathaniel tells us the story of the birth of Christ.

Hi! My name is Nathaniel and I am one of the Cherubs in Heaven. I am going to tell you the best story ever and I am going to begin with what went on in heaven first

Things around heaven, lately have been busy and full of excitement because of what was to come. God had called His son, Jesus, into the throne room for a very important meeting a few heavenly days before. There was talk about something big that was going to take place, but no one could quite put their finger one it. All the angels from the Seraphim to the cherubim and all the saints had no idea what it was. For some reason, God had commanded the voices in heaven to be still until the meeting with His son was over. Everyone in heaven ha a hard time being quiet and as the time passed the excitement built – but for what? Not even God had allowed the angels and anyone else in heaven to know what was going on yet, but we knew and we knew it would be something very good in the beginning; but have a terrible middle and a glorious ending. We just couldn’t put a name to it right then. Sooner than we expected we would. We thought the meeting would never end. Elisha sat on the golden bridge in heaven wringing his hands and praying that what ever it was that was to be would bring glory to God. This He already knew, but he prayed for it anyway. All the other prophets of old and Moses were there with Elisha praying and anxiously waiting to hear as well.

The doors to the throne room finally opened and the heavenly choir began to sing again the most beautiful music that has yet to be heard on earth. Jesus came out of the throne room with His father by his side and asked everyone to gather around. God Spoke first. “My Children, My son and I have decided to do something for my children on earth so they may have the same opportunity to be here with me as you all are. I have given my son an important task to do in order to accomplish it and it means that he must leave heaven for a little while.” Everyone just looked at each other and said, “Oh No Lord!

Why ?” “It is something I must do in order for all of my father’s children to have the opportunity to be with us here, as he has already said.” replied Jesus. Everyone asked what was it he must do in order to achieve this. God asked everyone to sit down while he went on to explain that in order to give his children on earth the same opportunity to be with them, that the angels and everyone else had, Jesus had to be born on earth, grow up, suffer a terrible death as the sacrificial lamb for all sin and to gloriously rise again from the dead to fulfill the promise of everlasting life with them. Many of us asked if there was no other way to achieve this. Michael and Gabriel the archangels were upset that their creator’s son would have to go through this; but they understood. God told them that there was no other way and assured them that it would all happen with in the blink of His eye and in heaven’s 33 seconds which were 33 years on earth by earth’s time clock.

Once the “initial shock” was over, the excitement set in as God announced who the angels would be to announce the birth of his son to his children on earth and the angel that would announce to a very special young girl that God had chosen, that she would be carrying and raising his son. Everyone scurried around with excitement making the preparations so Jesus could be born on earth and heaven would be celebrating that day as well. Now let me begin to tell you how it all transpired on earth about two thousand years ago.

It all began to take shape with Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and her husband, Zacharias. So let me tell you the story from the point where the Angel Gabriel had told Zacharias that he and his wife were going to have a son, even in their old age and Elisabeth is in her sixth month. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.Gabriel has specific orders to go to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, from the house of David and her name was Mary. The angel came in to her, and said, “Hail, you that are highly favored. The Lord is with you and you are very blessed among all women.” When she saw him, she was troubled at what he said to her, and wondered in her mind what manner of salutation this could be. The angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in thy womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will 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 will be no end.”

“Mary unto the angel, “How can this be, seeing I know not a man?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Ghost will come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. Thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. With God nothing shall be impossible.” Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her and Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country in a hurry, into a city of Juda; when she got there she entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth. It came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting from Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: She spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Where is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in mine ears, and the babe leaped in my womb for joy

Blessed is she that believed: for there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. He has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: and henceforth all generations will call me blessed. He that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name. His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. Mary told Joseph about what the angel of he Lord had told her and he wouldn’t believe her. He thought her to be an adulteress. The lord sent an angle to speak to Joseph in a vision and the angel told him, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin will be with child, and will bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-25) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had told him, and took unto him his wife. He knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) All went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. So it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Matthew 2:1-12) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. They said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: as it is written by the prophet, “You Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you will come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Meanwhile, in the shepherd’s fields not too far away there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. The angel said to them, “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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

It came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. They came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. When they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child and all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:8-21).

Christian