2,000 years ago Rome had conquered almost all the world that was known to her people. Roman emperor Caesar Augustus had set up puppet kings and appointed governors throughout the empire. He gave them armored legions to enforce Roman law and to collect taxes. The wealth of the conquered lands flowed to Rome.

On the far eastern shores of the Mediterranean, Caesar Augustus supported Herod the Great as King in Palestine, the home of the Jewish nation. Jerusalem, in the province of Judea, was Herod's capitol. North of Judea lay the province of Galilee. The Jews who were sorely oppressed hoped for a Messiah, a messenger from God, who would save the nation; the prophets had promised such a leader.

Thus saith the prophet Jeremiah, "Behold the day has come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a king shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice on the earth. In his day, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is the name whereby He shall be called the Lord is our Righteousness."

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. The census first took place while Quirineus was governing Syria. So all went out to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went to Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judah, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, Because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary his engaged wife who was with child. 

Now there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in their fields keeping watch over their flocks by night . . .

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to all men."

So it was when the angels had gone away from them, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go into Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us."

So they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at the things that they were told by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king . . .

. . . behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews. For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. . ."

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it was written by the prophets." "You, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel." 

Then Herod when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him bring word back to me so that I might come to worship him also."

When they heard the king they departed, and behold the star which they had seen in the East stood before them until  it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down to worship him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And then being divinely warned that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

However, this was not true in Jerusalem, for at this moment, Herod was plotting how to destroy this Christ child which he considered a threat to his crown and to his kingdom. He sent out a decree that all male children two years and younger should be killed, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah. in Ramah there was a voice heard, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted because they were no more.

Went the events had taken place, God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream saying, "Arise, take the young child and his mother, flee to Egypt until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

And when he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. And it was there, until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled what was spoken by the Lord through the prophets saying, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." Thus the beginning of the matchless life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave his life that we might have life more abundantly.