The Story of Mary and Joseph - The First Christmas

Every Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But do you know the true story of how it all happened? The story of Mary and Joseph is one of the most important stories in the Bible. It tells us about God's amazing plan to send His Son to earth as a baby.

The Story of Mary and Joseph

Mary Receives an Amazing Message

Our story begins in the small town of Nazareth, located in the region of Galilee. A young woman named Mary lived there. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, who was a carpenter.

One day, something extraordinary happened. God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary. Imagine how surprised Mary must have been when a glowing angel suddenly appeared!

The angel said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was deeply troubled by these words and wondered what this greeting could mean.

Gabriel told her not to be afraid and then shared the most amazing news: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High."

Mary was confused. "How can this be," she asked, "since I am a virgin?" The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the baby would be the Son of God. Gabriel also told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who was older and thought she couldn't have children, was now six months pregnant. "For no word from God will ever fail," the angel said.

Mary's response showed her incredible faith. She said, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

You can read this account in Luke 1:26-38.

Joseph's Dream

When Joseph learned that Mary was going to have a baby, he was troubled. They weren't married yet, and he didn't understand what had happened. Joseph was a kind man who didn't want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he planned to quietly break their engagement.

But God had a message for Joseph too. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

The angel also reminded Joseph that all this was happening to fulfill what God had promised through the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years earlier: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel commanded. He took Mary as his wife, showing great faith and obedience to God's plan.

This part of the story is found in Matthew 1:18-25.

The Journey to Bethlehem

Several months later, when Mary was close to giving birth, Caesar Augustus (the Roman Emperor) made a decree. Everyone in the Roman Empire had to return to their hometown to be counted in a census.

Joseph was a descendant of King David, so he had to go to Bethlehem, David's hometown, which was about 90 miles south of Nazareth. Mary went with him, even though she was pregnant and the journey would be difficult.

Can you imagine how hard this trip must have been? They probably walked most of the way, though Mary might have ridden on a donkey. The journey likely took several days. Mary knew the baby could be born at any time.

But this journey was part of God's plan. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Micah had said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Now God was using Caesar's census to bring Mary and Joseph to the exact place where Jesus needed to be born!

No Room in the Inn

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the town was crowded with people who had come for the census. They searched for a place to stay, but every inn was full. No one had room for them.

Finally, they found shelter in a stable - a place where animals were kept. It wasn't comfortable or clean like a proper room. It was probably a cave or a simple structure attached to an inn. But it was all they had, and Mary's baby was coming.

Think about this: The Son of God, the King of kings, was about to be born in a place meant for animals. This wasn't a mistake or bad luck. It was part of God's plan to show that Jesus came for everyone - not just rich and important people, but for humble shepherds, poor families, and ordinary people too.

The Birth of Jesus

That night, in the humble stable in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her baby boy. She wrapped him in cloths (called swaddling clothes) and laid him in a manger - a feeding box for animals - because there was no crib available.

This was the moment God had promised since the beginning of time. The Savior of the world had arrived! But there were no doctors, no fancy hospital, no royal announcement. Just Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a quiet stable, surrounded by animals.

The Bible's account is beautifully simple: "And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them" (Luke 2:1-7).

The Shepherds Visit

Not far from Bethlehem, shepherds were in the fields watching their sheep during the night. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and God's glory shone around them. The shepherds were terrified!

But the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Then something amazing happened. Suddenly, the sky filled with angels praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened!" They hurried into town and found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, just as the angel had told them. The shepherds were the first people (besides Mary and Joseph) to see the newborn Savior!

After seeing Jesus, the shepherds spread the word about what they had seen and heard. Everyone who heard their story was amazed. Mary treasured all these things in her heart.

Read this beautiful account in Luke 2:8-20.

The Wise Men Follow a Star

Some time after Jesus was born (possibly up to two years later), wise men from the East saw a special star and knew it meant a great king had been born. These wise men (also called Magi) were scholars who studied the stars.

They traveled a long distance to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard about this, he was disturbed. He asked the religious teachers where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem," because that's what the prophet had written.

Herod told the wise men to go find the child and then come back to tell him where Jesus was (though he secretly wanted to harm Jesus). The wise men continued their journey, and the star they had seen went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where Jesus was.

When they found Jesus with Mary, they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they gave him special gifts: gold (fit for a king), frankincense (used in worship, showing Jesus was God), and myrrh (used for burial, hinting at Jesus' future sacrifice).

God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned home a different way. God also warned Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill the child. Joseph obeyed immediately, and they stayed in Egypt until Herod died.

This part of the story is told in Matthew 2:1-23. You can also read about the wise men from the East on our site.

Why This Story Matters

God Keeps His Promises

For hundreds of years, God promised to send a Savior. Through Mary and Joseph, God kept that promise. Everything happened exactly as the prophets had said - Jesus was born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, called Immanuel, and became a light to all nations. When God makes a promise, He always keeps it.

God Chose Ordinary People

Mary and Joseph weren't rich or famous. They were ordinary people who loved God. The first people to hear about Jesus' birth were shepherds - common workers who weren't considered important. God shows us that He uses all kinds of people in His plans, not just the rich and powerful.

Jesus Came with Humility

Jesus could have been born in a palace with servants and luxury. Instead, He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. From His very first breath, Jesus showed humility. He came to serve, not to be served. This teaches us that true greatness comes from a humble heart.

Faith and Obedience Matter

Both Mary and Joseph showed incredible faith. Mary believed God's promise even when it seemed impossible. Joseph trusted God's message in his dreams and protected his family. They both obeyed God even when it was difficult. Their example teaches us to trust and obey God, even when we don't understand everything.

Jesus Is the Greatest Gift

Christmas is about celebrating the greatest gift ever given - Jesus Christ. He came to earth to save us from our sins and bring us back to God. This is why the angel called Jesus' birth "good news that will cause great joy for all the people." It's the best news ever!

Lessons for Kids

What can we learn from Mary and Joseph's story?

• Trust God's plans: Even when things don't make sense, like Mary having a baby before marriage or traveling while pregnant, God had a perfect plan.
• Obey quickly: Joseph didn't argue with God's instructions. When God told him to protect his family, he obeyed right away.
• Stay faithful in hard times: Mary and Joseph faced many challenges - no room in the inn, fleeing to Egypt - but they stayed faithful to God.
• God is with us: Jesus' name "Immanuel" means "God with us." God came to earth to be close to us because He loves us so much.
• Share the good news: Like the shepherds who told everyone about Jesus, we should share the good news of Jesus with others.

The Rest of the Story

After Herod died, an angel told Joseph it was safe to return home. The family went back to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. The Bible tells us that Jesus "grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him" (Luke 2:40).

When Jesus was about 30 years old, He began His ministry of teaching, healing, and showing people God's love. He performed miracles, gathered disciples, and taught people about God's kingdom. Eventually, Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again three days later, defeating death forever.

But it all started with that miraculous night in Bethlehem when Mary and Joseph welcomed God's Son into the world. Every Christmas, we remember and celebrate this incredible moment in history.

Learn more about Jesus' resurrection story and discover Bible stories about God's faithfulness.

Questions to Think About

• How do you think Mary felt when the angel first appeared to her?
• Why do you think God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus' parents?
• What does it mean that Jesus was born in a stable instead of a palace?
• How would you have reacted if you were one of the shepherds and saw the angels?
• What gifts can we give to Jesus today?

Remember This Christmas

As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember the true meaning of the holiday. It's not just about presents under a tree or holiday decorations. It's about God loving us so much that He sent His only Son to earth as a tiny baby.

Mary and Joseph's obedience and faith played an important part in God's plan of salvation. Their story reminds us that God can use anyone who trusts Him. And Jesus' birth in a humble stable shows us that God's love reaches everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.

This Christmas, let's thank God for the gift of Jesus and think about how we can share His love with others. Just like the shepherds spread the good news and the wise men brought gifts to worship Jesus, we can tell others about Jesus and honor Him with our lives.

For more Christmas stories and activities, explore our Christmas songs based on Bible verses, Christmas Bible quiz, and short Bible stories for children.

Merry Christmas, and may you always remember the wonderful story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus Christ!