Story (english)
The Christ is Born
Jesus Christ, probably the most well-known figure in history, had very humble beginnings.
Origin
The New Testament; Books of Matthew and Luke
Story
There was a virgin named Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth, a town in Galilee. She loved God dearly. She was to marry a man named Joseph.
God sent the angel, Gabriel to tell her that she had found favour with God and that He would cause her to become pregnant while she was still a virgin. She accepted this, and so she became pregnant. Gabriel also visited Joseph and told him what God desired, so that he would not think Mary had been unfaithful.
In the days when Jesus was to be born, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the Roman Empire ,to make sure they paid their taxes. He ordered everyone to return to their hometowns, and enter their names in a register (or census) there. Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem with Mary, who was pregnant, as he was a descendant of King David.
Once they reached Bethlehem, there were no rooms or lodges available. As there were no rooms, Mary and Joseph had no choice, but to seek shelter in a manger of an inn, and there Mary had the baby, Jesus. It had been prophesied that the Saviour would be born in Bethlehem and would be born of a virgin, so Jesus fulfilled the prophecies made about Him.
Moral
Jesus is the Saviour of mankind.
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John the Baptist
If you don’t know who John the Baptist was, you are about to find out.
Origin
The New Testament; Luke 1
Story
Elizabeth, sister of Mary, was old when she became pregnant with John. An angel of the Lord had told Zechariah, John’s father, that his son would be filled with the Holy Spirit, right from birth, and that he was to be named John.
John grew up to be a bit of a wild man, who lived in the desert and preached the message of God, foretelling the coming of Jesus the Messiah. He spent a lot of time baptizing people in the river and teaching them to repent. When Jesus went to John to be baptized, John was overjoyed, and the Holy Spirit engulfed Jesus. At that moment, a voice from heaven spoke and said: “This is my Son, in whom I am pleased.”
Moral
God is real and speaks to those who listen and believe in Him.
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Hadassah
More commonly known as Queen Esther, Hadassah was a bright young Jewish woman chosen by God to save His people from destruction.
Origin
The Old Testament; Book Of Esther
Story
When King Xerxes ruled the Persian Empire, he found himself looking for a wife. All the young maidens in the kingdom were taken to the palace and given beauty treatments for a year, after which they were sent before the king, for him to pick his wife. When Hadassah was taken, her cousin, Mordecai, told her not to let anyone know she was Jewish, as they were hated and mistrusted among the people, so she called herself Esther.
The king was charmed by Esther, and he picked her to be his queen. During her time as queen, an evil man named Haman convinced the king that all the Jews in the kingdom needed to be killed. When Mordecai found out about the plan, he sent word to Esther and told her that she needed to speak to the king. Esther was afraid, as it was forbidden to go before the king without being summoned. Only if the king was pleased and held out his sceptre, was the person accepted into his presence. If he did not, they were to be put to death.
Mordecai told Esther that she had to try to speak to the king, regardless, because God had put her in a high position, so that she would be able to save her people. Queen Esther commanded all the Jews, including herself, to fast for three days, at the end of which, she went before the king.
The king was so pleased with his wife that he gladly held out the sceptre to her. She told him everything and Haman was put to death. The Jewish people were given permission to defend themselves, if anyone tried to attack them. In this way, Esther saved her people.
Moral
God raises people into certain positions because He has a plan for them and will use them to help more of His people.
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David and Goliath
King David was considered to be a man after Gods own heart and is most famous for defeating the giant Goliath when he was only a shepherd boy.
Origin
The Old Testament; Book Of 1 Samuel, Chapters 16 and 17.
Story
When King Saul sinned in the eyes of God, God became very displeased with him and commanded Samuel, His prophet, to anoint another man to be king after Saul. Samuel followed the directions of God and was led to the home of a man named Jesse, who came from the tribe of Benjamin.
Jesse had eight sons, seven of whom were shown to Samuel. Samuel thought that surely the Lord would pick one of them, as they were strong and fine in appearance. The Lord, however, told Samuel that He does not consider a person’s outward appearance, but instead looks at their heart. Samuel was told to anoint the youngest son, who was a shepherd boy; this boy was called David.
When the war between the Israelites and Philistines took place, a giant named Goliath would shout out a challenge, each day, to any Israeli who would defeat him in battle. Nobody was brave enough to face him.
When David heard him challenge the armies of God, he told King Saul that he would fight the giant. King Saul was worried, as David was not a warrior, but he put his own royal armour on David and gave him his blessing. David asked that the armour is removed, as he was not used to it. He chose, instead, to face the giant, dressed as a simple shepherd boy; his slingshot his only weapon.
As the giant came towards him, David slung a stone in his slingshot and shot the giant. The small stone sunk into Goliath’s head and the giant died instantly. The Philistines tried to flee when their hero died, but the Israeli army cut them off and defeated them.
Moral
God does not look at the appearance of a person, but instead looks at a person’s heart. He does not need His people dressed in fancy armour to help them defeat their enemies.
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The Fall of Jericho
Though the Israelites were freed from Egyptian rule, they had to still reach the promised land.
Origin
The Old Testament; BookOf Numbers, Chapter 27; Deuteronomy 34; Joshua Chapters 1 to 6
Story
Moses had appointed Joshua to be his successor, as he was a man who loved God. God told Joshua to prepare the people to cross the river Jordan, so that they could go and take Jericho. Joshua sent two spies to scout the city, and they were given refuge by a woman named Rahab. She asked that when they took the city, they would spare her and her family. They agreed, and as she lived on the wall, she lowered them out her window to the other side.
God told the people that the arc that held the Ten Commandments should be carried by twelve priests, and that they and all the people should march around the city of Jericho, sounding their trumpets once every day for six days, and on the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times. At the sound of the trumpet after the seventh round on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho would come crashing down.
Joshua made the people obey, and everything happened just as God said. Joshua remembered Rahab, and took her and her family safely out of the city, after which, they burned the city of Jericho to the ground.
Moral
God goes before His people and gives them victory in battle.
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