 The
Real Story of Christmas
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There never was a more exciting Christmas than the first one. Oddly enough, however,
the complete, historical account of that first Christmas is seldom told. There are
forgotten chapters buried in scriptural records which the pageants at Christmas time fail
to relate. The purpose of this writing is to try and tell the whole story the way history
has preserved it. "The Real Story of Christmas" has been enjoyed in thousands of
homes for over half a century and continues to enlighten and enrich many with a greater
understanding of the amazing events leading up to our Savior's birth.
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Excerpt from "The Real Story of
Christmas":
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When Was Jesus Born?
It was early in April, in the year of the Romans, 753, that Joseph and Mary came to
Bethlehem.
The exact date of these events was not certainly known until 1830 when the Lord affirmed
that April 6th of that year marked one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the
Savior was born in the flesh. 29 Prior to that time no one knew the precise date.
Authorities conceded, however, that December 25th was not celebrated as Christmas until
the fourth century A.D. And it was established on that date simply for convenience.
December 25th was chosen because at that time it was celebrated as a national holiday
honoring the birth of the Roman god, Sol. 30 It was fitting that the true date of the
Savior's nativity should be affirmed through divine revelation.
Since Bethlehem was originally the "City of David" it was therefore the
ancestral home of both Mary and Joseph. In other parts of the world the Roman government
had required each person to register for the taxation at his place of residence. In
Palestine, however, the Jews were allowed to follow their ancient custom of returning to
the region of their forefathers to be registered. For this reason Mary and Joseph had come
to Bethlehem.
Being of modest circumstances and because Mary's delicate condition required that they
travel slowly, Joseph and Mary did not arrive in the vicinity of Bethlehem until long
after that notable city had begun to overflow with large crowds from much less distant
regions. Jerusalem itself was only six miles away, and unaccommodated crowds from the
national capital added to the congestion at Bethlehem. In fact, this was also the season
for the feast of the Passover. This alone would bring tens of thousands to Jerusalem and
nearby communities like Bethlehem. |
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