•Joseph
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was a major player in the Christmas story. The Bible says Joseph was a righteous man, and certainly his actions surrounding the birth of Jesus revealed a great deal about his strength of character and integrity. Could this be why God honored Joseph, choosing him to be Messiah's earthly father?More »
•Magi
The Three Kings, or Magi, followed a mysterious star to find the young Messiah, Jesus Christ.God warned them in a dream that the child might be murdered, and told them how to protect him. Beyond this, very few details are given about these men in the Bible. Most of our ideas about them actually come from tradition or speculation.Scripture does not reveal how many wise men there were, but it is generally assumed three, since they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.More »
•Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was only a young girl, probably just 12 or 13, when the angel Gabriel came to her. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl looking forward to marriage, when suddenly her life changed forever. A willing servant, Mary trusted God and obeyed his call--perhaps the most important calling ever given to a human being.More »
•Myrrh
Myrrh was an expensive spice used in ancient times for making perfume, incense, medicine, and for anointing the dead. It appears three times in the life of Jesus Christ. At his birth, it was one of the costly gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men. Learn a few facts about myrrh, a mysterious spice from the Bible.More »
•Nativity
The word Nativity comes from the Latin term nativus, which means "born." It refers to the birth of a person and also the facts of their birth, such as the time, place, and situation. The Bible mentions the nativity of several prominent characters, but today the term is used primarily in connection with the birth of Jesus Christ.At Christmas time "nativity sets" are commonly used to depict the manger scene where Jesus was born.More »
•Star
A mysterious star played an unusual role in the Christmas story. The Gospel of Matthew tells how wise men from the East traveled thousands of miles doggedly following a star to the place of Jesus' birth. When they found the child with his mother, they bowed and worshiped the newborn Messiah, presenting him with gifts. To this day, a 14-pointed silver Star of Bethlehem in the Church of the Nativity marks the spot where Jesus was born.More »