Jesus was born in Bethlehem in accordance with the prophecies of the Old Testament. The first to come and give honor to Jesus as the Messiah were shepherds and wise men. We celebrate with them in the coming of the Savior and the joy and hope that he brings to the world.

1. Jesus was born!

Luke 2:1-7

Mary and Joseph left Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was then born.

Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloth and was placed in a manager. A manger was not an outdoor animal shack as is popularly depicted in Christmas manger scenes but was a small space inside the house for animals.

2. The shepherds were the first to know!

Luke 2:8-20

The angel announced to the shepherds the birth of the Savior, who is Messiah and Lord. The sign for them was that a baby would be wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.

3. Wise men from far away came to honor the birth of the King!

Matthew 2:1-12

The wise men were magi from the east who were trained at reading the planetary and astral movements in the sky. They traveled immense distances to honor the birth of Jesus, the King of the Jews. They apparently were well-versed in the Old Testament prophecies because they knew exactly where Jesus was going to be born–Bethlehem.

The Scripture does not say how many magi there were, but it says that they brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and they paid homage to him as the King.