THE FUTURE
‘Papa, were there any other visitors that night?’
‘No, but when Jesus was taken to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, - an old custom of giving the first child to the Lord and offering a sacrifice for him, - a man named Simeon saw him and knew immediately that this child was the Son of God. The Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit had told him that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour of the world. He came up to Mary and Joseph, took the child in his arms, and said, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now I can die in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
So this was a further confirmation that Jesus was to be a world figure sent by God to be Light and Salvation to a world lost in sin.
‘Papa!’
‘Yes, Anabelle?’
‘Did the wise men return to Herod?’
‘No, because God warned them in a dream not to breath a word to Herod. So they returned to their own country another way.
‘Was Herod angry, papa?’ asked Claire.
‘Angry? He was furious. He ordered his soldiers to kill all the boys who were two years or younger in Bethlehem and the coasts round about. This is known as the slaughter of the innocents.’
‘Oh, papa, how dreadful!’ said Claire.
‘Yes papa, how cruel and sad.’
‘But why was Herod so cruel, papa?’
‘Because the three wise men had ignored him. They knew where Jesus was but refused to tell Herod. Remember Herod’s intention was to kill the child. When he discovered that the wise men had departed he took matters into his own hands and ordered the killing of all the boys born in Bethlehem and districts according to the time that had lapsed since the wise men cam to Jerusalem.’
‘No, but when Jesus was taken to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, - an old custom of giving the first child to the Lord and offering a sacrifice for him, - a man named Simeon saw him and knew immediately that this child was the Son of God. The Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit had told him that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour of the world. He came up to Mary and Joseph, took the child in his arms, and said, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now I can die in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
So this was a further confirmation that Jesus was to be a world figure sent by God to be Light and Salvation to a world lost in sin.
‘Papa!’
‘Yes, Anabelle?’
‘Did the wise men return to Herod?’
‘No, because God warned them in a dream not to breath a word to Herod. So they returned to their own country another way.
‘Was Herod angry, papa?’ asked Claire.
‘Angry? He was furious. He ordered his soldiers to kill all the boys who were two years or younger in Bethlehem and the coasts round about. This is known as the slaughter of the innocents.’
‘Oh, papa, how dreadful!’ said Claire.
‘Yes papa, how cruel and sad.’
‘But why was Herod so cruel, papa?’
‘Because the three wise men had ignored him. They knew where Jesus was but refused to tell Herod. Remember Herod’s intention was to kill the child. When he discovered that the wise men had departed he took matters into his own hands and ordered the killing of all the boys born in Bethlehem and districts according to the time that had lapsed since the wise men cam to Jerusalem.’
The flight to Egypt
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Herod meets the three wise men
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‘Papa, can you tell us more about Jesus?’ asked Claire.
‘Remember that Jesus was born at Christmas. The people who knew about his birth were chosen by God, like Simeon, I mentioned earlier. Yes, and there was also Elizabeth, a relative of Mary who had given birth to a son in her old age. She knew that Mary’s child was the Son of God and that her own son, John, was going to prepare the way for him. He was going to grow up and live in the desert places and baptise people, calling on them to flee from their sins. All of these people, the wise men, the shepherds, Mary herself and Joseph, Simeon and Elizabeth and all the prophets who for centuries had told of his coming, and of course, the angels, knew why Jesus had come from heaven to earth. They knew that he was God’s light in a dark world; they knew that he was the king of heaven; they knew that the world was too sinful and violent to want to be saved from sin, to want peace and justice and truth; they knew that the world was dying a slow death but that Jesus would save all those who turned away from their sins and believed in him. They knew he would rescue them from this world and take them to the new and good world in heaven. Jesus wanted people to have light and life, to love one another and to trust God to save them from this wicked world. That is the real meaning of Christmas of which the birth of the Christ was but the beginning of hope, peace and love. Shall we sing our final carol. What is it to be Edward?’
‘Remember that Jesus was born at Christmas. The people who knew about his birth were chosen by God, like Simeon, I mentioned earlier. Yes, and there was also Elizabeth, a relative of Mary who had given birth to a son in her old age. She knew that Mary’s child was the Son of God and that her own son, John, was going to prepare the way for him. He was going to grow up and live in the desert places and baptise people, calling on them to flee from their sins. All of these people, the wise men, the shepherds, Mary herself and Joseph, Simeon and Elizabeth and all the prophets who for centuries had told of his coming, and of course, the angels, knew why Jesus had come from heaven to earth. They knew that he was God’s light in a dark world; they knew that he was the king of heaven; they knew that the world was too sinful and violent to want to be saved from sin, to want peace and justice and truth; they knew that the world was dying a slow death but that Jesus would save all those who turned away from their sins and believed in him. They knew he would rescue them from this world and take them to the new and good world in heaven. Jesus wanted people to have light and life, to love one another and to trust God to save them from this wicked world. That is the real meaning of Christmas of which the birth of the Christ was but the beginning of hope, peace and love. Shall we sing our final carol. What is it to be Edward?’
‘Silent Night Holy Night,’
They all stand and sing:
Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Rests in heavenly peace.
Silent night, Holy night,
Guiding star, lend they light,
See, the eastern wise men bring
Gifts and homage to our king;
Jesus Christ is here.
Silent night, Holy night,
Wondrous star, lend they light,
With the angels let us sing
Hallelujahs t our king,
Jesus Christ is here.
There is a knock on the door.
‘I wonder who that can be,’ Edward says.
‘I’ll go papa,’ said Claire.
She opens the door.
‘Oh! Oh mamma, mamma, we weren’t expecting you until Christmas day!’
‘Mamma! Mamma! Called out Anabella and Edward.
‘I thought I would surprise you. The president offered me a ride in his private jet when he learned that all Christmas day flights had been cancelled because of bomb threats.’
‘My dearest I am so happy to see you,’ said Gregorie.
‘And I you my love,’ she replied, kissing him on the cheek and hugging all the children one by one. ‘And what has papa been doing?’ she asked.
‘He has told us the truth about the Christmas story,’ said Claire.
‘Yes, we know now why...’ Claire began.
‘No, no, Claire, not now,’ said Anabella. ‘Let us think about happy things.’
‘All that matters now is that we are all together for Christmas,’ Gregorie said.
They all stand and sing:
Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Rests in heavenly peace.
Silent night, Holy night,
Guiding star, lend they light,
See, the eastern wise men bring
Gifts and homage to our king;
Jesus Christ is here.
Silent night, Holy night,
Wondrous star, lend they light,
With the angels let us sing
Hallelujahs t our king,
Jesus Christ is here.
There is a knock on the door.
‘I wonder who that can be,’ Edward says.
‘I’ll go papa,’ said Claire.
She opens the door.
‘Oh! Oh mamma, mamma, we weren’t expecting you until Christmas day!’
‘Mamma! Mamma! Called out Anabella and Edward.
‘I thought I would surprise you. The president offered me a ride in his private jet when he learned that all Christmas day flights had been cancelled because of bomb threats.’
‘My dearest I am so happy to see you,’ said Gregorie.
‘And I you my love,’ she replied, kissing him on the cheek and hugging all the children one by one. ‘And what has papa been doing?’ she asked.
‘He has told us the truth about the Christmas story,’ said Claire.
‘Yes, we know now why...’ Claire began.
‘No, no, Claire, not now,’ said Anabella. ‘Let us think about happy things.’
‘All that matters now is that we are all together for Christmas,’ Gregorie said.