Key Question: Why does Christmas matter to Christians?

Key Vocabulary:

Nativity The birth of Jesus

Bethlehem A town in Jerusalem. Also the birthplace of Jesus.

Nazareth The town where Mary and Joseph lived at the beginning of the Nativity story.

Angel Gabriel Delivers important messages of God’s particular love and favour to individuals chosen to be part of God’s plan.

Shepherd A person who tends and rears sheep.

Innkeeper A person who runs an inn.

Census An official count.

What should I already know:

● Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas.

● Christians believe that Jesus is God.

● At Christmas, Christians worship God and show care for others.

Manger – this is similar to the one Jesus slept in as a baby

The Christmas story Knowledge:• Jesus was Jewish. • Christians believe that Jesus is God in the flesh.• The Bible points out that his birth showed that he was extraordinary (for example,

he is worshipped as a king, in Matthew) and that he came to bring good news (for example, to the poor, in Luke.

• Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth: Advent for Christians is a time of getting ready for Jesus’ coming.

• Christians understand the Bible story of Christmas to show that Jesus was extraordinary, a king and that he valued everyone including the poor.

• Christians believe God came to earth in human form as Jesus. At Christmas, Christians put their beliefs into practice by worshipping God and showing care for others.

The Angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she was going to have a baby called Jesus. The baby would be God’s son. Mary told Joseph what Gabriel had told her; they prepared for the arrival of the special baby. Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem

to register in a census. A kind innkeeper in Bethlehem let Mary and Joseph stay in his stable for the night. Baby Jesus was born in the stable. At the same time, an angel appeared to some shepherds. The angel told them that the son of God had been

born in Bethlehem. The shepherds walked to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus. Far away in the East, wise men saw a bright star in the sky. They knew it meant that a new king had been born and followed the star. The wise men reached Bethlehem.

They gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Three Kings; Angel Gabriel and the shepherds