A Christmas MysterySample

Let’s set the scene for the greatest mystery, the mystery of Christmas.

The Bible is the story of God and His people. Beginning in Genesis, the Old Testament closes with the writings of the prophets. Then there are 400 years before the Bible picks up the story again in the New Testament. During this time, no biblical prophets spoke or wrote. What happened in those 400 years of silence?

The world, as they knew it, was changing. Different rulers would take over the land and try to silence God’s people and make them worship other gods. The Greek language took over as the primary language spoken. The Roman rulers took over and built roads and highways which, little did they know, would one day help God’s message to spread. God’s people hoped their promised Messiah would come soon and rescue them.

The scene was set for Jesus to come. God had told His people many things about the coming Messiah. God spoke through prophets and said the Messiah would come from King David’s family line. God told them some of the things the Messiah would DO. He even told them WHERE the Messiah would be born. But He never told them WHEN He would come!

God had chosen the exact right time in history for Jesus to come to earth. People were speaking a common language, and roads were built like a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa so people could travel. Everything was in place so that the message of the Saviour could reach all people. Now, after 400 years of silence, Jesus, God’s own Son, the Saviour of the world, was about to arrive as a baby born in Bethlehem. The mystery of Christmas is Jesus, God revealed. This is good news that leads us to worship Him.