by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: January 25, 2010   Last Updated: October 04, 2011

Christianity started in 1AD with the birth of  Jesus Christ and the season proclaiming that event is Christmas. Christians celebrate Christmas in honor of this lowly - mighty - birth of the Little One in a stable - some say a cave - in Bethlehem.  Of course at the time it was a little noted event and what we know of it today we learned from the bible.

Mary and her husband traveled to Bethlehem from their home in Zazarath when she was nearing the time of birth. They had taxes to pay.  While there she began having labor pains and the only available place to stay was a rented stable. Yes, supposedly, there were animals present who naturally adored him. (It is also true that each one telling the story adds their own delights to the story. As did the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John  who wrote His life story.  

His life story is told in the four gospels of the New Testament. As a wee one He was presented at the Jewish temple as was the custom for new born babies. It is well to remember that his parents were Jewish and he faithfully worshipped at the temple with them as he grew up.

At age twelve, his parents took him to the temple for the Passover feast and returned home without him. They thought he was with some other relative and when they returned to their house, He was not there. He was still  in the temple charming the rabbis with his knowledge. Of course his mother was worried and probably scolded him for being so absent-minded. Much is made of this incident since it precedes the Jewish rite of Bar Mitzvah when thirteen year old boys begin their manhood and their time of reasoning.

After this at the age of thirty-three he was crucified, died and buried. Had it not been for his resurrection three days later and his interactions with the apostles, he would possible only be a footnote in today's history books. Yet, from this terrible tragedy comes the hope Christians have today that makes all the difference to them today since they know he died for them. He died to the world but forty days later, he ascended into heaven and the apostles started their ministry of teaching and writing about Christianity.

Saint Peter was left in charge of the church. He was a most unlikely leader but he was a believer and along with Paul, a Roman soldier who had a hand in trying to stamp out Christianity, but was converted by Jesus afterwards, they did much to get the first church off to a good start. It was not until about three hundred years later

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