A Mary Christmas

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[Note: This speech (given at the Xiamen International Fellowship--XICF) started with a "dramatic reading" of Luke 1:26-45]

A Mary Christmas

(by Michael Krigline, www.krigline.com, Dec 22, 2013)

“Readers' Theater”: Luke 1:26-45, ESV

 

Narrator: In [Elizabeth's] sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said,

Angel: “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Narrator: But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her,

Angel: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Narrator: And Mary said to the angel,

Mary: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Narrator: And the angel answered her,

Angel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Narrator: And Mary said,

Mary: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Narrator: And the angel departed from her. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry,

Elizabeth: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

            You have just heard the way the Bible introduces Mary to us. If you can forget about the Christmas songs, plays, movies and other things that so often shroud the Bible's simple message with tradition and folklore, you have to admit that we really don't know much about this woman. In a few moments, we'll hear Mary's remarkable response to Elizabeth's greeting (known as the Magnificat). But other than that, the Bible is pretty silent. I can basically put everything we know about Mary on just over one page. Here's what we know:

 

            Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, then returned home (Luke 1:56). Matthew (1:18) simply says that Mary “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit,” so an angel talked Joseph out of divorcing her (in a dream). Anything we imagine about Mary's response is just that—imagined. Next, Luke says the pair head south to be registered in Bethlehem, and “while they were there” Mary gave birth. When the shepherds arrived, saying that angels had made the delivery announcement, they “found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” And all we're told about Mary is that she “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).

            When Jesus was 40 days old, we see the family at the Temple in Jerusalem, offering “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24); this is how we know they were poor, for the required sacrifice for wealthy people was much more expensive. While there, Simeon (a “devout and righteous man” who apparently liked to hang out at the Temple) told Mary of the child's destiny, and added: “and a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:35)--hardly the thing a new mother wants to hear about her baby, but I'm sure those words brought comfort and understanding later.

            If you thought that the “wise men” arrived the same night Mary arrived in Bethlehem, sorry, that's not what the text says. Matt 2:11 uses the Greek word for toddler or child: “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother...”, and then they worship Jesus and present their gifts. Soon thereafter, Joseph (not Mary) sees another angel in a dream, who says (Matt 2:13) “take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt...”, where they stay for a year or two until Joseph's final angelic dream informs them that King Herod is dead. Then they return to Nazareth. 

            When Jesus is 12 we see Mary and Joseph again, and this time Mary gets a direct quote in scripture (something that never happens to Joseph). After Jesus' Bar Mitzvah, Luke (2:48) tells us that Jesus apparently decided to stay at the Temple in Jerusalem, without telling his parents. When Mary and Joseph finally find Jesus three days later, Mary says: “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” to which Jesus replied: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” Luke adds (Luke 2:50-51): “And they did not understand the saying that [Jesus] spoke to them. And Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

            We don't hear from Mary again for almost 20 years. In John 2:3-5, at a wedding in Cana, Mary sort of prompts Jesus to perform his first miracle, turning water into wine for the wedding feast. The text simply says:

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now, I LIKE Mary, for that statement alone! That's probably the clearest, shortest summary of Christian doctrine in the Bible, and remarkable advice no matter what the occasion! As the New King James version puts it: “Whatever He says to you, do it.” The results were great, for John tells us: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”  (Way to go, mom!)

            Then it gets sketchy for another three years. John 6:42, Matt 13:55 and Mark 6:3 tell us that the neighbors (near the Lake, and in Nazareth) know both Mary and Joseph. It's here, not the nativity story, where we learn that Joseph is a carpenter. These passages also tell us that Mary and Joseph had more children, namely Jesus' “brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas,” as well as unnamed sisters—a big family by today's standards! We get a glimpse of the big, happy family in John 2:12, which says that, after the wedding in Cana, Jesus “went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.”

            But apparently, Jesus family was having misgivings about Jesus by Mark 3:20. Big crowds were gathering around Jesus, who had just appointed the 12 “to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” The text says: “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, 'He is out of his mind.'” This might explain what happened 10 verses later, when “his mother and his brothers came....” I can just picture this: “Mom, He won't listen to us; YOU go talk to Him!” When they all got there, Jesus—looking about at those who sat around Him--said: “Who are my mother and my brothers?” “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35)

            Perhaps Luke 8:19 & Matt 12:46 record different times when Mary and Jesus' brothers came to visit Him. Sooner or later they came to grips with who Jesus was, for we know that his half-brother James was one of the leaders of the Early Christian Church.

            Likewise, John 19:24 tells us that Mary was “standing by the cross of Jesus” (fulfilling Simeon's prophecy, to be sure). Jesus speaks to Mary from the cross: “Woman, behold your son!” and then commends her to the care of John, “the beloved disciple”--and tradition says that she ended her days in John's care, in the city of Ephesus. An ornament on my Christmas tree was purchased above Ephesus in what some hold to be the remains of Mary's house.

            It is also possible that Mary was one of the Mary's who went to the tomb on that first Easter; the text is not definitive. (Mark 16:1 and Luke 24:10 say “Mary the mother of James” went to the tomb—that might refer to Jesus' mother, since James was his brother). But, in Acts 1:14 we see Mary for the last time, among the disciples in the Upper Room, just after Jesus ascended into heaven. The author, Luke, tells us: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

 

            That's all we know about Mary. She isn't mentioned once in the epistles. We have no stories of people asking her to take some need to Jesus, and no scriptural indication that she was superhuman in any way. She was just a common girl, from a religious family, who trusted and submitted to a very big God.

            The only information I've left out is the Magnificat in Luke 1. Maybe I've saved the best for last, because I think this “song of praise”, standing there with her relative Elizabeth—who is also pregnant with a miracle baby—this song shows us part of why God chose Mary out of all the women who would ever live to be the mother of Jesus. This was a woman who loved God, and knew His Word. And this is amazing for the first century. In the synagogs, women were separated from the men (and the Holy Books) by a screen. Back there with the other women and children, it was likely difficult to hear the teachings. Furthermore, the Jewish men of the first century prayed, “I thank Thee God that Thou hast not made me a woman.” And the Jewish Talmud said it was better to burn the Torah [i.e., scriptures] than to teach it to a woman.

            As you are about to see, somehow Mary was not shackled by these notions, which might also tell us something about her mother and father. Did her Dad quietly teach her the scriptures at home? It is a good assumption (and I hope you parents are doing that). But this much is clear: God Almighty saw something special in this teenage Jewish virgin. And once she gave God permission--by telling the angel “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”--God performed a miracle. To quote Jack Hayford: "God's redemptive promise was brought to her, to grow in her, to be delivered through her, to change the world around her."

            Here is Mary's song, and to give you an idea of how well Mary knew her Bible, Jamie will read Mary's words while I quote related Old Testament scriptures.

 

Mary's Song of Praise (The Magnificat; Luke 1:46ff)

 

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

Michael      3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (Ps 34:3-4)

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Michael      I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab 3:18)

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

Michael      For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. (Ps 138:6)

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Michael      May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! (Ps 72:17–19)

49 for he who is mighty has done great things...

Michael      The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zep 3:17)

49 he ...has done great things for me,

Michael      The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. (Ps 126:3)

and holy is his name.

Michael      For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Is 57:15)

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him...

Michael      O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (Neh 1:11)

who fear him from generation to generation.

Michael      May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! (Ps 72:5)

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

Michael      Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. (Is 51:9)

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones...

Michael      At the end of the days I, [King] Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”  (Dan 4:34–35)

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

Michael      thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. (Eze 21:26)

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

Michael      For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Ps 107:9)

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,        

Michael      But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, ...saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Is 41:8–10)

55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Michael      You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. (Mic 7:19–20)

 

(continued in the other column)

(continued from other column)

 

            I could have quoted dozens of other, similar passages, but you get the point. There are at least a dozen themes in Mary's song: joy, salvation, humility, victory, blessing, God's power, trial, service, faithfulness, mercy, promise, provision... These Biblical ideas didn't just pop into Mary's head. God's Word pours out of us because we've taken the time and energy to pour it in. How He reminds us of verses at just the right time is a nonetheless miraculous testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit, but He can't remind us of things we've never read, and THAT is a key point of application to today's message. We all need to invest in learning—continually re-reading—God's Word.

            And kids or young people who are here today, you are not off the hook! Scholars think that Mary was probably just a teenager when all of this happened—and see how much Scripture she already knew? Don't you want God to help you make GOOD choices in your studies, relationships, and career plans? Don't you want the Holy Spirit to guide you into a life that will be fulfilling and meaningful? Start now, by giving Him the tools by which He will lead you.

 

            And there are many other things we can learn from Mary, whom Pastor Jack Hayford calls a prototype of God's workings with all Christians, as a normal human who is willing to submit in faith and say to God: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” “Mary knows how to respond when God offers miracles. She welcomes His wonder-workings” (Hayford). She also knows what to do when angels or people give you a prophecy about your life; Mary doesn't push for the prophecy's fulfillment, but considers it carefully in her heart and patiently leaves it in God's hands. Third, Mary teaches us that God is not afraid of honest questions like “How can this be?” And fourth, Mary is an example of a long walk in faith, even through times of confusion or doubt. Whether or not Mary was part of the “family” who thought Jesus was “out of His mind” (in  Mark 3:20), we nonetheless find her at the foot of the cross, and in the upper room after His ascension.

 

            Did you notice that the Bible used the word “conceive” for both Elizabeth's and Mary's pregnancy? We still say that babies are “conceived” but we also talk about ideas and plans being “conceived”--whether it is an idea for redesigning your factory, creating a folding guitar, or reaching out with Jesus' love to a segment of the local population.

            The word “deliver” can also refer to a baby, but it also refers to someone who needs to be saved or set free. In Mark Lowry's song, which we heard last week, he says: “Mary did you know...the Child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.”

            These concepts—conceive and deliver—“converge” in the heart and the womb, “the two parts of the human anatomy that convey life” (Hayford).

            God designed us all to be able to “conceive” things that will advance the Kingdom of God, and then “carry” then through to delivery. Yes, this includes spiritual things like teaching children on Sundays, preaching, sharing your faith, and the like, but God can help you “conceive”...

--time-saving methods for running your home or business,

--how to save money at work or home,

--more productive ways to study,

--how to overcome some handicap or

--how to meet someone's special need.

When we conceive of such things, or help anyone be delivered from sin or the burdens of life, is it any less an act of the Holy Spirit? I think not.

            Of course, God's ends are not just to bless you with these blessings. Right from the beginning—God's promise to Abraham (in Gen 12:2-3)--the purpose for blessing us has been clear:  “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

 

            You might be asking: “How? How could God do something through me that could be a blessing to others? How in the world can this be?” Mary asked the same question, and the answer is same for us, when we don't have the resources to do, or be, what we know God is calling us to. The angelic messenger replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” If God conceives something in you, He will provide the miracle needed to bring it to delivery. But remember that Mary's response was pivotal. God seeks our willing, loving surrender to His ways, in faith.

            To be sure, Jesus had not chosen a fool to be His own mother, and in that eternal moment before Mary replied to the angel she must have wondered about the cost—to herself, Joseph, her family. There will always be those who just can't believe that the blessings in your life come from God; some will be jealous, some vicious, some skeptical. Jack Hayford says: "I've never known miracle grace to be revealed from God's hand, apart from the loss of face." This cost shouldn't surprise us, for salvation itself comes only to those who humbly admit before God that we are helpless to save ourselves apart from Jesus' sacrifice, power and grace.

            And if you have never bowed your soul to the Almighty, receiving the salvation we celebrate at Easter, there's no better time than Christmas to get right with God. Talk to someone about this before you leave today. Our pastor, myself, any of our leaders would be glad to answer your questions and pray with you.

            If humility is required for salvation, should we expect less of the modern miracles God conceives in our hearts—miracles that will bring recovery, restoration, revival, or the release of resources needed to effect the delivery of people from evil? I believe that many of God's miracles die before delivery because too many deceived humans think there must be some other way to be filled with God and His blessings, without humility before Him.

 

            But if you are willing to let God “birth” His dreams through you, Mary can teach us how to handle this spiritual pregnancy.

            First, Mary went to serve someone else's miracle. The Bible say she went “with haste” to take care of a much older relative--Elizabeth--who surely was helped in countless ways by this young woman. If I were Mary, I would have run home after the angel's visitation and said: “Mom, an angel told me that Aunt Elizabeth is pregnant, so I'm heading south in the morning.” “Elizabeth? Could this be” (If she only knew what else the angel said!) What a confirmation it would have been just to step off the train—donkey train or camel train, of course—and see Elizabeth's round belly! In the process, Mary also learned from someone who's miracle was a little farther along than hers. That's service, and mentorship--a powerful combination.

            Next, Mary received a song to sing; and there's nothing like scripture-filled music to nurture a vision. Surely we know her song today because she sang it over and over in the months that followed. Just as normal pregnancy wearies and stretches the body and soul, giving spiritual birth does the same. Mary's way to deal with that was to sing. Internet radio is good, but don't neglect the time-tested hymns and divinely inspired Psalms. You might even Sing a New Song, like Mary! Remember that we said there are dozen Biblical themes in Mary's song, and we need them all! But if you study the Magnificat, you'll see Mary's focus on the central fact: “God is the source of my miracle.”

            Mary's third method, for dealing with spiritual pregnancy, is to be free from the burden to understand or explain her miracle blessing to anyone. Has God spoken to you? Good, keep it to yourself. I knew guys in college who told young ladies: “God told me that you and I are going to be married.” (I don't think they even got a first date!) Let God process things in His time and way.  We don't see Mary trying to protect herself or explain this, even to Joseph; God took care of that. She didn't advertise this miracle, but God aligned the heavens to proclaim it, even to wise men in a foreign culture.

            Mary's way to "carry" the miracle was to "serve, sing, and keep simple of soul" (Hayford).

 

            There's one other verse in this narrative that always grabs me: Luke 1:38 simply says: “And the angel departed from her.” Just because God conceives some plan or project in your heart, don't expect God to surround you with continual supernatural confirmation. The angel left. As Mary's body changed, as she faced the need to return to parents and Joseph (and small village) with a round belly of her own—where are angels when you need them? As far as we know, Mary never saw another angel for the rest of her life. But God used normal humans to do angelic work. He used Elizabeth and her husband-priest Zachariah to coach Mary as Mary served their family. God used humble shepherds; Simeon and Anna at the Temple; the wise men. (You can read about these people in your Bible if they're unfamiliar). And God wants to use you and me to confirm and bless others as they “carry” their little miracles—often without us ever knowing it. Two weeks ago I went into the “Healing Prayer room” (every Sunday at 9:30 on the first floor) to deal with a little headache and digestive problem. As Sam prayed, he started praying about things that I'm dealing with—things known only to God—and I was moved to tears. Sam and the whole team down there are just listening to God as they pray, and the results are miraculous.

            God's human messengers of such confirmation are everywhere. A child at the Thanksgiving celebration brings his “thanksgiving card” to my wife, his Sunday School teacher. I am inspired at 2 a.m. about how to illustrate some concept for my class at the university. Bill Brown's stories of how he gets his remarkable resources for the great books God put on his heart to write. Pastor Gabe, talking about the opportunities he gets to share with cancer patients. And these are just a few of the “Mary Miracles” I hear about! This is undoubtedly repeated all over this congregation, and we should be sharing these things with each other in our small groups!

 

            Perhaps you are asking, “what about me?”—where are the signs that God is doing or wants to do something in or through me? If so, I have a few more questions for you.

            (1) Are you reading God's Word regularly and allowing God to speak to you? Don't expect an angel to show up, but if we never take time to be with Someone, we can't expect that person to influence our lives. Christianity is more than a set of teachings to follow; its a relationship with the One who often graciously speaks through His Word.

            (2) Are you using the gifts you already have to serve Him now? I'm sure the teenage Mary didn't fritter away her time playing computer games and watching reruns—not only because they didn't exist, but because not even God “can steer a parked car”. That is, God often directs us AS we serve, not BEFORE. Don't let the culture dictate what you do with your time; there is always a need to minister to, in your family, church, school or community.

            (3) Are you in regular fellowship with other believers? This might be a mentorship, but more likely just participation in Kairos or something like the small groups listed in your bulletin. Remember, among Mary's first steps was to serve someone else in the fulfillment of their dream. God often chooses to guide, direct and encourage us through our Christian brothers and sisters. If you are trying to handle life, or your dreams, on your own, you are missing out on the blessings available to you as a member of the Body of Christ.

 

            And, finally, if you have some dream that seems “on the shelf”... Maybe you think, or know, you heard from God about some vision, but now it looks like nothing is happening. To you, I can only repeat those same questions, adding “be patient”. How many months did Mary carry this miracle before seeing the fruit of her womb? How many times, especially in those first few days, did she fall asleep dealing with doubts and fears? What sustained her in those six months—after she left Elizabeth—those six months between Joseph's confirming dream and the visit of the shepherds with news from Above? Maybe you set out to fulfill what God conceived in you, but then you started having morning sickness, or you heard that you'd have to walk 100 miles (160 km) to Bethlehem—walk while 9 months pregnant! Oh, where are the angels when you need them!? Just be patient. Trust me when I say that God has not given up on you. Be patient, and stay close to Him. And even if that dream is dead, for whatever reason, I'm sure that God is still willing and even wanting to do the miraculous in and through you.

 

            So, we've seen that Mary's song was filled with scripture. We've seen that Mary is a prototype for what God still wants to do through us: conceive of ways to bless our world, submit to God, and carry them to delivery. We've seen that Mary's way to "carry" the miracle was to "serve, sing, and keep simple of soul." We've noticed that angelic messengers are rare, but that God wants to use you and me to dispense confirmations of God's wonder workings, often without us even knowing it. And finally I've said that we are all candidates for a miracle; indeed, God wants to give birth to blessings through each of us, if we are just willing to abide humbly in relationship with Him.

 

            Listen again to Jack Hayford's words about Mary: "God's redemptive promise was brought to her, to grow in her, to be delivered through her, to change the world around her." God wants to do the same through us, today, right here in this city. I also like Hayford's definition of a miracle: “any invasion of earth with the workings and grace of Heaven's power, love and life.” Do you qualify for such a miracle? If you are a Believer, the answer is “yes!” I believe a part of the reason for this wonderful Christmas season is that “Heaven is still waiting to pour promise into earth's most unlikely places” (Hayford). Mary was just a common person, with an obscure past, from a poor family—and if God can pour life and promise through her to change the world, God can do the same—in big and small ways—through me and you.

 

PRAYER

 

(I had hoped to write a song to go with this message, but never found the time. But here is a “chorus” that Mary might have sung, and which we all could sing or pray.)

 

Behold, Lord, your servant, my answer is "yes"

I submit to be chosen and blessed

Though I can't understand, what a joy to be filled

Work Your miracle in me, as I bow to your will

 

 

 

---------

The whole Bible is available on line at www.biblegateway.com

 

Scriptures quoted above are from:

--The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

--As it said in the bulletin, many of these thoughts were inspired by this recommended resource: The Mary Miracle by Pastor Jack Hayford, Regal Books (1997). Available through Amazon or at shop.livingway.org/tmm02.html

 

(For more information about Christmas, see these Christmas pages on our website: the traditional Christmas story, who is Santa (圣诞老人)?, candy canes, Christmas Perspectives (poem), and the pre-Christmas Advent season. Also look for Christmas wallpaper here. You'll also find movie study guides on this website for some great holiday films: A Snoopy/Charlie Brown Christmas, Last Holiday, White Christmas, The Grinch, Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life)

 

 

© 2013 Michael Krigline. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print or copy this article, or link to it, for personal or classroom use.

 (see Website Standards and Use Policy)

 

For more information about Christianity, check out www.ccci.org/whoisjesus/interactive-journey

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