# The Christmas Story for Kids Source: https://www.tinykiwiapp.com/bible-stories-for-kids/the-christmas-story Ages 3 to 12. From Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2. Last reviewed 2026-10-31. The Christmas story, also called the nativity story, is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, told in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2: the angel's visit to Mary, the baby in the manger, the shepherds and the wise men. Here it is for kids and children aged 3 to 12, to read aloud, hear narrated or see in the picture storybook, with the King James words beside every scene. ## Where it is in the Bible - Bible passages: Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-20, and Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-12 - Who is in it: Mary, Joseph, the angel Gabriel, the shepherds, the wise men and King Herod - Where it happens: Nazareth, then Bethlehem in Judaea - When: In the days of Caesar Augustus, when Herod was king (Luke 2:1, Matthew 2:1) - Key verse: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11, King James Version) ## The 60-second version Long ago, God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman named Mary. Mary would have a baby boy, God's own Son, and she would call him Jesus. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem. There was no room for them in the inn, so baby Jesus slept in a manger. That night, angels told shepherds the good news, and the shepherds hurried to see him. Later, wise men followed a star and brought him gifts. And every time God's messengers came, they said the same two words: fear not. ## The story This story is true. It is in the Bible, in the books of Luke and Matthew. Have you ever been scared of something new? A dark room, a new place, a big surprise? In this story, God sends messengers to people who are scared. And every time, the messenger says the same two words. Listen for them. ### A visitor for Mary (Luke 1:26-38) In a small town called Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary. Mary was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph came from the family of King David, the great king who had lived long, long ago. One day, God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary. Gabriel told her that the Lord was with her. Mary was troubled. What could a greeting like that mean? Then Gabriel said: > "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1:30, King James Version) Favour means God had been kind to Mary and had chosen her. Gabriel told her she would have a baby boy, and she would call his name Jesus. He would be called the Son of God. And his kingdom would never end. Mary asked how this could be. Gabriel said God's Holy Spirit would make it happen, and then he said: > "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37, King James Version) Mary said yes. She was the Lord's servant, she said, and she wanted it to happen just as God had said. King James Version, Luke 1:26-38: [26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing shall be impossible. [38] And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. ### A dream for Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) Soon Joseph found out that Mary was going to have a baby, and he knew the baby was not his. Joseph was a good man. He did not want to shame Mary, so he decided to quietly call off the wedding. But while Joseph was thinking about all this, an angel came to him in a dream. And the angel said the same two words: > "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife" (Matthew 1:20, King James Version) The baby was from God, the angel said. Joseph should call him Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. A prophet had said long before that this baby would be called Emmanuel, which means God with us. When Joseph woke up, he did just what the angel said. He took Mary home to be his wife. King James Version, Matthew 1:18-25: [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. [20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: [25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. ### No room (Luke 2:1-7) Then the emperor, Caesar Augustus, made a rule: everyone had to go to their family's home town to be counted. Joseph's family came from Bethlehem, the town of King David. So Joseph and Mary made the long trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, though Mary's baby was almost ready to be born. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came. This is how the Bible tells it: > "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7, King James Version) Swaddling clothes are strips of cloth, wrapped snug around a newborn baby to keep him warm. A manger is a box that animals eat from. That was the very first bed for the Son of God. King James Version, Luke 2:1-7: [1] And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ### Shepherds in the night (Luke 2:8-14) Not far from Bethlehem, out in the fields, it was dark and quiet. Shepherds were awake, keeping watch over their sheep through the night. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord was there. The glory of the Lord shone all around them, bright in the dark field. And the shepherds were very, very afraid. Can you guess what the angel said first? > "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." (Luke 2:10, King James Version) Good tidings means good news. And the news was this: that very day, in Bethlehem, a Saviour had been born, Christ the Lord. They would know him, the angel said, because they would find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then, all at once, the sky was full of angels, more than anyone could count, praising God and saying: > "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14, King James Version) King James Version, Luke 2:8-14: [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ### Hurry to Bethlehem (Luke 2:15-20) When the angels had gone back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another that they must go to Bethlehem and see this thing for themselves. And they hurried. They found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger, just as the angel had said. The shepherds told everyone what they had heard about this child. And everyone who heard it was amazed. But Mary was quiet. > "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, King James Version) To ponder means to think about something slowly, again and again, the way you might hold a treasure in your hands. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God for everything they had heard and seen. King James Version, Luke 2:15-20: [15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. [18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. [19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. ### Follow the star (Matthew 2:1-12) The book of Matthew tells us what happened some time later. Far away in the east, wise men saw a star. They believed it was the star of a newborn King of the Jews, and they travelled all the way to Jerusalem to worship him. King Herod heard about this, and he was troubled. The old scriptures said the new ruler would come from Bethlehem. So Herod sent the wise men there. He told them to come back and tell him where the child was, so he could worship him too. But that was not what Herod really meant. The wise men set off, and the star went ahead of them until it stopped right over the place where the young child was. When they saw it, they were filled with joy, more joy than they could hold. They went into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother. They fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and gave him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Frankincense and myrrh are sweet-smelling treasures. The Bible doesn't tell us how many wise men there were. It tells us there were three kinds of gifts. Then God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home another way. King James Version, Matthew 2:1-12: [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [3] When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. [5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. [7] Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. [9] When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. [11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Do you remember the two words? Fear not. The angel said them to Mary. The angel said them to Joseph. The angel said them to the shepherds, in the dark field. Because the news was good. Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. To the shepherds, close by. To the wise men, from far away. And to you. Fear not. ## How to tell the Christmas story to a young child Keep to what Luke and Matthew say: an angel's message to Mary, a baby born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, shepherds who hurried to see him, and wise men who came later with gifts. Let the angels' words "Fear not" (Luke 1:30, Luke 2:10) be the thread that a small child can say along, and leave out the innkeeper and the donkey, which the Bible never mentions. ## What this story shows about God - **God keeps his promises.** Long before Jesus was born, a prophet promised a child called Emmanuel. Matthew tells us the Christmas story happened so that promise would come true. (Matthew 1:22-23) - **God came close to ordinary people.** The first people to hear the news were shepherds working through the night, and the King's first bed was a manger. The good news was for all people. (Luke 2:7-10) - **Nothing is impossible with God.** When Mary asked how this could happen, the angel's answer was simple: with God, nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37) ## Questions to ask after ### Ages 3 to 5 - What two words did the angels keep saying? - Where did baby Jesus sleep on his very first night? - Who came to see Jesus first: the shepherds or the wise men? ### Ages 6 to 9 - Why do you think the angels kept saying "fear not"? - Mary pondered everything in her heart. What is something you like to think about again and again? - The shepherds hurried and the wise men travelled a long way. Why did they all want to see Jesus? ### Ages 10 to 12 - The Son of God's first bed was a feeding box. Why do you think God chose to do it that way? - King Herod and the wise men both heard about the new king. How were their answers different? - The angel said the good news was "to all people". Who does that include? ## If your child asks ### Was Jesus born on December 25th? The Bible doesn't give the date of Jesus' birth. Luke 2:11 says only that he was born "in the city of David", which is Bethlehem. Christians later chose a day to celebrate: most on December 25th, and some churches on January 7th. (Luke 2:11) ### How could Mary have a baby without a daddy? In the Christmas story, Mary asks the angel Gabriel this very question (Luke 1:34). Gabriel answers that the Holy Spirit would make it happen, "for with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). It is a miracle: something only God can do. (Luke 1:34-37) ### Was there an innkeeper in the Christmas story? No. Luke 2:7 says only that there was "no room for them in the inn". The Bible never mentions an innkeeper, and it doesn't say anyone was unkind to Mary and Joseph. Bethlehem was full of families who had come to be counted (Luke 2:1-5). (Luke 2:1-7) ### Were there three wise men? Were they kings? The Bible doesn't say there were three wise men, and it doesn't call them kings. Matthew 2:11 says wise men from the east brought three kinds of gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They found "the young child" in a house, some time after the shepherds' visit. (Matthew 2:1-11) ### What did King Herod do after the wise men left? For grown-ups: Matthew 2:13-18 tells that King Herod tried to kill the child. God warned Joseph in a dream, and the family escaped to Egypt. Herod then ordered the killing of the young boys of Bethlehem. We left this out of our Christmas story. If your child asks, you might say: King Herod did a very wicked thing, but God kept Jesus safe, and nobody could stop God's plan. (Matthew 2:13-18) ## What we added and left out Every quoted line in this story is the King James Bible, word for word. What we added: - Short explanations of old words: favour, swaddling clothes, manger, tidings, ponder, frankincense and myrrh. - Three questions from the narrator to your child, and the "listen for the two words" frame. The two words, fear not, are said by God's messengers in Luke 1:30, Matthew 1:20 and Luke 2:10. What we left out: - Mary's visit to her relative Elisabeth, and the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:36-80). - The full prophecy about Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5-6). - Jesus presented at the temple, and Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:21-38). - Herod's plan, the escape to Egypt, and the killing of the boys of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-23). Not in the Bible, so not in our story: Luke and Matthew never mention an innkeeper, a donkey, a stable, an ox and an ass, or three kings at the manger, so none of them are in our Christmas story. Luke and Matthew each tell part of the story; we tell the events in the order they happened, and say where Matthew picks up. ## Words from the story - **Favour**: God's kindness. To find favour with God means God has chosen to be kind to you. - **Swaddling clothes**: Strips of cloth wrapped snug around a newborn baby. - **Manger**: A box or trough that animals eat from. - **Tidings**: News. - **Saviour**: Someone who rescues. The angel said Jesus was born to be the Saviour. - **Christ**: The promised King God had said He would send. Christ means the anointed one. - **Emmanuel**: A name that means God with us. - **Ponder**: To think about something slowly, again and again. - **Wise men**: Men from the east who studied the stars. Matthew doesn't say how many there were. - **Frankincense and myrrh**: Precious, sweet-smelling treasures made from the sap of trees. ## Sources - Bible passages: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7; Luke 2:8-14; Luke 2:15-20; Matthew 2:1-12. King James Version (public domain) and Berean Standard Bible (public domain). - Written by Tinykiwi with AI assistance and checked line by line against the Bible text. Illustrations are AI-generated; narration is an AI voice recorded ahead of time.