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Saturday, December 11, 2010

Christmas Journey

"Christmas Journey" is the dramatized story of the life of Christ and is put on by First Baptist Church-McKinney.
The entire "drama" can be experienced from your car (you are given a CD at the entrance that will narrate each scene) or you can take a hayride through the event.

It was a wonderful evening...so we chose the hayride. 


As we entered the parking lot we were greeted by Roman Soldiers out on patrol.




 

We had to wait in line for the next hay wagon (there were 11 wagons.)  While waiting, hot chocolate is offered to those who might be chilly.


It wasn't long before the next hay wagon arrived.  There is seating on both sides and we were offered blankets and more hot chocolate.


Austin was so excited to find "baby Jesus".


 The first scene opens with Gabriel announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary. 
(I'll use scripture to tell the story...)
...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”


29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1-26-33

 
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.  Luke 2:1-3


We were greeted by a Roman soldier as we entered the town of Bethlehem.


 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  Luke 2:4-5


And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:8-18



1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ...11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-2; 11-12







6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.  Luke 2:6-7


Austin was soooo excited to find baby Jesus!


39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Luke 2:39-40



 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.   Matthew 4:1


 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. John 6:2



When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Luke 24.30




17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.  19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”  20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.   Luke 27:17-20


35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS  Matthew 27:35-37


5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”   Matthew 28:5-8

   
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   Matthew 28:16-28




And that was our Christmas Journey...hope you enjoyed riding along with us.

Till tomorrow...
debi

2 Cowgurls said:

Kathy said...

AWESOME! Thank you for sharing your journey. Sure wish I lived closer, I would love to take that ride. Hats off to FBC McKinney.

Here's hoping you have lots of Christmas Blessings

Heather Arbuckle said...

My entire family was blessed to be part of the teaching and healing scene of Jeruselum for Christmas Journey. It makes my heart sing that you were so touched by the experience. May God bless and keep you and yours. Merry CHRISTmas!!