Good morning. My name is Chris and I will be reading chapters 13 to 15 of the Big Picture Story Bible. So let's get going. Part 13. God's promised one is born. Look at all the people on the road to Bethlehem. They were on their way to be counted and they were very unhappy. They were mad at the king. and they frowned as they walked. They were angry with the king, and they grumbled as they walked. But not everyone was unhappy. Do you see the happy couple on the road? If they were mad at the king, their faces didn't show it. Do you have any idea why they were so happy? Mary soon was going to have a baby. God had told Mary and Joseph that their baby was the one promised long ago. He would rescue God's people, give God's place back to them, and bless all the peoples of the earth. But in this crowded city, where would this special baby be born? In a nice big home? No, not in a nice big home. In a clean hotel? No, not in a clean hotel. All the nice big homes and clean hotels were filled up with people. Can you guess where this special baby would be born? God's forever king was born in a stable, a place for animals. His parents named him Jesus. They wrapped him up warmly and laid him in a manger. What a strange place for the promised one. Who would have imagined it? While Caesar, the king of the Roman world, was showing everyone how great he was by counting all of his people, God, the king of the universe, was showing the world how great he was by sending his son into the world as one of his people. What a very big day! What God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David had arrived in the birth of Jesus and news of his great arrival was about to spread. Part 14 God's Promised One is Announced Look at all those sheep! Do you see the men watching over the sheep? They are shepherds. On the night that Jesus was born, out on the rolling hills of Bethlehem, some shepherds were enjoying the cool air. It was dark. It was quiet. And then all of a sudden, God surprised the shepherds. A bright light shone in the night sky. An angel made a big announcement to the shepherds. I bring you good news for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." The shepherds were so amazed. And then there was another surprise. More and more and more angels came, until the night sky was filled with wonder and brightness. Together they sang, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. At this the shepherds ran to Bethlehem as fast as they could. They wanted to see the long-awaited promise of God lying in the manger. And when they got there, they saw the baby Jesus. They smiled. They knew everything the angels had told them was true. Jesus, God's forever king, had been born. Part 15, God's new people are called. Thirty years passed, and Jesus grew from a baby into a man. Thirty years passed, and the world still had not heard the message the angels had sung to the shepherds. Thirty years passed, and so far no one had become a follower of Jesus. Do you know how God told people they should follow His Son? God didn't use angels this time. God used a man. This man was already teaching people about God's kingdom. This man lived in the desert, and his name was John. John did not dress like most of God's people. John did not eat like most of God's people. John did not speak like most of God's people. But that did not keep God's people from coming out to the desert to listen to John. John was baptizing people to get them ready for the coming kingdom of God. People came from the hills and valleys. They came from big cities and small towns. In fact, so many people came that some began to wonder, could John be the prophet sent to rescue us? Could John be the one to give us back God's place? Could John be the king who will bless all the people of the earth? John told them, No, I am not the promised one, but I am preparing the way for the king. And then one day, when John was baptizing people in the river, Jesus came to him and asked to be baptized. When John baptized Jesus, a dove flew down and rested on Jesus. A loud voice came from heaven. You are my beloved son. With you I am well pleased. John told the people that Jesus was God's promised king. He told them to follow Jesus because Jesus could take away their sin. People began to listen to Jesus preach about the kingdom of God. And to some he said, follow me. Jesus chose 12 followers to be his special disciples. Do you remember Jacob's 12 sons? Well, Jesus was beginning to call out a new people for God.