After the angel’s visit, Joseph and Mary made a long journey to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. When they reached Bethlehem, the city was crowded. They spent the night in the stable because there was no room in the inn. There Jesus was born. Mary wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.

The Shepherds

That same night, on a hill outside the city, shepherds were watching their sheep. An angel appeared and the glory of God shone around the shepherds. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I have good news that will bring great joy to all people. This night a Savior has been born. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Then many angels appeared glorifying and praising God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” When the angels had gone away, the shepherds left their sheep and went quickly to Bethlehem. There they found the baby just as the angel had said they would.

The Wise Men

After Jesus was born, wise men came from another country to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the baby who is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and want to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was not happy. He called together the priests and teachers of the law. They told him the prophets had said a ruler would be born in Bethlehem. King Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem to search for this king. As the wise men left Jerusalem, the star led them to the house where they found baby Jesus. They fell down and worshiped, giving him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God warned the wise men in a dream that they should not return to wicked King Herod, so they went home a different way.

The Reason for God’s Gift

Jesus was God’s Son. He lived without sin and was perfect in all his ways. At thirty years of age, Jesus began to teach the people about God, his Father. He did many miracles such as giving sight to the blind, healing many people of their diseases, and even raising the dead. Above all, he taught the way to have eternal life in heaven. Then he gave his life as a sacrifice for the sin of the whole world.

The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus came to this earth to die on a cross as the supreme sacrifice. By his death, the price for all sin has been paid. There is no more need to offer sacrifices for sin. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to send the Savior.

Although Jesus was killed by wicked men, death had no power over him. After three days he arose victorious from the grave. During the days following his resurrection, Jesus was seen by many people. Then one day, after blessing his followers, he ascended to heaven.

When we choose to believe and surrender our life to Jesus, his blood cleanses us from all our sin. As we accept this gift of salvation, we are reunited with God. Jesus becomes our personal Savior, and we can enjoy the blessings of being his child! Someday Jesus is coming back. He will take all the true believers to heaven. There they will live forever with God.

Contact Us

Order Tracts

One evening the shepherd counted only ninety-nine sheep. One of the sheep was still out on the mountain! Curious about the world around him, that sheep had fallen behind. Green tufts of grass lured him away from the trail. He stopped to investigate flowers, trees, and bushes he had never noticed before. Captivated by his discoveries, he forgot about following the shepherd and was left far behind. As evening came, he suddenly realized that he was alone and far from home. He was afraid and began to run. In his confusion he went the wrong way. He could not find the shepherd, the sheep, or the path home.

Night fell and a storm came. The lost sheep huddled under a bush, soaked and miserable. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Eventually the thunder and the rain ceased. The noises and shadows of the night frightened the sheep into running again. Thorns tore him and he began to bleed. Behind him, howling wolves found his trail and gave chase.

The Searching Shepherd

When the shepherd realized the sheep was missing, he shut the gate to the sheepfold, took his staff, and returned to the mountain. The shepherd also faced the storm and the darkness. He was hungry, wet, and cold. He often stopped to call for the sheep, but he heard no reply. He was tired, but persistently continued to search. When the shepherd heard the howls of the wolves in the distance, he knew his sheep was in great danger. He urgently set off in that direction. Could the sheep be rescued before it was too late?

The lost sheep also heard the howls of the wolves. He continued to run until he was weak and exhausted. He did not realize the cruel wolves were chasing him into a trap. Night fell upon a dreadful scene. The sheep was caught by thorns near the edge of the cliff. He was bleeding, exhausted, and surrounded by wolves. He struggled pitifully, but he could not save himself. It seemed he had reached his end. All that he could do was cry out for help.

The Sheep Is Rescued

The shepherd heard and came quickly! Fearlessly he faced the wolves and drove them away. He went to his crying sheep and gently pulled him out of the thorns and away from the edge of the cliff. He bathed his wounds and applied healing ointment. Then he took him in his arms and tenderly carried him home. The lost sheep had been found. “So will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them” (Ezekiel 34:12).

We are all like the lost sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves us and has a safe place for us. There is also an enemy that wants to destroy our soul. Satan tempts us with many enticing things, promising security and good times. In the end, his promises leave us empty. The happiness and fulfillment that Satan offers is false and elusive. We become frustrated and afraid; we are injured and torn. We wander blindly and cannot escape.

Thankfully, Jesus has provided a way of escape. He is still seeking those who have been lured away by Satan and are trapped by his devices. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We need to pray to Jesus, acknowledging our sin and asking for forgiveness. We then commit our lives totally to Him, leaving our sinful ways. Jesus died for us and paid for our sins with his blood so we can be clean and free before God. There is much rejoicing in heaven when a lost sheep is found and carried by the Shepherd into his sheepfold. “And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray” (Matthew 18:13).

Contact Us

Order Tracts

The woman was surprised. “You asked me for a drink? Don’t you know that I am a Samaritan and your people, the Jews, don’t have anything to do with us?”

Jesus gently answered, “If you really knew about God and who you are talking to, you would have asked me to give you living water. I would gladly have done it.”

The woman looked at Him in surprise. “Sir,” she said, “the well is deep. You have nothing to draw with. How will you draw out this living water?”

Again Jesus replied, “Those who drink from this well will get thirsty again. But if you drink the water that I can give, you will never thirst again.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “give me this water so I won’t ever be thirsty again nor will I need to come back here to get water.”

“Go, tell your husband and come back here,” Jesus said.

“I don’t have a husband,” she replied.

“That is true,” Jesus said. “You have had five husbands, but the one you have now is not your husband.”

How, she wondered, does this man know about me? “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. I have a question for you. My people have worshipped God here at this place. You say that Jerusalem is the place to worship.”

Jesus told her, “It is not so important where we worship; today true believers can worship the Father in spirit and in truth anywhere.”

“I know that the Messiah is coming who is called Christ,” she said, “and when He comes, He will explain everything.”

Then Jesus simply told her, “I am He.”

She left her water pot and went back into the city. “Come,” she cried, “come and see a man who has told me everything that I have ever done. Is He not the Christ?”

Then the people of the city went out to meet Jesus. Many believed that He was the Christ, the Savior, because He knew everything about them. You can read this account in the Bible in St. John 4:3-42.

Jesus knows everything about us, the good as well as the bad. We would like to hide the bad things we have done in our lives, but we can’t hide them from Jesus. He has come to save us from the punishment we deserve for doing wrong. He can take away that heavy feeling we feel in our hearts and give us peace. He died to take away our sins and make it possible that we can have a home in heaven when we die.

Jesus is the answer to all of your needs and all of your questions. He wants to be your friend. He wants to fill the emptiness in your heart. He can replace your fear and unrest with peace and calm.

Jesus says, “Come unto me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Just pray to God and tell Him you are sorry for your sins. Ask Jesus to come into your life. As you commit yourself to this great God in faith, He will abide in your heart. His presence will give you joy. He will give you strength and purpose in life. He will be the answer for you.

Contact Us

Order Tracts