Christmas - The Rest of the Story

by Rick Renner

Overview

There's More to This Story
Than You've Been Told

Is there more about the story of Christmas you wish you understood or that you have specific questions about? In this storybook of biblical truth and history, Rick Renner takes you on the magical journey of Christ's coming to earth as a baby — and the purpose of His coming — in a way you’ve probably never heard it before.

Featuring full-color, original illustrations by artist Lev Kaplan of Stuttgart, Germany, Christmas — the Rest of the Story tells the spellbinding story of God’s plan to redeem mankind — from the angel’s pronouncement to the virgin Mary, and her espousal and marriage to Joseph all the way to the angels’ glorious heralding of the Savior’s birth and His young, "ordinary" life marked by God Almighty’s extraordinary plan.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Why God chose Mary.
• Why angels viewed God in the flesh with such wonderment.
• Who were the "shepherds keeping watch" and the Magi?
• What was the value of the Magi’s famous gifts?
• A baby-dedication ceremony of all ceremonies!
• Why King Herod was so troubled by this historical birth?
• The humility of the Creator’s death.
• How to prepare for Jesus’ next coming.

This book is sure to be a favorite family book in your home, perhaps for generations to come! Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection is truly the greatest story on earth — but it has never been more uniquely told than in these pages written by Rick Renner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781680319095
Publisher:	Harrison House
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	118 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Rick Renner is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestsellers Dressed To Kill and Sparkling Gems From the Greek 1 and 2. His understanding of the Greek language and biblical history opens the Scriptures to enable readers to gain fresh insight from God's Word. Rick is founder and president of RENNER Ministries, based in Tulsa, and host to his TV program aired around the world in multiple languages.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction

The Story Behind the Story 1

Chapter 1 A Miraculous Place in Bethlehem 7

What Do We Know About the Holy Family? 12

God Calls Families 13

Mary Is the Main Source for the Christmas Story 17

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 22

Chapter 2 Why Did God Choose Mary? 25

The Village of Nazareth 27

The Relationship Between Nazareth and Sepphoris - Why Sepphoris Is So Important to the Story 29

Mary's Early Life in Jerusalem and Sepphoris 33

What Else Do We Know About Mary's Father Joachim? 35

What Does the Word 'Virgin' Mean and Why Was Mary So 'Highly Favored'? 38

What Does It Mean To Be 'Espoused'? 42

In Summation 43

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 46

Chapter 3 Why Did God Choose Joseph? 49

Was Joseph a Poor Carpenter as Religious Tradition Says? 51

Back To Sepphoris 56

Joseph Qualified To Be Entrusted With True Riches 58

Joseph Proved To Be Merciful 60

Joseph Was Spiritually Attuned and Obedient to God 62

Joseph's Actions Displayed Deep Trust in God 63

Joseph Was a Solid Spiritual Leader for His Family 64

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 66

Chapter 4 What Are 'Swaddling Clothes' and What Is a 'Manger'? 69

A Governmental Census Was Decreed 70

The Whole Roman Empire Was on the Move 73

From Nazareth to Bethlehem - 'Here to There' - God Will Make His Plan Stand 74

'Unto Us a Child Is Born' 76

What Are 'Swaddling Clothes'? 77

What Is a 'Manger'? 79

Why 'No Room in the Inn'? 80

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 82

Chapter 5 A Holy Moment 85

In the Beginning 88

Yet the World 'Knew Him Not' 89

God's Plan To Enter the Earth and Dwell Among Men Was Masterful 90

Jesus Our King's 'Great Exchange' To Be With Us and To Save Us 94

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 96

Chapter 6 Who Were 'the Shepherds Keeping Watch'? 99

Special Shepherds With Special Sheep 101

A Holy Assignment 103

A Sudden and Surprising Angelic Appearance 104

'Good Tidings of Great Joy' 106

'Swaddling Clothes' - a Significant Sign To This Particular Group of Shepherds 107

The Lamb of God Who Would Take Away the Sin of the World 110

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 112

Chapter 7 What Is 'a Multitude of the Heavenly Host'? 115

For the First Time, Angels Beheld the Face of God 117

Wrapped in Human Flesh, Jesus Was Still Commander-in-Chief 119

The Role of Angels 120

The First Evangelists 123

Mary Treasured It All in Her Heart 124

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 126

Chapter 8 Jesus' Baby Dedication in the Temple 129

How Do You 'Present' a Child? 131

A Daily Dedication for Life 133

The Dedication of Your Body - What Is a 'Living Sacrifice'? 134

The Dedication of Your Mind 136

The Dedication of Your Emotions 137

What Does the Word 'Sacrifice' Mean? 138

What Is the 'Acceptable' Will of God and 'Reasonable Service'? 140

What Does This Mean for You? 141

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 142

Chapter 9 Who Were Simeon and Anna? 145

Who Was Simeon? 146

The Spirit of Prophecy Was Upon Simeon 149

Who Was Anna? 151

Some Signs of Christ's Next Coming! 153

Jesus Is Not Slow in Returning… God Is Patiently Waiting for People To Be Saved 155

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 156

Chapter 10 Who Was Herod the Great and What Was His Relevance to Christ's Birth? 159

Unique Details of Jesus' Birth and Beyond in Matthew's and Luke's Gospels 160

A Wrong Impression Due to Modern Culture and Interpretation 161

Matthew's Account of the Story 163

Why Was He Called Herod the Great? 164

What Do We Know About Herod the Great? 165

Julius Caesar, Octavian, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, and Others 168

Herod - Great in Many Ways 170

How and When Did Herod Die? 172

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 174

Chapter 11 Who Were The Magi? 177

A Rendezvous Between Nero and the Magi 179

Daniel and the Magi 181

'From the East' the Place of the 'Rising Sun 182

How Many Magi Were There and What Were Their Names? 183

How Did Magi Travel In the Ancient World? 184

What the Magi Said As They Entered Jerusalem 186

The Star 187

King of the Jews 190

Herod Was Troubled 191

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 192

Chapter 12 Why Was Herod Troubled by the News of Jesus? 195

How Deeply Was Herod Troubled? 197

How Magi Traveled 198

Why Was 'All Jerusalem' Troubled With Herod? 200

Herod's Interrogation of Chief Priests and Scribes 201

Herod Interrogated the Magi 202

Herod Sent the Magi to Bethlehem 205

The Star Hovered Once Again Above Jesus' Location - and That Location Was Not Bethlehem 207

The House in Nazareth 208

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 210

Chapter 13 What Was the Value of the Magi's Gifts? 213

Seven Important Points in Matthew 2:11 215

Exactly What Kind of Gifts Did the Magi Present to Jesus? 217

The Gifts of the Magi to Jesus 221

Not Just 'Three Small Boxes' 222

The Gift of Gold 224

The Gift of Frankincense 226

The Gift of Myrrh 226

A Possible Catalog of Gifts the Magi Gave to Jesus 228

God Spoke to the Magi 230

What Eventually Happened to the Magi? 231

What Happened to the Gifts the Magi Gave to Jesus? 232

"Joseph, Mary and Jesus Escaped Herod's Murderous Rage" 233

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 234

Chapter 14 The Flight Into Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocents 237

That Night an Angel Spoke to Joseph in a Dream 239

Herod Flew Into a Murderous Rampage 240

The Slaughter of the Innocents 242

How Expensive Were Their Travels in Egypt? 244

The Holy Family Experienced the Reality of Philippians 4:19 245

What Happened to All the 'Treasures'? 247

How Did the Holy Family Travel to Egypt? 249

How the Gospel First Came to Egypt and the Role of the Coptic Church 251

Early Documentation About the Holy Family's Time in Egypt 253

After the Death of King Herod 257

What Is a Nazarene? 259

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 262

Chapter 15 The Real Purpose of Christmas 265

The Beautiful Act of Humility 267

The Ugly Act of Crucifixion 268

Christ's Humiliation, Shame, and Torture 271

Every Knee Will Bow and Tongue Confess Christ's Lordship 272

At Christmastime - or Any Time 273

Questions to Ponder and Discuss 274

Endnotes 276