Birth Of The Savior (1952)

[music] 2,000 years ago, Israel, once a pout and free nation, was suffering under the rule of the mighty Roman Empire. Taxes had to be paid to the Roman Emperor. And the people of Israel hated the who collected these taxes for the Romans. More than that, they strongly resented having paid such heaven and unjust taxes. But anyone who dared to rebel was doomed to bear the marks of the Roman whip or the scars of the Roman sword. Now and then there were some threats and uprisings. But the Romans ruled over the land with an iron fist, and there was no way to escape the cruel power of the conquerors. However, throughout the land, there were some devout people who studied [music] the words of the prophets, hoping that the day was near when the promised Messiah would come and save them from their sins. But there were also many others who hoped that the Messiah would unite them in overthrowing the Romans. How much longer must we suffer the crimes of these cheating, lying Romans? How much longer must we pay taxes to their publicans? Look at this. How much longer must we suffer the Roman whips and swords? Why must we submit to these barbarians? Why must we pay taxes to them? What can we do? We must bear this oppression with patience. For we know that God has promised us a Messiah, a Savior. The prophet Isaiah has foretold. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. A name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting of peace. As if voiced thoughts of everyone in Israel, man asked the question that lay uppermost on their minds. >> When will this Messiah come? When? >> No one knew the answer. Not even a devout young woman of Nazareth, who would soon become the wife of Joseph, the village carpenter. No, Mary did not know the answer. But even now, the angel of the Lord was to tell her of the great blessing God had in store for her. Hail thou that are highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. >> She was startled and troubled by the angel's greeting and did not understand its meaning. Do not be afraid, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the son of the most high. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. and of his kingdom there shall be no end. >> How can this be since I have no husband? >> The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the most high will overshadow thee. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth in her old age is also to become the mother of a son. For with God nothing shall be impossible. >> Behold, I am the handmade of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. To the south in the hill country of Judea, an elderly couple was patiently awaiting the birth of their child. They knew it was to be a boy. They knew that his name was to be John and that he would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. This they knew because the angel had also appeared to Zacharias and told him of it. And Zacharias had been stricken dumb for doubting the words of the angel. His wife Elizabeth must have learned the mission of their son from Zacharias. And therefore she knew that God in his mercy would soon send the promised savior. But she could not have known when or of whom the Savior would be born. But they were to know soon, for their cousin Mary had hastened south. Even now she was at their very door. >> Mary, >> Elizabeth. >> At this very moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she suddenly knew that the promise of the Messiah was soon to be fulfilled. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child whose mother you are to be. But why is this granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, my heart was filled with joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has regarded the lowest state of his handmmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. But when Joseph learned that Mary was soon to become a mother, he became deeply troubled. He did not know what to do. Being a just man, he did not want to bring any shame on the woman he had chosen to be his wife. >> [music] >> even his sleep was filled with his troubles. Then there came to Joseph an angel of the Lord, bringing him the assurance that he sorely needed. Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is created in her is of the Holy Spirit, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. And so Mary became Joseph's wife. Now the time was drawing near for Mary's child to be born. But in the meantime, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus had ordered a census of the people of Israel. That meant that everyone must go to the birthplace of his parents to register for the purpose of taxation. And as Joseph and Mary were of the house of David, and the city of David was Bethlehem, they made the tiring journey south to that city. But when the weary travelers reached the little town of Bethlehem, they found it crowded with those who had also come from near and distant places to be registered for the counting. >> My good man, would you hold this animal for me? It was necessary for Mary to rest, for the journey had been long and tiresome. >> We seek shelter for the night. >> I'm sorry, but all my rooms are full. >> We must have shelter. My wife is expecting her first child to be born soon, almost any time now. >> Have you no friends in the city? No, we are from Nazareth. We know of no other place to stay. >> I hate to even suggest this, but the only shelter I could offer you for the night is the stable. That's the only place I have. >> You're very kind. Come, I'll show you the way. I'm sorry there are no beds, but there is plenty of good, clean hay. At least you'll keep warm. >> May God bless you for your kindness. >> I'll bring you some bedding. If there's anything you need, just ask for it. Here, I'll leave you the light. Thank you. Joseph. In a place not far away, shepherds were watching over their flock, unaware that the son of God was being born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. But they were soon to know in a most glorious manner of the fulfillment of God's promise to send a savior to the world. Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. He shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, God in the highest and on earth will let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord hath made known to us. The shepherds found the place where the Christ child [music] was born and Joseph brought them into the stable. And there in the manger they found Jesus. Perhaps not as they expected, but surely as they had been told. With wonderment and great joy, these simple shepherds knelt down and worshiped the Savior of the world, who had been born in a lowly manger. And not only they, but the world was to know, that on this night the prophecy of Isaiah had been fulfilled. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. [music] >> [music]