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On the first Christmas Eve night so long, long ago, the Baby Jesus was born in a cold, cold barn in a place called Bethlehem.

People all over the world had been waiting for the Baby Jesus to be born but they didn’t have radios or telephones or anything like that so God sent an angel to let everybody know that the Baby Jesus had been born.

On that dark, cold night there were shepherds out in the field and they were the first ones to see the Angel of the Lord and to know the Baby Jesus had been born.

Suddenly, there was this bright light and the Angel just came out of nowhere and told the shepherds that the Baby Jesus had been born and they hurried off to see Him.

People all over the world had been waiting for the Baby Jesus to be born. But it was not just people that were waiting. The animals were waiting, too. All the animals all over the world.

When the animals heard the Baby Jesus’ birth cry, they all welcomed Him into the world with their special sounds. The cows mooed. The horses whinnied. Donkeys brayed. Wolves howled. Lions roared. Mice squeaked and the elephant trumpeted his welcome.

All of the animals welcomed the Baby Jesus with their special sounds.

But it wasn’t a noisy racket that the animals made. All of their special sounds blended together to make the most beautiful music and it could be heard all over the world.

All of the animals got down on their knees to worship the Baby Jesus. All over the world, the animals knelt together. The most wonderful sight was the baby lamb kneeling right next to a big, old’ lion because the Baby Jesus brought love and peace to all the world.

All of that happened at midnight on Christmas Eve. So, from that night on, every year at midnight on Christmas Eve, all of the animals all over the world kneel to worship Jesus Christ the Savior of the World.

What a wonderful thought of Christmas – all of the animals kneeling to worship a little baby called Jesus.

The Christmas Story

Luke 2

King James Version

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.