Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem because of an order from the Roman emperor that a census, or record, of all people be taken in their hometown. After traveling on a donkey for several days, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and were told there were no places to stay. The inns were full. Seeing that Mary was due to give birth at any moment, an inn owner told Joseph they could stay in his stable. Mary went into labour, and Jesus was born in the stable. The only place for the sleeping baby to rest was most likely in the animals’ trough, known as the manger. During this time, an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. The angel told them the good news of the birth of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. The shepherds immediately went to find baby Jesus, who the angels told them they would find sleeping in the manger. Then they ran off to share the good news with everyone.
Jesus and his disciples were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Jesus knew that he was about to die, and that Judas would betray him. He decided to show his love to his friends (even Judas) by washing their feet, which was normally the job of a slave or servant, to make them clean before they shared the Last Supper together. Peter was bothered by Jesus acting like a slave, but Jesus said that no master is better than his servant, and that the disciples should follow his example of humility and service.
The story is about a Moabite woman named Ruth who, after the deaths of her husband and father-in-law, chooses to stay with her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. She accompanies Naomi back to Bethlehem, where Ruth gleans in the fields to provide for them. Ruth catches the eye of Boaz, a wealthy landowner and relative of Naomi’s family. They marry, and Ruth becomes an ancestor of King David and, later, Jesus Christ.