Many years ago I was reminding a preschool Sunday School class about the Christmas story, which I assumed they all knew.

“And there were shepherds in the fields, watching their flocks by night . . . Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, and they were sore afraid!”

A little four-year old girl, who was new to the church, was listening intently. As I glanced around the table, I noticed the look on her face. One of curiosity and bewilderment.

“Have you ever heard the story of Jesus being born in Bethlehem?” I asked.

She shook her head to say “no.”

I was so surprised! I don’t know that I had ever encountered a young child who didn’t know the Christmas story.

Having lived my life in mostly Christian environments, I thought almost everyone had heard about Jesus’ birth. Even people I had encountered through the years who weren’t Christians knew the story.

So I started at the beginning.

Having the privilege of telling this innocent child the story of Jesus for the first time was very moving. It made me look at the story that I had heard my whole life, since my birth, in a new way. It was fresh to her. And she seemed amazed.

Every year at Christmas, I think about the little girl and wonder who hasn’t heard this story.

The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

Who do you know that doesn’t know the true meaning of the Christmas story?

“Did you know that Jesus was born before He was born?”

This question was posed to me by a seven year old boy in Sunday School recently. It’s a tenet of the Christian faith, and I was shocked to hear it from a child!

In case you weren’t aware of this, the evidence is in Genesis 1:26.

“Then God said, “Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky . . .”

And in John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

“Word” refers to Jesus throughout the scriptures. Jesus has always been with God.

This concept can get “deep,” but the truth for us to know is that the seven year old boy was correct.

“Before Jesus was born, He was born!”