The story of the birth of Jesus has been variously told. Luke has told it in relation to the appearance of angels and the visit of shepherds. Matthew has told it in the context of a brightly shining star and the coming of wise men from the East. Others may very well have associated the story with other signal happenings mentioned by neither of these; for any event of importance is attended by a variety of incidental circumstances, and in telling of it, one witness will choose to relate one of the incidentals and another will relate a different one. The whole story is learned as everyone is heard.

In the New Testament it is John more than any other who undertakes to tell us what really happened at Bethlehem. He is saying that God was so loving the world that he was giving his own Son (John 3…