They Met Jesus 1-8: A Child's Life of Christ, #9

By Katheryn Maddox Haddad

Book one: Mary was too young, Elizabeth too old, Joseph too gullible, the shepherds too smelly, Anna too senile, Simeon too idealistic, Salome too flippant. The wise men should have minded their own business, Zachariah should have accepted he'd never have children, King Herod dared control God, the Oriental scholars dared interpret God.

Book two: Governor Pilate only tolerated his subjects, John the Baptist tried to change them, Satan threw up roadblocks that never seemed to work. Future apostles Andrew was always bringing in outsiders, Philip insisted on proof, and Nathaniel was naive. The temple merchants lived off religion, Nichodemus tried to reform religion, and Peter's mother-in-law dwelt in her religion. The pagan Samaritan searched with hope, the royal official probed with fortitude, the centurion encountered with power.

Book three: Future apostles Simon fought Rome and Matthew joined Rome, while Judas seemed the only level-headed one. Zebedee sacrificed his sons, while a widow saw her son return to life. People with demons fell desperately at his feet and lepers sought him in hopelessness. Hypocrites condemned him; the morally paralyzed fought his forgiveness.

Book four: Religious leaders cornered him, theologians stalked him, the wealthy helped him. For the commoner he conquered demons, controlled nature, created food, destroyed death. Hometown friends tried to kill him, while cousin John gained a glory home.

Book five: Jesus survived death threats, calmed misdirected power, talked with the spirit world. He released people of handicaps, gave an adulteress hope, rested with friends, then raised the dead. And the hypocrite religious leaders finalized plans to kill him.

Book six: A traitor praised him, a woman crowned him, foreigners sought him. The world ran after him, Judas ran from him, his apostles deserted him. He held his own funeral service, then begged God to free him of his promise. The religious leaders were unmasked, and King Herod wrestled with just who he was.

Book seven: Pilate was cornered by the people, Simon was cornered by the executioners. Jesus writhed in pain on the cross that should have been ours, and invaded hell to provide escape for us. The thieves struggled with their mortality, Joseph struggled with religiosity, the guards struggled with impossibility. Jesus saw the women, pursued Peter, and lifted up the depressed.

Book eight of eight: His apostles refused to believe, while Thomas declared him God. Jesus dared and prepared his apostles to conquer the world. He interrupted his own memorial service and renewed five hundred of his closest friendships. He helped his brother, James, over the last faith hurdle, turned the movement over to his apostles, then returned at last to the outstretched arms of his heavenly Father. Religious leaders fought in vain to put out the new church's torch, Jesus invited the last apostle to visit him in heaven

• Language: English
• Publisher: Northern Lights Publishing House
• Release date: Jul 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781952261206

Katheryn Maddox Haddad

Katheryn Maddox Haddad spends an average of 300 hours researching before she writes a book-ancient historians such as Josephus, archaeological digs so she can know the layout of cities, their language culture and politics. She grew up in the northern United States and now lives in Arizona where she doesn't have to shovel sunshine. She basks in 100-degree weather, palm trees, cacti, and a computer with most of the letters worn off. With a bachelor's degree in English, Bible and social science from Harding University and part of a master's degree in Bible, including Greek, from the Harding Graduate School of Theology, she also has a master's degree in management and human relations from Abilene University. She is author of forty-eight books, both non-fiction and fiction. Her newspaper column appeared for several years in newspapers in Texas and North Carolina ~ Little Known Facts About the Bible ~ and she has written for numerous Christian publications. For several years, she has been sending out every morning a daily scripture and short inspirational thought to some 30,000 people around the world. She spends half her day writing, and the other half teaching English over the internet worldwide using the Bible as textbook. She has taught over 6000 Muslims through World English Institute. Students she has converted to Christianity are in hiding in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Palestine. "They are my heroes," she declares.

Book preview

THEY MET JESUS

A Child’s Life of Christ

Katheryn Maddox Haddad

Northern Lights Publishing House

Cover design by Sharon Lavy

Individual cover designs by Roseanna White Designs

Images from Shutterstock, LightStock, iStockPhoto

Copyright @ 2014 Katheryn Maddox Haddad

ISBN-978-1-952261-19-0

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means

without prior written permission from the author.

The only exception is for a brief quotation in a printed review.

Printed in the United States.

Other Books By this Author For All Ages

HISTORICAL NOVELS

Series of 8: They Met Jesus

Ongoing Series of 8: Intrepid Men of God

Mysteries of the Empire with Klaudius & Hektor

Christmas: They Rocked the Cradle that Rocked the World

Series of 8: A Child’s Life of Christ

Series of 10: A Child’s Bible Heroes

Series of 8: A Child’s Bible Kids

Series of 8: A Child's Bible Ladies

HISTORICAL RESEARCH BIBLE

for Novel, Screenwriter, Documentary & Thesis Writers

TOPICAL

Applied Christianity: Handbook 500 Good Works

Christianity or Islam? The Contrast

The Holy Spirit: 592 Verses Examined-

The Road to Heaven

Inside the Hearts of Bible Women-Reader+Audio+Leader

Revelation: A Love Letter From God

Worship Changes Since 1st Century + Worship 1sr Century Way

Was Jesus God? (Why Evil)

365 Life-Changing Scriptures Day by Date

The Road to Heaven

The Lord’s Supper:  52 Readings with Prayers

FUN BOOKS

Bible Puzzles, Bible Song Book, Bible Numbers

TOUCHING GOD SERIES

365 Golden Bible Thoughts: God’s Heart to Yours

365 Pearls of Wisdom: God’s Soul to Yours

365 Silver-Winged Prayers: Your Spirit to God’s

SURVEY SERIES: EASY BIBLE WORKBOOKS

→Old Testament & New Testament Surveys

→Questions You Have Asked-Part I & II

Genealogy: How to Climb Your Family Tree Without Falling Out ~ I & II

Table of Contents

Other Books By this Author For All Ages

STAR SONG

Book 1

DREAM MAKER

Book 2

HEARTS AFIRE

Book 3

FOLK HERO

Book 4

FLOOD GATES

Book 5

PROMISE KEEPER

Book 6

SHADOW OF DEATH

Book 7

COME FLY WITH ME

Book 8

Thank You

Buy Your Next

Child’s Book Now

About the Author

Connect with the Author

Get a Free Book

Join My Dream Team

STAR SONG

Book 1

of

THEY MET JESUS

Katheryn Maddox Haddad

1 ~ MARY

Mary was a teenager who loved little children just like you, and grownups just like those who live in your home. She also loved God.

People didn't have refrig-erators back then. So, every morning Mary walked to the market to buy groc-eries so she could help her mother fix meals for the family.

But sometimes when she did, she saw people walking with canes because their legs hurt, or people coughing because they had a cold.

Sometimes she saw children fighting each other or grownups argu-ing.

Sometimes she saw foreign soldiers who con-trolled her country. They wore weapons at their side. Sometimes they took people to jail and made them very sad.

It bothered Mary that bad things sometimes happened to people. But she knew she couldn't do anything about it because she was too young.

So Mary prayed that God would do something about it. God made the world and all little children and grownups. He loved everyone, so he could help.

One day when Mary was alone, an angel suddenly ap-peared to her. His name was Gabriel. Can you say Gabriel? He was smiling.

Gabriel had wonder-ful news for her. She was going to have a baby ~ God's own Son whom he was sending to live with us. Then God's Son could help us.

Mary was to name this baby JESUS. He would start a new kingdom of peace that everyone who wanted to could live in.

This kingdom would start on earth. But some day everyone in his kingdom would be taken to heaven to live forever with God himself. Then there would be no more suffering and sadness.

Mary had always thought she was too young to help people. She found out she could help after all through her baby by taking good care of him.

THINK & DO

1. EVERY BOY AND GIRL can help others, no matter how young they are.

2. Is there something you can do today to help someone who is hurting in their mind or their body?

You will make them smile. You will make God smile.

You, too, will smile.

2 ~ ELIZABETH

ELIZA-BETH WAS VERY shy. Sometimes her husband had to work at the Temple in the city of Jaru-salem, but she never went with him to the big city.

Eliza-beth was very old too. And very sad and lonely. She had never had any children of her own.

Her children would have been grown by now. She would also probably have had grandchildren. Her friends had grandchildren who visited them. She was so lonely.

One day a miracle happened. An angel appeared to her husband to tell him they would have a son.

They were supposed to name him John. Eliza-beth would raise him to be strong like a thunderbolt, even though she was shy.

Six months went by and Eliza-beth's baby John grew inside her. One day, Eliza-beth was surprised by a knock on her door.

It was Mary, her very young cousin, who lived at the other end of the country. The angel Gabriel had told both of them they would have miracle babies.

Eliza-beth had not gone out and told anyone about her miracle baby. She was too shy. They might laugh at such an old woman having a baby.

But when Mary came, she had to be brave and a good example to Mary. So together they went out where people could see her. Some of Eliza-beth's neighbors laughed because she was too old, but most were happy.

Sometimes in the even-ing Eliza-beth and Mary read the Bible together. There were places in it on how children and parents should treat each other.

Even though she was shy, Eliza-beth was older and wiser. She explained to Mary how some things in the Bible could help them both raise their sons.

Finally, Eliza-beth had her miracle baby. By this time, Mary had been with her for three months. Mary was able to hold the miracle baby. Then Mary went back home.

THINK & DO

1. DO YOU KNOW AN OLDER person who might be lonely for grandchildren? Could you be a grandchild to that person?

2. If you pretended to be someone's grandchild, in a way you would be kind of like a miracle to them. They would be so happy.

3 ~ JOSEPH  1

JOSEPH WAS A CAR-PEN-ter. Most people liked him. But there was also something about him that people made fun of: He actually believed everything people told him!

Sometimes people would tell him make-believe stories and he would believe them until he could learn more about it. Then they'd tell him the truth and just laugh at him.

They told him he was silly to believe everything people told him.

Joseph and Mary loved each other. So, they had an engage-ment cer-emony which is like today's wedding ceremony. It was a promise to be married some day forever.

Before they started their home together, the angel told Mary she was going to have a baby who would be God's very own Son.

Then Mary left for three months to visit her elderly cousin, Eliza-beth, down near Jaru-salem far away.

When Mary came back home, Joseph found out she was going to have a baby. He did not understand her baby was the Son of God. He thought Mary had decided to maybe marry someone else.

Even though Joseph was a big man, when he was alone he cried. He loved Mary and wanted to be married to her forever.

Joseph was so upset that he went out into his workshop and cut a lot of wood with his saw, and pound-ed a lot of nails with his hammer for a very long time.

Finally he was so tired that he went to bed and fell asleep. God talked to him in his dream and told him to go back to Mary and bring her home with him to be married forever.

God also told Joseph that Mary's baby was really God's Son. Even though God was Jesus' Father in heaven, God wanted Joseph to be Jesus' step-father on earth.

Joseph believed God. So, when he woke up, he went to Mary's house and brought her home with him so they could be married forever.

TO THINK & DO

THIS STORY IS IN THE second half of the Bible, God's Word, called the New Testament. It is in a section called Matthew, chapter one, sentences 18-25.

1. Will you read it for yourself or have a grownup read it for you? Then can you believe it, just like Joseph did? It will make you happy. It will make Jesus happy too.

2. If you have a step-father or know someone with a step-father, would you tell him about Joseph? He was the most famous step-father to ever live because he believed God.

4 ~ JOSEPH 2

JOSEPH AND MARY HAD to go to the other end of the country so the government could count everybody in their land and give the government part of their money called taxes.

It was a long, hard journey. Mary was about to have her baby, Jesus.

When they arrived in Beth-lehem, they went to the only hotel in town. It was full of other people who had to come to be counted too.

They wandered the streets with nowhere to go. Mary and Joseph were homeless. Joseph was so ashamed.

Joseph was afraid God was mad at him. After all, God had trusted him to take care of his baby and Mary. Joseph had let them down.

Finally he began knocking on doors to see if they could stay in someone's house. But everyone's house was full with other people visiting Beth-lehem to be counted.

After awhile, Joseph left Mary to sit out on the curb so she wouldn't have to walk to all those houses. He made their donkey lie down so Mary could lean on it.

My wife is about to have a baby, he'd pleaded at each house. Can you let us stay in your house, at least tonight? But no one had any room left in their already crowded houses.

Finally Joseph gave up and sat down on the curb with Mary, wondering what to do. They prayed, God help us find a house to stay in.

Suddenly Mary had an idea. A barn would at least put them under a roof. Joseph didn't see any other choice. He asked God to forgive him for having to go to a barn.

But Mary said they'd have a lot more room in a barn than all those people crammed in those houses. And they'd have their privacy too.

Sure enough, they were able to find a barn so they could rest.

Then Jesus was born. There was clean hay nearby. So, Joseph made a cradle for baby Jesus in a feeding trough with a mattress of clean hay. God looked down and smiled.

By the next day, some shepherds had spread word all over town a baby had been born in a barn. Even though Mary and Joseph later moved to a house, people laughed at them for living in a barn.

But Mary and Joseph learned not to be ashamed of their barn. So, whenever people made fun of them, they would just hold their heads up and walk tall.

THINK & DO

1. IS THERE SOMETHING in your life you are ashamed of? Practice smiling and walking tall, even when people make fun of you. Then you'll be just like Mary and Joseph.

5 ~ SHEPHERDS

AMOS, BENJAMIN AND Jesse were shepherds. They took care of sheep that were always dirty and smelly. That made Amos, Ben and Jessie smelly too.

Even though the sheep they took care of were for Temple sacrifices and meals of the priests, even the priests didn't much like to be around the