Part 1, Who He Was: Chapter 2, Birth: The Visited Planet Summary and Analysis

The story of Jesus' life begins with his birth. For those familiar with the Christmas story, they know that Jesus was born of a virgin, miraculously impregnated by the Holy Ghost. Yancey begins his study of the birth of Jesus by noting how far modern Christmas cards have taken us away from the scene of the first Christmas. While these Christmas cards show a serene scene of angels and shepherds, Yancey finds the account of the first Christmas as told in the Gospels is not peaceful or serene at all.

First, in the eyes of the people of her time, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was carrying an illegitimate child. According to the rules of her time period, this supposed infidelity was punishable by death...