God’s Christmas Promise Fern Martins
As part of our mission to ‘Open The Bible’ to all people everywhere, by all means possible, Bible Society Australia assists in the translation and distribution of Bibles in the heart languages of Australia’s First Nations people. This Christmas book provides an Indigenous artistic perspective on the traditional Christmas narrative, using Indigenous story-telling techniques to narrate a familiar and beloved Bible story. We hope this different telling of the Christmas story brings fresh encouragement and joy as you share it with your loved ones. Published by Bible Society Australia (ACN 127 775 973), GPO Box 4161, Sydney NSW 2001, Australia, www.biblesociety.org.au © Fern Martins, 2023. All rights reserved. Fern Martins asserts her right under section 193 of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) to be identified as the author of this work. ISBN: 978-0-647-53313-0 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, no part of this work may be reproduced by electronic or other means without the permission of the publisher. A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Australia. Artwork by Fern Martins. Cover and text design by Reanna Bono, Yakuwa Designs. Edited by Kristin Argall, Susannah McFarlane and Louise Sherman. Printed in Australia.
God’s Christmas Promise Fern Martins
In Australian Aboriginal culture, stories are told in pictures (‘icons’) as well as words. Here are some of the icons the artist has used to tell her story, and what they mean. Can you see any of these symbols in the story pages?
The Holy Spirit A dove. Through the Holy Spirit, God provides us with love, strength, comfort, healing, direction and teaching while we live on earth.
The Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit Three U shapes joined together.
Woman - Mary, the mother of Jesus
God Jesus A cross. This symbol is used by Aboriginal artists to represent Jesus, God’s Saviour.
Three circles inside each other. The Aboriginal icon for God the creator.
An upside-down ‘U’ (a person) beside a digging stick and a wooden dish. Digging sticks are used to find food and water, which are carried around in coolamons. Mothers also use coolamons to carry their newborn babies. In this icon for Mary, the coolamon shows she will be the mother of Jesus.
Rock pools Four circles in the shape of a target are a campsite. When they are joined together by a wavy line (running water), they are a water source.
Bethlehem A campsite icon with four lines on each side is the sign used for an important meeting place. In this book, this place is the town of Bethlehem.
This icon reminds us that it is God who gives us water.
Journey A straight line connecting campsites is the icon for a journey. The three campsite icons in this picture represent three days and three camping nights. In this book, it tells the story of Mary and Joseph traveling between campsites on their way to the town of Bethlehem.
Bush tucker
Boomerang and spear
The artist has used a drawing of the bush tomato as a symbol for bush tucker, or ‘food’.
These are hunting and fighting weapons. They are made of very hard wood treated with heat to make them strong. They are a symbol of God’s protection and care.
In this book, it is used as a symbol of God’s provision of food and medicine.
The bush tomato is used for food and medicine by Aboriginal people.
God is the maker of all things in heaven and on earth. He made a promise to live with us and show us how much we are loved. A special baby was to be born. This baby was both God and a human like us. The powerful angel Gabriel visited a kind-hearted young woman called Mary. Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to this promised baby and that the baby’s name would be Jesus.
Joseph was Mary’s husband. He protected and cared for Mary and God’s promised baby. They walked together through the valleys and hills, until they reached a little town named Bethlehem.
Mary and Joseph arrived in God’s perfect place, Bethlehem, at God’s perfect time. There was no room for them inside, so they stayed with the animals.
The promise arrived! Mary gave birth to the Son of God. She carefully wrapped him in cloth and placed him gently onto the warm hay. The heavens rejoiced with the appearing of the brightest new star to celebrate and honour Jesus.
Some shepherds were looking after sheep near Bethlehem. Lights burst out of heaven above and all around them. They were afraid.
Then a mighty angel appeared and told the men not to be afraid because he had great news for them. He told them that at this very moment in history, the baby Jesus had been born, and they were to find him in Bethlehem, wrapped in cloth and lying on hay.
Above the shepherds, a heavenly musical opened with a great angelic choir singing the song of all songs. ‘God has shown everyone kindness. Peace to them all!’
The shepherds quickly found the baby with Mary and Joseph, just as the angel had said. They thanked and honoured God for showing them Jesus. Mary kept all these wonders deep in her heart, whispering ‘how great is the promise of God’s love.’
If you would like to read this story in the Bible, you will find it in the New Testament book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1–20.
Fern Martins is a Waka Waka and Bungalung woman from New South Wales and Southern Queensland. She launched her career at the age of 19 with a one-woman sculptural exhibition and has developed her career as a sculptor, printmaker and artist. In 1988, together with other young Aboriginal urban artists, Fern started Boomalli, the Sydney Aboriginal Artists’ Cooperative. She has exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia and lectured at the University of Adelaide.
This little book has been funded by the generosity of the supporters of Bible Society Australia, who are passionate about Opening The Bible to all people everywhere by all means possible. The Bible can inspire us, challenge us and give us answers to the difficult questions of life. It can change us, for good. That’s why we and our supporters work so hard to make sure everyone who wants a Bible can have one. We open Bibles in Australia and all over the world: for refugees in the Middle East, for new Christians in China and for millions who struggle to access a Bible they can engage with, in their own language. To learn more, please visit biblesociety.org.au/our-work For more great books and resources, visit your nearest Koorong bookstore or Koorong.com
Enjoy the story of Christmas through the beautiful artwork of Aboriginal Australian artist Fern Martins. God, the maker of all things in heaven and on earth, made a promise to live with us and show us how much we are loved. He came to us as a special baby, born in Bethlehem to a young woman named Mary and her husband Joseph. God’s Christmas Promise is the story of the birth of that special baby – Jesus.
ISBN 9780647533130
9 780647 533130