Luke
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be
taken of everyone in the empire.
This was a census prior to the one under
governor Quirinius of Syria.
All went to register for the census, each to
his native town.
Since Joseph was of the house and family of David, he
traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea,
in order to register together with Mary, who was engaged to him and was
pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
She gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in strips of cloth and
laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the
guestroom.
Nearby some shepherds were staying out in the fields, watching over their
flocks during the night.
An angel of the Lord suddenly stood in front of
them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were terribly
afraid.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen, I am bringing
you good news which will bring immense joy to everyone.
Today in the city
of David has been born for you a Savior, who is the Messiah lord.
Your
sign of confirmation will be this: you will find the child wrapped in strips of
cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly a large gathering of heavenly
beings appeared with the angel, praising God:
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to all people with whom He is pleased!”
When the angels had gone away into heaven, the shepherds said to each
other, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the
Lord has made known to us.”
They hurried off and found their way to Mary
and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
When they had seen
this for themselves, they spread the news of the announcement given to them
of this baby.
Everyone who heard about it was astonished at what the shepherds told them,
while Mary thought about these things and pondered
them in her heart.
The shepherds went back to the fields, honoring and
praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been
reported to them.
After eight days the baby was circumcised and given the name Jesus, the
name given by the angel before he was conceived.
When the time of
ceremonial purification was completed according to the Law of Moses, his
parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in
the Law of the Lord: “Every mother’s firstborn son is dedicated as holy to the
Lord”)
and to offer a sacrifice according to the Law of the Lord: “a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
There was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. This man lived
rightly and reverently, eagerly awaiting the restoration of Israel,
and holy
spirit was with him.
It had been revealed to him through the holy spirit that
he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.
In the spirit he came
into the Temple, and when Jesus’ parents brought the little boy Jesus to be
dedicated as the Law required,
Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God,
and said,
“Lord, now You can let your servant go in peace as You promised,
because my eyes have seen Your salvation
that You have made available
to everyone,
a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your
people Israel.”
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus’ mother Mary, “Listen, this child is
destined to be the downfall and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign
which will be opposed.
For you it will be like a sword piercing right
through your soul, so that the thoughts of many minds will be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess named Anna there. She was the daughter of
Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. She had been married
for seven years,
and then had been a widow to the age of eighty-four. She
was always in the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayer.
She came up at that moment and began thanking God, talking about the
child to everyone who was waiting for the liberation of Jerusalem.
When they had completed everything required by the Law of God, they
went back to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.
The little boy continued to grow strong, becoming full of wisdom, with God’s grace on
him.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
When Jesus was twelve, they went to the festival as usual.
When it was
over and time to return home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but
his parents did not realize it.
They thought he was with everybody else
traveling back. A day went by before they started looking for him among
their relatives and friends.
When they did not find him they returned to
Jerusalem and looked for him there.
Three days later they found him in the
Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking
them questions.
All the people listening to him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers.
His parents were astonished when they saw
him, and his mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this?
Look how worried we have been, your father and I. We have been looking all
over for you!”
Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know I had to be occupied in my Father’s business?”
But they did not
understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went back with them to
Nazareth and continued in obedience to them. His mother treasured up all
these things in her heart.
Jesus kept advancing in wisdom and years, and in
favor with God and people.
Luke