Then the angel departed from her.

Mary arose with haste and went to a city of Juda in the hill country.

Here she entered the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard this salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she that believed for there shall be a demonstration of those things which were told her by the Lord.

Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in G.o.d my Savior. He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden and, henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. He that is mighty has done great things to me. Holy is His name. His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever.

Mary stayed with her cousin, Elisabeth about three months, then returned to her own house. Elisabeth's time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. Her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circ.u.mcise the child. They called him Zacharias after the name of his father. But his mother said, No. He shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. Then they made signs to his father asking how he would have him called. He asked for a writing table, and wrote, His name is John. Then Zacharias' mouth was opened immediately, his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised G.o.d.

This news was carried throughout all the hill country of Judaea. All who heard were filled with wonder at what kind of child this would be!

And the hand of the Lord was with him.

His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Blessed be the Lord, G.o.d of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people, He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant, David; as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He swore to our father, Abraham, that He would grant us, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our G.o.d; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.

The child grew and became strong in spirit. He was in the desert until the day of his showing to Israel.

2 A decree went out from Caesar Augustus. According to the decree every man was to go to his own city to be taxed. Because he was of the house and lineage of David, Joseph went up from Nazareth in Galilee, to the city of Bethlehem in Judaea to be taxed. With him was Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child. While they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. She brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same country shepherds were in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone about them. They became afraid. And the angel said to them, Fear not. Behold, I bring you good tidings which shall be great joy to all people. A Savior, Christ the Lord, is born this day in the city of David. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then there also appeared a heavenly host praising G.o.d. They said, Glory to G.o.d in the highest and, on earth, peace and good will toward men.

The shepherds said, Let us go to Bethlehem and see what has come to pa.s.s which the Lord has made known to us. They went with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

When they saw, they made it known abroad what was told them concerning this child. Those who heard, wondered at what they were told. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising G.o.d for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

When eight days were completed for the circ.u.mcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. When the days of the purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And, also according to law of the Lord, they offered the sacrifice: a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

There was a man in Jerusalem, named Simeon. He was a just and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and revealed to him that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

He came by the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took Him up in his arms, blessed G.o.d, and said, Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of Him.

Simeon blessed them, and said to His mother, Mary, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which will be spoken against. A sword shall pierce thy soul that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Then a prophetess also spoke of Him. Anna was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was an aged widow who, for fourscore and four years, did not leave the temple and served G.o.d with fasting and prayer night and day. She gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to those in Jerusalem who awaited redemption.

When they had performed all that was required according to the law of the Lord, they returned to their own city of Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew, became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom and the grace of G.o.d.

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem at the feast of the pa.s.sover.

When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When they had fulfilled the days, they returned, but the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and His mother did not know of it. Supposing Him to have been in the caravan, at the end of the first day's journey, they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they turned back toward Jerusalem to find Him.

After three days, they found Him in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions.

Those who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

When His parents saw Him, they were amazed. His mother said to Him, Son, why has thou done this to us? Thy father and I have been very worried. He said, How is it that ye sought me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father's business? But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them; but His mother kept all this in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with G.o.d and man.

3 It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.

Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea; Herod was tetrarch of Galilee; and his brother, Philip, was tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis; and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests.

The word of G.o.d came to John the son of Zacharias when he was in the wilderness. He went into all the country around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. This was according to what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of G.o.d.

John said to the mult.i.tude that came to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Stop saying to yourselves, We have our father, Abraham: for I tell you, G.o.d is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

The people asked him, What shall we do? He answered, He that has two coats, let him give it to him that has none. He that has food, let him do likewise. The publicans who came to him to be baptized also asked, Master, what shall we do? He said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. The soldiers, likewise, asked, What shall we do? He said, Do violence to no man, do not accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages.

People lived in expectation and wondered whether he was the Christ.

John answered by saying to them all, I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with a fire whose fan is in His hand. He will thoroughly purge His floor. He will gather the wheat into His garner; but He will burn the chaff with fire unquenchable.

Herod, the tetrarch, had been reproved by John on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done.

Herod held this against him. Then, when Herod heard what John was saying, he had John imprisoned.

When Jesus, also being baptized, was praying, the heaven opened and the Holy Spirit, in a bodily shape like a dove, descended upon Him. A voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.

Jesus was about thirty years of age, the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, which was the son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, which was the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda.

Joda was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zerubbabel, which was the son of Shealtiel, which was the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, which was the son of Er, the son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, son of Levi.

Levi was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Judah, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonam, which was the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, which was the son of Menna, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, the son of Jesse, son of Obed, which was the son of Boaz, which was the son of Sala.

Sala was the son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, which was the son of Admin, the son of Arni, which was the son of Hezron, the son of Pherez, son of Judah, the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac.

Isaac was the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, son of Nahor, which was the son of Serug, the son of Reu, son of Peleg, which was the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, son of Noah.

Noah was the son of Lamech, which was the son of Mathuselah, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of G.o.d.

4 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days He was tempted by the devil. During this time He ate nothing and, when His fasting ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to him, If thou be the Son of G.o.d, command this stone to be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of G.o.d.

The devil, then, took Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to Him, I give thee the power and glory of all this that is mine and to whomever I give it. If thou will worship me, all shall be thine. Jesus said to him, Get thee behind me, Satan. It is written: Thou shall worship the Lord thy G.o.d, and Him only shall thou serve.

The devil brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said, If thou be the Son of G.o.d, cast thyself down from here. It is written: He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee, and, in their hands, they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy G.o.d.

When the devil had ended all the temptation, He departed from Him for a season. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. His fame spread throughout all the region. He taught in the synagogues and was glorified by all.

Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read. He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. When He opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

He closed the book, returned it, and sat down. The eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. Jesus said to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

All bore Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from His mouth. They said, Is this not Joseph's son? He said to them, Ye will surely say to me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself.

Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And He said, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elias sent, except to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.

When they heard these things, all who were in the synagogue were filled with wrath. They rose up and pushed Him out of the city. They drove Him to the top of the hill upon which their city was built so they might cast Him down headlong. But, pa.s.sing through the midst of them, He went His way.