Theme: Mary and Joseph

Reading:  Luke 1:26-38 & 2:1-7, Luke 2:25-38

The Virgin Mary

^26-27 During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin girl who lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord is with you; you are very special to him.”

²⁹ But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. She wondered, “What does this mean?”

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. ³¹ Listen! You will become pregnant and have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God, and the Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David. ³³ He will rule over the people of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I am still a virgin.”

³⁵ The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High God will cover you. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And here’s something else: Your relative Elizabeth is pregnant. She is very old, but she is going to have a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant now for six months. ³⁷ God can do anything!”

³⁸ Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” Then the angel went away.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 It was about that same time that Augustus Caesar sent out an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that everyone’s name must be put on a list. ² This was the first counting of all the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ Everyone traveled to their own hometowns to have their name put on the list.

⁴ So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. It was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. ⁵ Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (She was now pregnant.) ⁶ While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. ⁷ She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a box where cattle are fed. She put him there because the guest room was full.

Simeon Sees Jesus

²⁵ A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man who was devoted to God. He was waiting for the time when God would come to help Israel. The Holy Spirit was with him. ²⁶ The Holy Spirit told him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah from the Lord. ²⁷ The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. So he was there when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to do what the Jewish law said they must do. ²⁸ Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:

²⁹ “Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
³⁰ I have seen with my own eyes how you will save your people.
³¹     Now all people can see your plan.
³² He is a light to show your way to the other nations.
    And he will bring honor to your people Israel.”

³³ Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Many Jews will fall and many will rise because of this boy. He will be a sign from God that some will not accept. ³⁵ So the secret thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that happen will be painful for you—like a sword cutting through your heart.”

Anna Sees Jesus

³⁶ Anna, a prophetess, was there at the Temple. She was from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. She had lived with her husband seven years ³⁷ before he died and left her alone. She was now 84 years old. Anna was always at the Temple; she never left. She worshiped God by fasting and praying day and night.

³⁸ Anna was there when Joseph and Mary came to the Temple. She praised God and talked about Jesus to all those who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.

 

 

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