There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias…. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. …They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias…. And when he saw him, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. …Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And John shall go before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months….

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Rejoice, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

"And, look, your cousin Elisabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible."

And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, wanted to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph…son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had told him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son.

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people, and 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.

"And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; by which the dayspring from on high* has visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

-From Abraham to Jesus; the Family Tree-

The…generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

• Abraham fathered Isaac;
• Isaac fathered Jacob;
• Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers;
• Judah fathered Perez and Zerah...;
• Perez fathered Hezron;
• Hezron fathered Ram;
• Ram fathered Amminadab;
• Amminadab fathered Nahshon;
• Nahshon fathered Salmon;
• Salmon fathered Boaz of Rahab;
• Boaz fathered Obed of Ruth;
• Obed fathered Jesse;
• Jesse fathered David the king;
• David the king fathered Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
• Solomon fathered Rehoboam;
• Rehoboam fathered Abijah;
• Abijah fathered Asa;
• Asa fathered Jehoshaphat;
• Jehoshaphat fathered Joram;
• Joram fathered Uzziah;
• Uzziah fathered Jotham;
• Jotham fathered Ahaz;
• Ahaz fathered Hezekiah;
• Hezekiah fathered Manasseh;
• Manasseh fathered Amon;
• Amon fathered Josiah;
• And Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
• And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel;
• Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel;
• Zerubbabel fathered Abiud;
• Abiud fathered Eliakim;
• Eliakim fathered Azor;
• Azor fathered Zadok;
• Zadok fathered Achim;
• Achim fathered Eliud;
• Eliud fathered Eleazar;
• Eleazar fathered Matthan;
• Matthan fathered Jacob;
• And Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary his betrothed wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly angels praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing…which the Lord has made known unto us."

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days…were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord…and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord….

And, look, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the comforter of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And Simeon came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took Simeon the baby up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word: For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." And Joseph and Jesus’ mother marveled at those things, which were spoken of him.

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary…, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

And there was one Anna, a prophetess…a widow of about eighty-four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Jesus to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

* A name for Jesus

REFERENCES

Luke 1:5-7, 11-13, 16-17, 24-28, 31-38; Matthew 1:19-25; Luke 1:57, 67-70, 76-79; Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 2:1, 4-17, 21-38.

CHAPTER 61