Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

And when Herod had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘and you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’ "

Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search carefully for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also."

When the wise men had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when the wise men were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, the wise men departed into their own country another way.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." So Joseph arose…took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "out of Egypt have I called my son."

…When Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life." And he came and lived in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Now Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing Jesus to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found Jesus in the temple, sitting among the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

And when they saw Jesus, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, "Son, why have you thus dealt with us? Look, your father and I have sought you sorrowing." And Jesus said unto them, "How is it that you looked for me? See you not that I must be about my Father's business?" And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and maturity, and in favor with God and man.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis…Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

And John came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…crying in the wilderness, "Prepare you 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 the God."

And there went out unto John all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Then said John to the crowd that came out to be baptized of him, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father’: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to rise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire." And John preached, saying, "There comes one mightier than I after me…."

And as the people were in expectation, and all men wondered in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the strap of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable." And many other things in John’s appeal preached he unto the people.

Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbid him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me?"

And Jesus answering said unto John, "Let it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented…. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward…hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, "If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

Then the devil took Jesus up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, "If you be the Son of God, throw yourself down: for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone."

Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, you shall not test the power the Lord your God."

Again, the devil took Jesus up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And said unto him, "All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

Then said Jesus unto him, "Be gone, Satan: for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve."

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

…He…stated, "I am not the Christ."

And they, which were sent were of the Pharisees…asked him, and said unto him, "Why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet?" John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's strap I am not worthy to unloose." These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man, which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made known to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bore record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ And I saw, and bare record that Jesus is the Son of God."

REFERENCES

Matthew 2:1-2, 4-15, 19-20, 23; Luke 2:41-49, 51-52; Luke 3:1-6; Mark 1:5; Luke 3:7-9; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:15-18; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 4:1-10; Luke 4:13-14a; John 1:19-20; John 1:24-34.

CHAPTER 62