Luke 2

2 ¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree to register the whole inhabited world. ^a a v1 The 'whole inhabited world' refers to the territories of the Roman Empire, not the entire globe. ²This was the first registration, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴Joseph too went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he belonged to David's house and family, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his fiancée, who was expecting a child.

⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because the inn had no place for them.

⁸Shepherds were in that same region, staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹An angel of our Father stood before them; the glory of our Father shone around them, and great fear seized them. ¹⁰The angel told them, "Don't be afraid—I bring good news of great joy for everyone: ¹¹Today in the city of David, a Savior was born to you—Christ the Lord. ¹²This is your sign: you'll find a baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger." ¹³Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising our Father and saying,

¹⁴"Glory to our Father in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" ^b b v14 The angels' doxology names our Father directly — the Christmas glory belongs to him, who is sending his Son into the world.

¹⁵When the angels left them for heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which our Father has made known to us." ¹⁶They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw him, they made known what had been told them about this child. ¹⁸All who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising our Father for all they'd heard and seen, just as they were told.

Presented to the Father

²¹When eight days for his circumcision were complete, he was named Jesus, the name the angel gave before he was conceived in the womb.

²²When their days of purification under the Law of Moses ended, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to our Father,

²³(as it is written in our Father's Law, "Every firstborn male will be called holy to our Father"), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice as the Law of our Father says: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

²⁵In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon, righteous and devout, waiting for Israel's comfort, with the Holy Spirit on him. ²⁶The Holy Spirit had revealed to him he wouldn't die before seeing our Father's Christ. ²⁷Prompted by the Spirit, he entered the temple. As the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, ²⁸Simeon took him up in his arms and blessed our Father, saying, ²⁹"Sovereign Father, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word. ³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

³³His father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. ³⁴And Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, "This child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is opposed, ³⁵and a sword will pierce through your own soul also—so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

³⁶Also there was Anna, a woman prophet, daughter of Phanuel of Asher's tribe, very old, having lived with her husband seven years after her virginity, ³⁷and a widow until eighty-four, never leaving the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸Coming up at that same hour, she gave thanks to our Father and spoke of the child to all awaiting Jerusalem's redemption.

³⁹When they finished everything required by our Father's Law, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child grew, becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and our Father's favor was on him.

The Boy Jesus in His Father's House

⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³When the festival ended and they left for home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, unknown to his parents. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in the group, they traveled a day's journey, then searched for him among relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said, "Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been anguished, searching for you."

⁴⁹He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I must be in my Father's house?" ^c c v49 Jesus says "my Father" — his unique, eternal relation. Where the rest of Scripture invites us into "our Father," Jesus alone calls him "my Father" in this particular way: he is the Son by nature; we are children by his welcome.

⁵⁰But they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, remaining obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵²Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with our Father and with people.