--- title: "The Birth of Jesus" description: "Reports are coming in that a child of great significance has been born in a humble manger, drawing attention from local shepherds and long-time religious figures." image: "" book: "Luke" bookId: "LUK" testament: "new" startChapter: 2 startVerse: 1 endChapter: 2 endVerse: 40 coversChapters: [2] aiTitle: "Breaking News: A Special Birth in Bethlehem" aiDescription: "Reports are coming in that a child of great significance has been born in a humble manger, drawing attention from local shepherds and long-time religious figures." hasAiStory: true location: "Bethlehem" persons: ["Caesar Augustus","Quirinius","Joseph","Mary","Jesus","Simeon","Anna","God","Israelites"] hashtags: ["gospel","prophetic","redemption","righteousness"] genre: "gospel" readingTime: 4 type: "adaptive" slug: "LUK/the-birth-of-jesus" canonicalId: "LUK.2.1-2.40" chronologicalOrder: 1283 relatedSlugs: ["ISA/unto-us-a-child-is-born","MAT/the-birth-of-jesus","LEV/purification-after-childbirth","ISA/the-servant-and-light-to-the-gentiles","ISA/future-glory-for-zion","GAL/sons-through-faith-in-christ","TIT/heirs-of-grace-avoid-divisions-final-remarks-and-greetings","LUK/jesus-arrives-in-jerusalem","COL/the-supremacy-of-the-son","ACT/peter-addresses-the-crowd","EXO/the-dedication-of-the-firstborn","LUK/dedication-to-theophilus-gabriel-foretells-johns-birth","LUK/the-birth-of-john-the-baptist","PHP/following-jesus-example","REV/the-throne-and-the-lamb","ROM/from-death-to-life","ACT/good-news-for-the-gentiles-the-gentiles-receive-the-holy-spirit","1TI/instructions-concerning-different-groups","JHN/the-word-became-flesh","MAT/at-caesarea-philippi","PSA/psalm-85-you-showed-favor-to-your-land","MAT/the-resurrection","ACT/in-pisidian-antioch","HEB/benediction-and-farewell","JHN/the-calling-of-disciples","1SA/elis-wicked-sons","1CO/call-for-unity-in-the-church","PSA/psalm-22-the-psalm-of-the-cross","2CO/the-collection-for-jerusalem","1PE/the-living-stone-and-chosen-people"] prevSlug: "LUK/zechariahs-song" nextSlug: "LUK/the-boy-jesus-at-the-temple" --- A massive government registration project has sent families across the region on the move. Among those traveling is a couple named [Joseph](/persons/joseph) and [Mary](/persons/mary). While staying in the city of David, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. Due to a lack of available lodging, the infant was wrapped in cloths and placed in a feeding trough. The birth was marked by a bizarre and spectacular event. Local shepherds working in the fields were suddenly confronted by a brilliant light and a message from a celestial being. They were told that a Savior had arrived. Almost immediately, a massive crowd of sky-dwellers appeared, singing praises about peace on earth. The shepherds rushed to verify the claim and found the family exactly as described. Following local traditions, the parents brought the boy to the religious center after eight days for his naming and dedication. The infant was officially named [Jesus](/persons/jesus), as had been instructed prior to his arrival. During this visit, two prominent figures, [Simeon](/persons/simeon) and [Anna](/persons/anna), approached the family. They appeared to recognize the child as a long-awaited figure of salvation, speaking with profound intensity about his future impact on the people. The parents have since returned to their home base in the north, in the town of Nazareth. Local observers report that the child is growing rapidly, showing signs of significant wisdom and an uncommon favor resting upon his life. Now in those days a decree went out from [Caesar Augustus](/persons/caesar%20augustus) that a census should be taken of the whole empire. This was the first census to take place while [Quirinius](/persons/quirinius) was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So [Joseph](/persons/joseph) also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with [Mary](/persons/mary), who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ### The Shepherds and the Angels And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the [Lord](/persons/god) stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is [Christ](/persons/jesus) the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to menon whom His favor rests!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them. ### Jesus Presented at the Temple When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord” ), and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ### The Prophecy of [Simeon](/persons/simeon) Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and for glory to Your people Israel.” The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:“Behold, this Child is appointed to causethe rise and fall of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.” ### The Prophecy of [Anna](/persons/anna) There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. ### The Return to Nazareth When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

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