Luke 2
Jesus is born
At that time, Caesar Augustus issued a mandatory census for the entire world. This was the first census taken while Quirinius served as Syria’s governor. Everyone had to return to their hometown for the census. Because Joseph was David’s descendant, he took his pregnant fiance Mary and left Nazareth, Galilee and went to Bethlehem in Judea (which was David’s City). While they were there, the time came and Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. The hotel was full, so she wrapped him up in rags and laid him in a feeding trough for farm animals.
Angels tell shepherds
There were some shepherds staying in some nearby fields that night, and one of the Ruler’s messengers appeared to them radiating the Ruler’s splendor. That terrified them, but the messenger said,
“Don’t be scared, because the message I’m about to tell you will leave everyone feeling ecstatic. Today in David’s city your Savior was born who is both the Chosen One and the Ruler. You’ll know you found him when you see a baby wrapped in rags lying in a feeding trough.”
And then all of a sudden a multitude of heaven’s army appeared with the messenger commending God and saying,
Let the God who lives in the highest place be renowned. And let the men on earth who please him live in peace.
When the messengers returned to heaven, the shepherds started saying,
We should go straight to Bethlehem and witness this thing the Ruler revealed to us.
So they quickly left and found their way to Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying the in food trough. When they found them, they shared the message they heard about the child. Everyone who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them. Mary cherished all these things, quietly reflecting on them for herself. The shepherds went back magnifying and celebrating God for everything they had witnessed... and it was all exactly like the messengers had described.
Jesus is circumcised
Eight days later before his circumcision, they named him Jesus, just like the messenger had said before he was even conceived.
After their purification process was complete (as described in Moses’s law), they then brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Ruler. (The Ruler’s law says “every firstborn male should be set apart to the Existing One”.) They also offered a sacrifice, following the Ruler’s law which required “2 turtledoves or 2 young pigeons.”
Simeon & Anna see Jesus
There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was devout and followed Jewish law. He was looking in anticipation for Israel’s prize, and the Sacred Ambition was with him. The Sacred Ambition revealed to him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Ruler’s Chosen One. The Sacred Ambition led him into the temple, and when the parents walked in to circumcise Jesus, Simeon held him in his arms and spoke highly of God, saying
Ruler, you are releasing your slave to depart with tranquility, just like you said, because now I’ve finally seen the salvation you prepared for everyone to see: an epiphany of light to the non-Jews, and the pinnacle of your people Israel.
His parents were amazed at the things he said, then Simeon spoke well of them and told Mary
I hope you know that this child is destined for the fall and rise of many Israelites. He’s a signal that many will be opposed to. Even your own soul will be pierced so that many people’s thoughts will be revealed.
There was also a prophetess named Anna (Phanuel’s daughter from the tribe of Asher). She was 84 years old and had only lived with her husband for 7 years before becoming a widow for the rest of her life. She never left the temple, serving there by fasting and praying night and day. At that moment she walked up thanking God, and if anyone was looking in anticipation to Jerusalem’s redemption, she talked to them about God.
When they finished the ceremony according to the Ruler’s law, they finally went back home to Nazareth in Galilee. The child continued to grow and mature in strength and wisdom, and God’s favor was upon him.
Jesus is found in temple
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast. When he was 12, they went there following their custom, but on their way back, they realized Jesus was missing. They assumed he was with the rest of the caravan, so they began asking their friends and family while continuing to travel for another day. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem and looked for him there. After searching everywhere for 3 days, they finally found him in the temple with the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and answers. When they saw him, they were astonished and his mother asked him, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking everywhere for you!” He replied
Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I needed to be in my dad’s house?”
But they didn’t understand what he meant. He joined them in returning to Nazareth and continued to place himself under their authority. His mother cherished all these things in her heart.
Jesus continued to develop physically, grow in wisdom, and find favor with both God and men.