Chapter 3: Fulfillment

 Now when the days of Mary’s purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And so they performed all things according to the law of the Lord.
 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

 “Lord, now You are letting 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 peoples,
 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

 And Joseph and Mary marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

 Now there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, a widow of about eighty-four years who had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. She did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And Joseph and Mary returned to their own place.

Now behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them 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 back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East appeared, and when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. The star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for 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.”
 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,  and was there until the death of Herod, that the word which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” might be fulfilled.
 Then Herod, when he saw that the wise men had deceived him, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, who was still in Egypt,  saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.  And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
 Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.  When they had finished the days, they were returning, but the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;  but supposing that He was in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.  So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.  After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.