Jesus Birth to Teaching In the Temple

Synoptic Gospels and John's Gospel Integrated

Introduction

Just as many have taken in hand to set in order the account of those things that have been fulfilled in our midst, as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us, it seemed good to me also, having carefully investigated everything from the very beginning, to write to you the events of His ministry in the order that it happened, most excellent friend of God,1 so that you may have an accurate understanding of those things of which you were told (L 1:1-41:14).

The Word of the Old Testament Becomes Flesh in the Messiah

The Word Becomes Flesh

2 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things came into being through Him, and not one thing came into being without Him. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light makes things visible in the darkness, but the darkness has not taken hold of it2 (J 1:1-5).

3 A man came into being, sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify of the light, so that through him everyone might believe. He was not the Light, but he came only to testify of the Light – the true Light, coming into the world, that gives light to everyone (J 1:6-9).

4 He was in the world that was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to those who were His own, and they did not receive Him. However, to as many as have received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. It is not gained by national descent,3 by efforts of the flesh,4 nor by a person's desire.5 It can only be received by being born from God (See John 3:7-8, and 15:16a) (J 1:10-13).

5 The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.6 And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only one born7 from the Father,8 full of grace and truth (J 1:14).

6 John testified about Him, crying out, "This is the One of whom I said, 'He who comes after me happens before me, for He existed before me'" (J 1:15).

7 Of His fullness we have all received, from grace to grace (See Romans 1:17). For the law was given through Moses, while grace and truth happened through the Messiah, Jesus.9 No one has ever seen God,10 but the only-born Son,11 who is in the bosom of the Father, has come out to lead us to Him (See John 6:43-46). (J 1:16-182:27).

First Genealogy

8 This is the recorded genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham (M 1:1).

9 Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had Jacob. Jacob had Judah and his brothers. Judah then had two sons: one named Perez and the other named Zerah, by Tamar (Judah's widowed daughter in-law). Perez had Hezron, and Hezron had Ram. Ram had Amminadab, Amminadab had Nahshon, and Nahshon had Salmon. Salmon had Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz had Obed by Ruth. Obed had Jesse, and then Jesse had David the king (M 1:2-6a).

10 Now David, the king, had Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah ( 2 Samuel 12:24). Solomon had Rehoboam, Rehoboam had Abijah, and Abijah had Asa. Asa had Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat had Joram, and Joram had Uzziah. Uzziah had Jotham, Jotham had Ahaz, and Ahaz had Hezekiah. Hezekiah had Manasseh, Manasseh had Amon, and Amon had Josiah. Then Josiah had Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away into Babylon (M 1:6b-11).

11 After they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah had Shealtiel, and Shealtiel had Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel had Abihud, Abihud had Eliakim, and Eliakim had Azor. Azor had Zadok, Zadok had Achim, and Achim had Eliud. Eliud had Eleazar, Eleazar had Matthan, and Matthan had Jacob. Then Jacob had Joseph, the husband of Miriam, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ12 (M 1:12-16).

12 There are fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David until the captivity in Babylon, and fourteen generations from the captivity in Babylon up to the Christ (Christ, being a Greek translation of the Hebrew word, "Messiah," which means "Anointed One") (M 1:171:39).

Gabriel Announces the Birth of Jesus and John the Baptist

Announcement of John the Baptist's Birth

13 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias. He was from the division of Abijah.13 He had a wife who was a descendent of Aaron.14 Her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous according to God's approval,15 Going into all the commandments and requirements of the Lord without fault. But Elizabeth, being barren, they were childless even into their old age (1:30L 1:5-7).

14 This is how it happened. While Zacharias was serving in the line of his division, as priest before God, having gone into the Lord's House, his lot according to the custom of the priesthood fell to burn incense.16 While he was serving in the Holy Place,at the hour of incense,17 a large number of the people were outside praying (L 1:8-10).

15 Then suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, fear came over him, and he was troubled (L 1:11-12).

16 The angel said, "Do not fear, Zacharias, for your request is heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son, and you will name him John. You will be joyful and glad. Many others, also, will rejoice when he is born, for he will be great in the Lord's sight.18 He shall drink neither wine, nor any other fermented drink. He will also be filled with the Holy and set-apart Spirit of God, even from his mother's womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and will go before Him in the power and spirit of Elijah,

'To turn the father's hearts to the children,'
(Malachi 4:5-6).

and those who are disobedient into the wisdom of the making ready a people prepared for the Lord" (L 1:13-17).

17 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is also well advanced in years" (L 1:18).

18 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news. But now, look, you will be mute and unable to talk until that day these things happen, since you did not believe what I have told you,19 things that will be fulfilled at their appointed times" (L 1:19-20).

19 The people were waiting for Zacharias and marveled that he was staying in the Lord's House for so long. And when he came out, he could not speak to them. Therefore, they realized that he had seen an appearance while he was in the holy place. They realized this because he did not speak to them but, rather, motioned to them with his hands (L 1:21-22).

20 And so it was, once he had finished the days of his service, he went home (L 1:23).

21 After that, his wife Elizabeth conceived. Following which, she hid for five months, saying, "This is how the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He considered me –20 to take away my cause for disgrace among people"21 (L 1:24-25).

Jesus' Birth Announced

22 In the sixth month of her pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Her name was Miriam. The angel came in and said to her, "Rejoice, you are a woman richly blessed, for the Lord is with you!" (L 1:26-28).

23 When he said this, she was very troubled and wondered where this greeting was coming from22 (L 1:29).

24 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Miriam. You have found favor with God! Now, behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and you will call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity. There will be no limit to His kingdom" (L 1:30-33).

25 How can this be," Miriam asked, "since I have never been to bed with a man?" (L 1:34).

26 The angel said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. This is why the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God. And, look, your relative, Elizabeth, in her old age, has also conceived and is carrying a son. She who was said to be incapable of having children is now in the sixth month of her pregnancy. For nothing will be impossible with God" (L 1:35-37).

27 Miriam said, "Behold, I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me just as you have said" (L 1:38a).

28 Then the angel left (L 1:38b).

29 Just then, Miriam got up and quickly traveled to a city in the hill country of Judea. She went into the house of Zacharias and called to Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Miriam's voice, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the baby leaped in her womb. In response, she raised her voice and said loudly,23 Among women, you are blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why should you, the mother of my Lord, come to visit me? For behold, as soon as I heard your voice, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! Blessed are you who has believed, Miriam. For what the Lord has told you will be fulfilled" (L 1:39-45).

30 Then Miriam said:

Then Miriam stayed there with her about three months and then went home26 (L 1:46-56).

The Birth of John the Baptist

Birth of John the Baptist

31 Then the time came for Elizabeth to deliver, and she gave birth to a son. When her relatives and neighbors heard about how the Lord had shown His great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her (L 1:57-58).

32 Eight days later, when they were having the baby circumcised, they were going to name him after his father, Zacharias. But his mother said, "No. He shall be called John!" (L 1:59-60).

33 The people with her said, "There is no one from any of your relatives that have that name." In turn, they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted to name the boy (L 1:61-62).

34 He asked for something to write on. When they gave it to him, he wrote, "His name is John" (L 1:63a).

35 They were all shocked (L 1:63b).

36 At that exact moment, Zacharias' mouth was opened, and his tongue was released so that he spoke, praising God. Fear came upon everyone who lived around them, and all these things that were said were discussed among the people living throughout the whole hill country of Judea. Everyone who heard these things kept them in their hearts, wondering, "What kind of child is this going to be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him (L 1:64-66).

37 Once John's father, Zacharias, could speak again, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and foretold things, saying:

38 So the child grew up and became strong in spirit and lived in the desolate areas until the day of his appointment with Israel (L 1:801:42).

The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of Jesus, and the Shepherd Boys' Visit

39 Now the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, happened in this way: After His mother, Miriam, was engaged to Joseph, but before they became one flesh,30 she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of moral integrity and not wanting her to become a public spectacle, was going to release her quietly. While he was planning this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam as your wife. For she has become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you will call Him "Salvation," (this is the word known in English as the name "Jesus").31 This will be His name because He will save His people from their sins" (1:13M 1:18-21).

40 All these things were accomplished to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet Isaiah, when He said:

"Immanuel" being translated, 'God with us.'" (M 1:22-23)

41 Joseph woke up and did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Miriam as his wife, though he did not sleep with her until she had given birth to her first child, a Son. Then Joseph named Him Jesus (M 1:24-251:52).

42 The following are the details of Jesus' birth:34 In those days, Caesar Augustus put out a decree for all the inhabitants of Rome to be registered. The first time this census took place was while Quirinius was governing Syria. It being the first time,35 everyone went to their own city to enroll (1:38L 2:1-3).

43 Joseph went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee and went into Judea. He went to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he was from the house and lineage of David. He went there to register with his fiancée, Miriam, who was pregnant. While they were there, Miriam went into labor and gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him into strips of clothing and laid Him into an animal's feeding trough.36 She laid Him there because there was no room for them at the Inn (L 2:4-7).

44 Somewhere near by37 there were shepherds staying out in the fields that night, watching over their flock, when, suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord began to shine all around them. The shepherds were very frightened (L 2:8-9).

45 The angel said to them, "Do not fear, for, behold, I bring good news for you – news of great joy that will be to all people. For, today, there is born to you in the city of David, the Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. And this is how you will know it is Him. You will find the baby wrapped in strips of clothing, lying in a feeding trough"38 (L 2:10-12).

46 Suddenly, with the angel, there was a great number of heaven's armies praising God, saying,39

47 When the angels went back into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go straight over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." So they quickly went out and found Miriam and Joseph with the Baby lying in a feeding trough. Having seen Him, they then made what had been told to them concerning this Child known. And all those who heard it were amazed at the things the shepherds were telling them. Miriam treasured all these things, going over them in her heart. The shepherds returned to the fields, praising and glorifying God because of all the things they had seen and heard, just as it had been told to them (L 2:15-20)

48 Eight days later, when the time came for Him to be circumcised (as it is written in the Torah)., He was called Jesus, the name that was given to Him by the angel before He was even conceived in the womb (L 2:21).

49 Thirty-three days later, after the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were complete,40 they brought Him to Jerusalem and presented Him to the Lord. They did this in obedience to what is written in the law,

and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,

(L 2:22-24)

Simeon is Blessed to See the Baby Jesus

50 Now there was a man in Jerusalem at that time named Simeon. He was a righteous and loyal man waiting for the Comfort42 of Israel. The Set-apart and Holy Spirit of God43 was upon him. And the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of the Lord. And so, one day, he came by the Spirit into the House of God. Then when the parents brought the little boy, Jesus, in to do for Him as it is prescribed in the law, Simeon took Him into his arms and blessed God, saying,

(L 2:25-32)

51 Hearing this, Jesus' father and mother were amazed at the things said about Him. Simeon blessed them and said to Miriam, His mother, "Behold, this little Boy is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign to be spoken against men, in order that the reasoning of many hearts may be revealed. Yes, a sword will even pierce through your own soul" (L 2:33-35).

52 Now there was also a prophetess named Hanna, who was the daughter of Phanuel, and from the tribe of Asher.45 She was an elderly lady who had lived with a husband from her virginity for seven years until he died. And she had now been a widow for about eighty-four years (L 2:36-37a).

53 She did not leave the Lord's House but served Him with fasting and prayers, night and day. And having come in at that moment, she acknowledged the Lord46 with thanksgiving. Then she told everyone about Him. She told all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem (L 2:37b-381:64).

Wise Men Visit the Coming King of Israel as a "Small Child"

Wise Men Visit Jesus as a Small Child

54 After these things, at least 40 days and no more than two years later, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during the reign47 of Herod, the king that was residing in Judea, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem48 and asked, "Where is the One who was born King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the East and have now come to worship Him" (1:41M 2:1-2).

55 When Herod the king49 heard this, it disturbed him. Therefore, everyone in Jerusalem was stirred up with him. And so it was, he called all the chief-priests and scribes of the people together, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born (M 2:3-4).

56 They answered, "In Bethlehem of Judea! For this is what is written by the prophets:

(M 2:5-6)

57 After Herod had then secretly called the wise men together, he asked them: "What specific time did this star appear?" They told him how it had been two years since then.50 So then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and diligently search out the details about this little boy. And once you have found Him, come back and let me know, so that I can go and worship Him also" (M 2:7-8).

58 After hearing the king, they went on their way. But, behold, as they were traveling, the star which they had seen in the East two years earlier51 had now reappeared and went before them. It went in front of them until it came to a standstill over the house where the small Boy was staying.52 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with extremely great joy. (M 2:9-10).

59 Then, having come into the house, they saw the little Boy with His mother, Miriam, fell on their hands and knees, and worshiped Him.53 Having opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him – gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh54 (M 2:11).

60 Then being warned by God in a dream that they should not go back to Herod, but that they should return to their own country a different way, they left (M 2:12).

Jesus' Family Flees to Egypt

61 After they left, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream that night, saying, "Get up, take the little Boy and His mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I come to tell you otherwise. Herod will soon be looking for the little Boy55 to destroy Him" (M 2:13).

62 As soon as the dream had ended, Joseph woke up in the middle of the night, took the little boy and His mother, and left for Egypt. They stayed there until Herod was dead, so that it would be fulfilled, as the Lord has said through the prophet:

(M 2:14-15)

63 But, now, when Herod saw that he had been played for a fool by the wise men, he was extremely angry, so angry that he set out and had all the male children in Bethlehem, even to its outermost areas, put to death. He killed all the boys from two years old and under. He did this according to the time he had specifically asked for from the wise men as to when they had first seen the star56 (M 2:16).

64 And this is what had been said beforehand by the prophet Jeremiah, when he said,

(M 2:17-18)

Jesus and Family Move to Nazareth

65 After Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream while he was in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the little Boy and His mother and go back to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill Him are now dead" (M 2:19-20).

66 He got up, took the little boy and His mother, and came back into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. So being warned by God in a dream, he turned away from there and went into the area of Galilee. He came to dwell in the city called Nazareth and, thus, fulfilled what the prophets had foretold:

(M 2:21-232:2)

67 And so having performed everything as it is prescribed in the law of the Lord concerning a new child, they returned to Galilee, and to their hometown of Nazareth. And there it was that the Boy grew in height and strength, filled with wisdom. For God's pleasure was upon Him58 (1:51L 2:39-40).

Jesus' Wisdom Even While Becoming a Young Man

Jesus in Jerusalem As a Boy of Twelve

68 Jesus grew up in Nazareth, but He and His parents went up to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of Passover. Then when He was twelve years old, as they went up to Jerusalem to participate in what was prescribed and handed down to them from the Lord concerning this feast.59 After they had completed their time there, as they were on their way back to Nazareth, the Boy, Jesus, remained behind in Jerusalem (L 2:41-43a).

69 But His parents did not know it, and believing that He was somewhere among the group, they went on ahead for a day's journey. When it began to get dark, they looked for Him among their relatives and neighbors. When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him. (L 2:43b-45).

70 Three days later, they found Him in the Lord's House sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and questioning them.60 Everyone who heard Him was shocked at His understanding and explanations of the things they had talked about61 (L 2:46-47).

71 When Joseph and Miriam saw Him, they were shocked. His mother said, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you" (L 2:48).

72 He said, "Why were you looking for Me. Didn't you know that it is necessary for Me to be about the things of My Father?" (L 2:49).

73 They did not understand, however, what He meant by this (L 2:50).

74 He went back down with them to Nazareth and remained submissive to them, His mother treasuring all these things in her heart (L 2:51).

75 Jesus continued to grow in height, advancing in age, and in the learning and wisdom of men, evoking pleasure from both God and men (L 2:522:1).