John 1:1-5;
9-14
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the
light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
That was the true Light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the
world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and
his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Luke 1:5-38
There was in the days of Herod,
the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and
his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they
were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was
barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
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| Domenico Ghirlandaio, Annuncio Dell'angelo A ZaccariaTornabuoni Chapel, 1490 |
And it came to pass, that while
he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according
to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into
the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without
at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing
on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was
troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, “Fear
not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee
a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness;
and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the
Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled
with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of
Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the
spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.”
And Zacharias said unto the
angel, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken
in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these
glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the
day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words,
which shall be fulfilled in their season.”
And the people waited for
Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he
came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a
vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And
it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were
accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And after those days his wife
Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, “Thus hath the Lord
dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach
among men.”
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| He Qi, The Annunciation, 2001 |
And in the sixth month the
angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a
virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her,
and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed
art thou among women.”
And when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this
should be.
And the angel said unto her, “Fear
not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He
shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Then said Mary unto the angel, “How
shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said
unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she
hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her,
who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold the
handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
And the angel departed from
her.
Matthew 1:18 –
25
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| Gaetano Gandolfini, Joseph's Dream, 1790 |
Now the birth of Jesus Christ
was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they
came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her
husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was
minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, thou son
of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Now all this was done, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being
raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto
him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:
and he called his name JESUS.
Luke 1:39 – Luke
2:40
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| James Tissot, The Magnificat. 1886-1894 |
And Mary arose in those days,
and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered
into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice,
and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And
whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as
soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my
womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a
performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
And Mary said, “My soul doth
magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath
regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and
holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their
seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good
things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant
Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham,
and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and
returned to her own house.”
Now Elisabeth’s full time came
that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours
and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they
rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to
circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his
father.
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| Fra Angelico, The Naming of John The Baptist, 1434-35 |
And his mother answered and
said, “Not so; but he shall be called John.”
And they said unto her, “There
is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.”
And they made signs to his
father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and
wrote, saying, “His name is John.”
And they marvelled all. And his
mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised
God.
And fear came on all that dwelt
round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the
hill country of Judæa. And all they that heard them laid them up in their
hearts, saying, “What manner of child shall this be!” And the hand of the Lord
was with him.
And his father Zacharias was
filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn
of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth
of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be
saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the
mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath
which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we
being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in
holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou,
child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the
face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his
people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby
the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the
day of his shewing unto Israel.
And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of
Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also
went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid
him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
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| Thomas Cole, The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1830 |
And there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, “Fear
not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
And it came to pass, as the
angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
“Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
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| Sandra Botticelli, The Nativity of Jesus, 1473-75 |
And they came with haste, and
found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen
it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this
child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them
by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her
heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were
accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS,
which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her
purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him
to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the
Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and
to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A
pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was
revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he
had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into
the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after
the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and
said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before
the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel.”
And Joseph and his mother
marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them, and
said unto Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a
sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts
may be revealed.”
And there was one Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great
age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was
a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple,
but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that
instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that
looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 3And when they had performed all things
according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city
Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:
and the grace of God was upon him.
Matthew 2
 |
| James Tissot, The Magi, 1894 |
Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men
from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
When Herod the king had heard
these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, “In
Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem,
in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of
thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem,
and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found
him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
When they had heard the king,
they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped
him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there
until I bring thee 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 into Egypt: and was there
until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when he saw that he
was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all
the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of
the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,
saying, “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because
they are not.”
But when Herod was dead,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for
they are dead which sought the young child’s life.”
And he arose, and took the
young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard
that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was
afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he
turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall
be called a Nazarene.
