To Us a Child Is Born

   Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past HE humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future HE will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--

       The people walking in darkness

          have seen a great light;

       on those living in the land of the shadow of death

          a light has dawned.

Isaiah: chapter 9, verses 1 & 2

JESUS Begins to Preach

       When JESUS heard that John had been put in prison, HE returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, HE went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

       "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

          the way to the sea, along the Jordan,

          Galilee of the Gentiles--

       the people living in darkness

          have seen a great light;

       on those living in the land of the shadow of death

          a light has dawned."

       From that time on JESUS began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 4, verses 12 - 17

The Temptation of JESUS

       Again, the devil took HIM to a very high mountain and showed HIM all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give YOU," he said, "if YOU will bow down and worship me."

       JESUS said to him, "Away from ME, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship THE LORD your GOD, and serve HIM only.' "

       Then the devil left HIM, and angels came and attended HIM.

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 4, verses 8 - 11

Love THE LORD Your GOD

       Fear THE LORD your GOD, serve HIM only and take your oaths in HIS name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for THE LORD your GOD, who is among you, is a jealous GOD and HIS anger will burn against you, and HE will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not test THE LORD your GOD as you did at Massah.

Deuteronomy: chapter 6, verses 13 - 16

The Temptation of JESUS

       JESUS answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put THE LORD your GOD to the test.' "

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 4, verse 7

PSALM 91

       If you make THE MOST HIGH your dwelling--

          even THE LORD, who is my refuge--

       then no harm will befall you,

          no disaster will come near your tent.

       For HE will command HIS angels concerning you

          to guard you in all your ways;

       they will lift you up in their hands,

          so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm: 91, verses 9 - 12

The Temptation of JESUS

       Then the devil took HIM to the holy city and had HIM stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are THE SON OF GOD," he said, "throw YOURSELF down. For it is written:

       " 'HE will command HIS angels concerning YOU,

          and they will lift YOU up in their hands,

       so that YOU will not strike YOUR foot against a stone.' "

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 4, verses 5 & 6

Do Not Forget THE LORD

   Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that THE LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how THE LORD your GOD led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep HIS commands. HE humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of THE LORD.

Deuteronomy: chapter 8, verses 1 - 3

The Temptation of JESUS

   Then JESUS was led by THE SPIRIT into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, HE was hungry. The tempter came to HIM and said, "If YOU are THE SON OF GOD, tell these stones to become bread."

       JESUS answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.' "

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 4, verses 1 - 4

Comfort for GOD'S People

       Comfort, comfort MY people,

          says your GOD.

       Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

          and proclaim to her

       that her hard service has been completed,

          that her sin has been paid for,

       that she has received from THE LORD'S hand

          double for all her sins.

       A voice of one calling:

       "In the desert prepare

          the way for THE LORD;

       make straight in the wilderness

          a highway for our GOD.

       Every valley shall be raised up,

          every mountain and hill made low;

       the rough ground shall become level,

          the rugged places a plain.

       And the glory of THE LORD will be revealed,

          and all mankind together will see it.

                     For the mouth of THE LORD has spoken."

Isaiah: chapter 40, verses 1 - 5

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

   In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

       "A voice of one calling in the desert,

       'Prepare the way for THE LORD,

          make straight paths for HIM.' "

       John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

       But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones GOD can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

       "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. HE will baptize you with THE HOLY SPIRIT and with fire, HIS winnowing fork is in HIS hand, and HE will clear HIS threshing floor, gathering HIS wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 3, verses 1 - 12

Restoration of Israel

       This is what THE LORD says:

       "A voice is heard in Ramah,

          mourning and great weeping,

       Rachel weeping for her children

          and refusing to be comforted,

          because her children are no more."

Jeremiah: chapter 31, verse 15

The Escape to Egypt

       When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

       "A voice is heard in Ramah,

          weeping and great mourning,

       Rachel weeping for her children

          and refusing to be comforted,

       because they are no more."

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 2, verses 16 - 18

GOD'S Love for Israel

       "When Israel was a child, I loved him,

          and out of Egypt I called MY son.

       But the more I called Israel,

          the further they went from ME.

       They sacrificed to the Baals

          and they burned incense to images.

       It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

          taking them by the arms;

       but they did not realize

          it was I who healed them.

       I led them with cords of human kindness,

          with ties of love;

       I lifted the yoke from their neck

         and bent down to feed them.

       "Will they not return to Egypt

          and will not Assyria rule over them

          because they refuse to repent?

       Swords will flash in their cities,

          will destroy the bars of their gates

          and put an end to their plans.

       MY people are determined to turn from ME.

          Even if they call to THE MOST HIGH,

          HE will by no means exalt them.

       "How can I give you up, Ephraim?

          How can I hand you over, Israel?

       How can I treat you like Admah?

          How can I make you like Zeboiim?

       MY heart is changed within ME;

          all MY compassion is aroused.

       I will not carry out MY fierce anger,

          nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.

       For I AM GOD, and not man--

          THE HOLY ONE among you.

          I will not come in wrath.

       They will follow THE LORD;

          HE will roar like a lion.

       When HE roars,

          HIS children will come trembling from the west.

       They will come trembling

          like birds from Egypt,

          like doves from Assyria.

       I will settle them in their homes,"

          declares THE LORD.

Hosea: chapter 11, verses 1 - 11

The Escape to Egypt

       When they had gone, an angel of THE LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take THE CHILD and HIS mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for THE CHILD to kill HIM."

       So he got up, took THE CHILD and HIS mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what THE LORD had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called MY SON."

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 2, verses 13 - 15

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

       Marshal your troops, O city of troops,

          for a siege is laid against us.

       They will strike Israel's ruler

          on the cheek with a rod.

       "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

          though you are small among the clans of Judah,

       out of you will come for ME

          one who will be ruler over Israel,

       whose origins are from of old,

          from ancient times."

       Therefore Israel will be abandoned

          until the time when she who is in labor gives birth

       and the rest of HIS brothers return

          to join the Israelites.

       HE will stand and shepherd HIS flock

          in the strength of THE LORD,

          in the majesty of the name of THE LORD HIS GOD.

       And they will live securely, for then HIS greatness

          will reach to the ends of the earth.

          And HE will be their peace.

Micah: chapter 5, verses 1 - 5

The Visit of the Magi

   After JESUS was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is THE ONE who has been born king of the Jews? We saw HIS star in the east and have come to worship HIM."

       When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where THE CHRIST was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

       " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

          are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

       for out of you will come a ruler

          who will be THE SHEPHERD of MY people Israel.' "

       Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for THE CHILD. As soon as you find HIM, report to me, so that I too may go and worship HIM."

       After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where THE CHILD was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw THE CHILD with HIS mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped HIM. Then they opened their treasures and presented HIM with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 2, verses 1 - 12

The Sign of Immanuel

   When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

       Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

       Then THE LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field. Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood--because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, "Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it." Yet this is what THE SOVEREIGN LORD says:

       " 'It will not take place,

          it will not happen,

       for the head of Aram is Damascus,

          and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.

       Within sixty-five years

          Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.

       The head of Ephraim is Samaria,

          and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.

       If you do not stand firm in your faith,

          you will not stand at all.' "

       Again THE LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask THE LORD your GOD for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."

       But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put THE LORD to the test."

       Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my GOD also? Therefore THE LORD HIMSELF will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call HIM IMMANUEL. HE will eat curds and honey when HE knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. THE LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah--HE will bring the king of Assyria."

       In that day THE LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. In that day THE LORD will use a razor hired from beyond the River--the king of Assyria--to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

Isaiah: chapter 7

The Birth of JESUS CHRIST

       This is how the birth of JESUS CHRIST came about: HIS mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through THE HOLY SPIRIT. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

       But after he had considered this, an angel of THE LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from THE HOLY SPIRIT. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give HIM the name JESUS, because HE will save HIS people from their sins."

       All this took place to fulfill what THE LORD had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call HIM IMMANUEL"--which means, "GOD with us."

       When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of THE LORD had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave HIM the name JESUS.

Gospel of Matthew: chapter 1, verses 18 - 25