[continued from previous message]   
      
   [80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts   
   till the day of his shewing unto Israel.   
      
   Matthew 1:18-25   
      
   The Birth of Jesus Christ   
      
   Lk 2:1-7   
      
   18 (Ge 3:15) Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way:   
   After His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together,   
   she was found with child by the Holy Spirit.   
   19 (Dt 22:21-24; 24:1-4 )Then Joseph her husband, being a just man   
   and not willing to make her a public example, had in mind to divorce   
   her privately.   
   20 (Mt 1:18; 2:13) But while he thought on these things, the angel   
   of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,   
   "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,   
   for He who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.   
   21 (Lk 1:31; Ac 4:12) She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS,   
   for He will save His people from their sins."   
   22 (Mt 2:15; 2:23) Now all this occurred to fulfill what the Lord   
   had spoken through the prophet, saying,   
   23 (Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; Mt 28:20) "A virgin shall be with child,   
   and will bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,"   
   [Isa 7:14.] which is interpreted, "God with us."   
   24 Then Joseph, being awakened from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord   
   had commanded him, and remained with his wife,   
   25 (Mt 1:21; Lk 2:7) and did not know her until she had given birth   
   to her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.   
      
   [18] 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.   
   [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her   
   a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.   
   [20] 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.   
   [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:   
   for he shall save his people from their sins.   
   [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of   
   the Lord by the prophet, saying,   
   [23] 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.   
   [24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had   
   bidden him, and took unto him his wife:   
   [25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he   
   called his name JESUS.   
      
   Luke 2:1-38   
      
   The Birth of Jesus   
      
   Mt 1:18-25   
      
   1 (Lk 3:1; Mt 24:14) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus   
   that the entire inhabited earth should be taxed.   
   2 (Lk 3:1) This taxation was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.   
   3 And everyone went to his own city to be taxed.   
   4 (Jn 7:42; 1Sa 16:1) So Joseph also departed from the city of Nazareth   
   in Galilee to the City of David which is called Bethlehem, in Judea,   
   because he was of the house and lineage of David,   
   5 to be taxed with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.   
   6 So while they were there, the day came for her to give birth.   
   7 (Mt 1:25; Lk 2:11-12) And she gave birth to her firstborn Son,   
   and wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid Him in a manger,   
   because there was no room for them in the inn.   
      
   [1] And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from   
   Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.   
   [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)   
   [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   
   [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into   
   Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was   
   of the house and lineage of David:)   
   [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.   
   [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished   
   that she should be delivered.   
   [7] 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.   
      
   The Shepherds and the Angels   
      
   8 And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields,   
   keeping watch over their flock by night.   
   9 (2Co 3:18) And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them,   
   and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.   
   10 (Ge 12:3; Isa 40:9) But the angel said to them, "Listen! Do not fear.   
   For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.   
   11 (Mt 1:21; Lk 1:43; Mt 16:16) For unto you is born this day   
   in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.   
   12 (1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29) And this will be a sign to you:   
   You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."   
   13 (Ge 28:12; 32:1-2) Suddenly there was with the angel a company   
   of the heavenly host praising God and saying,   
   14 (Lk 1:79; 19:38) "Glory to God in the highest,   
   and on earth peace, and good will toward men."   
   15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said   
   to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has happened,   
   which the Lord has made known to us."   
   16 (Lk 2:7; 2:12) So they came hurrying and found Mary and Joseph,   
   and the Baby lying in a manger.   
   17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word   
   which was told them concerning this Child.   
   18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.   
   19 (Lk 2:51; Ge 37:11) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them   
   in her heart.   
   20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things   
   they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   
      
   [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,   
   keeping watch over their flock by night.   
   [9] 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.   
   [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good   
   tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.   
   [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is   
   Christ the Lord.   
   [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in   
   swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.   
   [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host   
   praising God, and saying,   
   [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.   
   [15] 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.   
   [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe   
   lying in a manger.   
   [17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was   
   told them concerning this child.   
   [18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told   
   them by the shepherds.   
   [19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.   
   [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the   
   things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.   
      
   The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple   
      
   21 (Lk 1:31; 1:59) When eight days had passed and the Child was circumcised,   
   He was named ­JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived   
   in the womb.   
   22 When the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)