Scripture is from New King James Version (NKJV)
Notes on Scripture (below) by tkbrown
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Lesson Scripture — Matthew 1:18-25
18 — “Now the birth of Jesus was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”
19 — “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”
20 — “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'”
21 — “‘And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.'”
22 — “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:”
23 — “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.’ which is translated ‘God with us.'”
24 — “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,”
25 — “and did not know her til she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.:
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Luke 1:26-56
26 — “Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John — Week One] the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth,”
27 — “to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
28 — “And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!'”
29 — “But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.”
30 — “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.'”
31 — “‘And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.'”
32 — “‘He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.'”
33 — “‘And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end.;:
34 — “Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?'”
35 — “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'”
36 — “‘Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.'”
37 — “‘For with God nothing will be impossible.'”
38 — “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
39 — “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah.”
40 — “and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.”
41 — “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
42 — “Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'”
43 — “‘But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?'”
44 — “‘For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.'”
45 — “‘Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.'”
46 — “And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord.'”
47 — “‘and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.'”
48 — “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.'”
49 — “‘For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.'”
50 — “‘and His mercy is on those who hear Him, from generation to generation.'”
51 — “‘He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.'”
52 — “‘He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.'”
53 — “‘He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent a way empty.'”
54 — “‘He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy.'”
55 — “‘As He spoke to our fathers, to Abram and to his seed forever.'”
56 — “And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her house.'”
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Notes on Scripture: by tkbrown
Joseph and Mary are told of Jesus’ impending birth. Joseph in his dream is told not to fear taking Mary as his wife — she has not been unfaithful — she will give birth to a man-child whose name shall be Jesus — the Son of God. Joseph is relieved to learn this because he had been unsure how to handle the situation. He married her, but did not ‘know her’ until after the birth occurs.
When Mary is told of the birth, she asked how this could be, since she had not been with a man. The angel assured her the child is conceived by God through the Holy Spirit. This satisfied Mary’s discomfit. Since she w as also told of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she went to visit Zacharias and Elizabeth.
As soon as Elizabeth heard the sound of Mary’s voice, the babe in her womb — John — leaped for joy. So, John — in the womb — recognized Jesus’ presence and rejoiced.
Thus, we have knowledge of Jesus’ conception and Joseph’s acceptance of this. Next week, we will look at the actual birth of John and his role as trailblazer for Jesus’ ministry here on earth.
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Week One -- Scripture: Zacharias to have Son . . . Week Two -- Scripture: Jesus' Birth Foretold . . .
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by tkbrown 