Harmony Is Love: For Students of the Life of Christ and All Christians

By RA Bliss

Although most religious institutions offer Bible readings at their services, many Christians hear the good news only in bits and pieces. But to be true and effective disciples, one must hear about the good news frequently. In Harmony is Love, author RA Bliss, a scholar and gospel researcher since 1997, harmonizes the good news.

Using only the oldest gospel manuscripts, the harmonized works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and parts of Acts and Hebrews have been combined to provide a more chronologically complete picture of what was written in the New Testament about the savior’s time on earth. Abundant footnotes help clarify the details of persons, places, and scenes of that time. It discusses the:

• Birth, infancy, and adolescence of Jesus and John
• Truths about John the Baptist
• Beginning of Jesus’ ministry
• Ministry in Galilee
• Last Judean and Perean ministry of Jesus
• Final week at Jerusalem
• Resurrection
• The forty days until the ascension

Harmony is Love enlightens, teaches, and deepens Christians’ understanding of the good news and God’s love for all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781491747063

RA Bliss

RA Bliss, a scholar and researcher of the gospels since 1997, earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Shippensburg University. He’s been published in Signal and AFCEA International Press’ publication of Issues in Management. Bliss and his wife Rosalyn live in Maryville, Tennessee.

Book preview

Harmony Is Love

For Students of the Life of

Christ and All Christians

RA Bliss

64297.png

HARMONY IS LOVE

FOR STUDENTS OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND ALL CHRISTIANS

Copyright © 2013 RA Bliss.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This entire work, including maps and study aids, copyright © by Richard Bliss, 2013

In preparing this work, only the oldest Gospel manuscripts were used, often in Greek with a current translation, with some in Aramaic.

iUniverse

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4705-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4707-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4706-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014916827

iUniverse rev. date: 11/26/2019

Contents

Introduction

Part 1~ Birth, Infancy, and Adolescence of Jesus and John (6 BC–AD 27)

Announcement of the Coming Birth of John

Announcement of the Coming Birth of Jesus

Song of Elizabeth

Announcement of the Messiah’s Birth to Joseph

Birth of John the Baptist

Birth of the Messiah

Angels and Shepherds

First Temple Visit

The Magi

Flight to Egypt

Return to Nazareth

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Part 2~ Truths about John the Baptist (AD 27–29)

John’s Ministry and His Message

John’s Courage

Part 3~ The Beginning of Jesus’s Ministry (AD 28)

Jesus Is Baptized

Jesus Is Tempted

John’s Picture of Jesus

Call of Disciples

The First Miracle

The First Cleansing of the Temple

The Second Birth

Co-Ministry with John

A Samaritan Woman on the Road

Part 4~ His Ministry in Galilee

Healing a Nobleman’s Son

Rejection at Nazareth

Four Become Disciples

Evil Spirits Driven Out on the Sabbath

Peter’s Mother-in-Law and Others Healed

Preaching from a Sailboat

A Leper and a Paralyzed Man Healed

Jesus Calls Matthew

Two Parables about Jesus

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath

Healing on the Sabbath

The Twelve Are Chosen

Sermon on the Mount

Healing a Centurion’s Servant

A Widow’s Son Is Raised from the Dead

Jesus Dispels John’s Doubts

The Unbelieving Towns

Jesus Is Anointed

At Home Teaching and Healing

Evil Spirits Driven Out

Girl and Sick Woman Healed

Two Blind Men and a Mute Healed

Second Rejection of Jesus at His Hometown

The Twelve Are Sent Out to Preach and Heal

Herod’s Confusion about Jesus and John

Passover in Jerusalem for the Second Time

The Twelve Return and Five Thousand Fed

The Bread of Life

Jesus Attacks Traditions

A Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

Deaf Man Healed and Four Thousand Fed

Pharisees Attack Jesus

A Blind Man Healed

Jesus Declared the Messiah

The Transfiguration

An Epileptic Healed

Jesus Teaches

Jesus Leaves for Jerusalem

Part 5~ The Last Judean and Perean Ministry of Jesus (AD 29–30)

The Seventy-Two Are Sent Out

The Good Samaritan

Lessons in Prayer

His Power and His Light

Lawyers and Pharisees Judged

Hypocrisy, Greed, and Fear

Feast of the Tabernacles

Debating in the Temple

Healing a Blind Man

Healing on the Sabbath

Teaching on the Way to Jerusalem

Rejection at the Temple

Dining with Some Pharisees

About Divorce

Eternal Life and the Resurrection

The Demands of Discipleship Explained

Teaching with Parables

Lazarus Resurrected

Final Journey to Jerusalem

Blind Healed and Rich Saved 87

Return to Lazarus’s Home

Multitudes Visit

Part 6~ Final Week at Jerusalem (April 2–April 9, AD 30)

Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem

Return to the Temple

The Last Public Teaching

Jesus Anointed and Judas Betrays—Wednesday

The Last Teaching to the Apostles

The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus

The Tomb Is Sealed

Part 7~ The Resurrection

Part 8~ The Forty Days until the Ascension

Part 9~ The Greatness of God’s Son

Appendix A: Chronology of Places Jesus Visited during His Ministry

Appendix B: Maps

References

The secret to knowing the bad people from the good is not studying the bad, but rather studying the good. Therefore, study GOD, our Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, for They are the epitome of good and everything will become good to you. Once you know about GOD and are associated with Him, there is no turning back, given that the penalties are enormous and staying true to Him is the ultimate joy! ~~ A Prayer

—Anonymous

ΑΩ

Introduction

Most religious institutions offer Bible readings at their services. But after I had read the Bible a number of times and especially after reading the New Testament repeatedly, it became clear to me that most people only hear the Good News¹ in small bits and pieces. While that is sufficient for most, many people thirst for all they can find about Jesus and the Good News He brought to all of us. We truly long to be His disciples. Other than a follower’s own initiative, it is often difficult to learn enough through weekly religious services to be effective disciples. Therefore, as a researcher and scholar of the Gospels, I have worked and studied over the past seventeen years to harmonize the Good News, including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and parts of Acts and Hebrews to help fill that need. I originally prepared it for my own edification, but now, I offer it to you. If you believe that it may help you in your learning or teaching about GOD’s Good News, read on.

The harmonized works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and some of Acts and Hebrews have been combined to provide a more chronologically complete picture of what was written in the New Testament about our Savior’s time on earth. Nothing has been added to or taken away from what was written, although some supposed conflicts have been resolved through research into the oldest and most credible ancient Greek and Aramaic copies of the Gospels.² Interestingly, there really were no actual conflicts discovered once I unlocked my mind not only to what was written but also to what was not written.

On Language

In the era of Christ on earth, Judeans, Galileans, and most other Aramaic-speaking peoples very often spoke in idioms, including our Savior. The simple, poor people, the masses for that matter, spoke Aramaic³ and therefore understood the exaggerations and idioms of Jesus. Roman officials and Judeans who were attached to the Roman governor spoke Latin, while a few cultured businessmen and merchants understood Greek. However, prior to the time of Jesus, even Judean writings, to include sacred biblical texts, were found to be in Aramaic. Therefore, early Christian writings were likely in Aramaic too. There are many examples of how the original Aramaic was misunderstood by Greek, Latin, and other translators. In fact, some Aramaic cannot be accurately translated at all. As stated earlier, Aramaic speech uses exaggerations or idioms in order to convey a thought or idea. The result is that objects change value to drive home a point. In fact, overstatement is the normal conversational mode. For example, We have eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of our fathers while building this house … means, We have worked very hard to build this house. The languages of many of the American Indian nations used this same style of speech. However, once Paul began his ministry, much was written in both Latin and Greek for churches that he established in Greece, Asia Minor, and Italy.

Early Christianity

Early Christianity was nothing more than perfected Judaism, which was the New Covenant through Jesus inspired by Judean tradition and language. As long as Christianity remained a Judean movement, Christian writings were, for the most part, in Aramaic, which expressed Judean racial aspirations and thought. This caused many Judeans to champion the Christian cause. However, in the second century AD, the Judeans saw pagan customs, Greek and Egyptian traditions, other languages, and religious commercialism creeping into Christianity. Doctrines and dogmas were replacing the teaching of Jesus and those of the prophets. There was also danger of Judeans blending with the gentiles (non-Judeans). Later, during what was known as the Gentile Movement, the Judeans dropped their interest and no longer took part in Christianity for some time.

Jesus the Savior

From the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, many eyewitnesses and those knowing of Jesus’s acts and accomplishments had written a narrative about them. It also seems good to me to follow everything exactly from Jesus’s ministry so that you know for certain the doctrine about salvation.

In the beginning was Jesus, yet Jesus was with GOD, and Jesus was GOD. All things exist through Him, and without Him, there is nothing that has come to be. In Him is eternal life, and this life is the presence, truth, and pursuit of the salvation⁴ of man. Therefore, the light of Jesus shines, and the darkness does not possess it.

There was a man sent out by GOD named John.⁵ He came to report that he could testify about the light of man (Jesus) so that all could have faith through John. John was not that light of man, but he could testify about the light. This was the true light that enlightens every man coming into the world.

Jesus was in the world, and the world came to pass through Him, but the world did not know Him. He came among His own, but His own did not receive Him. But, as many of them that received Him, He gave the privilege to be children of GOD, to become those believing in His name. These were not of blood or the desire of the flesh or of man but were reborn from GOD.

Yet the light of man became flesh and dwelt among us. Then we saw His glory as the Father’s only born, full of grace and of truth.

John testified about Jesus and cried out, saying, This is the One of whom I said, ‘He comes after me, but is ahead of me, because He was before me.’ So we all received from His abundance and grace upon grace. Although the Law was given through Moses,⁶ grace and truth came into being through Jesus⁷ the Messiah. No one has ever seen GOD, only the only born⁸ Son, who existed in the bosom of the Father, who declared Him (John 1:1–10, 1:11, 1:12–18).

About Harmony Is Love

In the footnotes, you will find a likely physical description of Jesus according to the work of Richard Neave and John Prag, Making Faces: Using Forensic and Archaeological Evidence.

Note that in those days, the recorded ancestries often omitted certain generations for a variety of reasons. Consequently, no precise biblical record of anyone’s ancestry existed at the time of Jesus. However, the book of the genealogy of Jesus, son of David, son of Abraham, comes from Adam through Abraham, through Isaac, through Jacob, through Judah, and through David⁹ to His birth. Therefore, all the generations from Abraham until David were fourteen generations, from David until the exile to Babylon were fourteen generations, and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah were fourteen generations.

Although the ancestries of women were not recorded in those days, Jesus’s mother, Mary,¹⁰ can claim an ancestry through David, as can her husband, Joseph¹¹ (Matthew 1:1–2, 1:3–16, 1:17; Luke 3:33–34).

And finally, God is love, and I believe He, through His Holy Spirit, guided me in harmonizing the gospel scriptures … hence, Harmony Is Love. Further, in this life, we can all live, as love is harmony!

To assist the reader in the text of this work, Jesus’s words are italicized and bold. The Father’s words ARE IN BOLD AND SMALL CAPITAL LETTERS. GOD’s messengers’ words are in bold letters.

Please note that each chapter consists of the oldest translations from the oldest copies of New Testament writings with no additions or deletions. The end of each chapter includes all relevant biblical passages. Passages that are harmonized are in italics.

Since nothing has been added to or deleted from the original gospels, you will find footnotes throughout this work to help clarify the details of persons, places, scenes, and things of that time. The names of people and places will be in English. Also, subscripts are included, denoting on accompanying maps, in sequential order, places that Jesus visited.

While virtually everything written in the text was derived from the works of others, I believe I was inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit in harmonizing this work since it is intended to enlighten, teach, and deepen our understanding of the Good News and GOD’s love for us all.

Bliss

Part 1

Birth, Infancy, and Adolescence of Jesus and John (6 BC–AD 27)

Announcement of the Coming Birth of John

(Jerusalem—6 BC)

There was, in the days of Herod,¹² the king of Judea,¹³ a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abia.¹⁴ Also, his wife was descended from Aaron and her name was Elizabeth.¹⁵ They were both holy before GOD, walking blameless in all the LORD’s¹⁶ commandments and ordinances. Yet they did not have a child because Elizabeth was sterile and both were very old.

It was during performance of his priestly functions, in the regular arrangement of his daily rotation before GOD that entering into the Temple of the Lord,¹⁷ his lot was to burn incense according to the custom of the priests. And a whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of the incense. Now an angel¹⁸ of the LORD appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Then seeing him, Zacharias was shocked and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition was heard and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you will name him John. Then he will be joy and exultation to you and many will be glad over his birth. Indeed he will be great before the LORD. But He may never drink wine or strong drink, for he will be filled with the Holy Spirit¹⁹ even in the womb of his mother. He will return many of the sons of Israel²⁰ to the LORD their GOD. Also he will precede Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,²¹ to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the holy; to ready for the LORD a thoroughly prepared people."

Then Zacharias said to the angel, By what would I know this? For I am old and my wife is advanced in her days.

But answering, the angel said to him, "I am Gabriel,²² the one who stands in the presence of GOD and I was sent to speak to you, then announce to you the good news of these things. Yet, lo, you will be dumb and not able to speak until the day when these things happen, which will be fulfilled in their time, because you did not believe my words."

So the people were awaiting Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the temple. But coming out, he was not able to speak to them and they knew that he had seen a vision in the temple. Also he was signaling to them that he remained mute.

Then it came to pass, as the period of his service was fulfilled that he went away to his house. After this period, his wife, Elizabeth, conceived and hid herself for five months, saying, Thus the LORD has done this to me in a time in which He saw to remove my disgrace among men!

Also read these verses: Matthew 11:14; Mark 9:12; Luke 1:5–25; Acts 5:17; Genesis 6:9, 17:17, 21:2, 30:23; Exodus 40:5; Numbers 6:3; Judges 13:4; 1 Chronicles 24:10, 24:19; Ezekiel 3:6, 3:26, 24:27; Daniel 8:16, 9:21; Malachi 4:5–6.

Announcement of the Coming Birth of Jesus

(Nazareth—March 5 BC)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, GOD sent the angel Gabriel to a town of Galilee,²³ which was named Nazareth.²⁴ He was sent to a virgin who was betrothed²⁵ to a man whose name was Joseph, of the family of David, and the name of the virgin was Mary. When entering, the angel said to her, Hail to you receiving grace! The LORD is with you!

She was disturbed at his words, and she pondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have received grace from GOD. Now lo, you will conceive in the womb and give birth to a Son, then you will name Him JESUS. He will be Supreme and will be called the Son of the Most High. For the LORD GOD will give the throne of His forefather David. Then He will rule over the family of Jacob for perpetuity and His Kingdom will never end!

Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I have not had a man?

The angel answered, saying to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cast a shadow upon you; therefore, also the One being born sacred will be called the Son of GOD. And behold, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this month is the sixth for her, she being called sterile. For nothing is impossible by GOD.

Mary said, Behold, I am the LORD’s slave. Let it happen to me according to your words.

Then the angel went away from her.

Also read these verses: Matthew 1:18, 1:21, 19:26, 28:18; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:26–27, 1:28–31,1:30–33, 1:34–38, 2:21; Romans 4:21; Genesis 18:14; Judges 6:12; 2 Samuel 7:12–13, 7:16; Psalms 89:3–4; Isaiah 7:14, 9:7; Daniel 9:23.

Song of Elizabeth

(Hill Country of Judea—5 BC)

In that time, Mary stood up, went to the hill country²⁶ in eagerness, to a Judean town, entered into Zacharias’s house, and embraced Elizabeth. It was exactly when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting that the baby in her womb leaped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed in a loud voice, saying, You are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! So what reason is it that the mother of my LORD comes to me? Lo, for as the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped in exultation. And blessed is she who believes, because there will be a completion of that spoken to her from God.

Then Mary said, The LORD magnifies my soul and exults my spirit toward GOD my Savior, because He looked upon His humbled slave-girl! Lo! For from now on, all the generations will beatify me, because of the great things the Mighty One has done to me. His Name is holy and His mercy is from generation to generation for those revering Him. He showed power with His arm. He scattered the haughty in understanding their hearts. He took down powerful ones from thrones and lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and He sent the rich away empty. He helped His servant Israel remember compassion, just as He had spoken to our forefathers, to Abraham and his offspring for all time!

Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.²⁷

Also read these verses: Matthew 23:12; Luke 1:39–56; 1 Peter 5:5; Genesis 11:8, 17:7; Exodus 20:6; 1 Samuel 1:11, 2:1–10; Job 5:11, 12:19; Psalms 18:46, 71:19, 103:17, 107:9, 111:9, 138:6; Isaiah 40:10.

Announcement of the Messiah’s Birth to Joseph

(Nazareth—5 BC)

Now as to the birth of Jesus, the Messiah: His mother Mary, being betrothed to Joseph, found in her stomach she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit before their cohabitation. Her husband, Joseph, being equitable and not willing to expose her publicly, planned to separate from her secretly. While he pondered these things, lo, an angel of GOD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because that Being procreated in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name JESUS, because He will deliver His people from their sins.

Now, all this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord spoke through the prophet, saying, LO, THE MAIDEN WILL CONCEIVE IN HER WOMB AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO THE SON. THEN THEY WILL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL,²⁸ which is translated, GOD is with us.

When Joseph was aroused from his sleep, he did as bid by the angel of GOD and took her as his wife. But he did not know her until after she gave birth to her Son, the Firstborn. And he called His name JESUS.

Also read these verses: Matthew 1:18–21, 22–23, 24–25; Luke 1:27, 1:31, 1:35, 2:21; Deuteronomy 24:1; Psalms 130:8; Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, 9:6–7.

Birth of John the Baptist

(Judea—o/a September 5 BC)

Now, to Elizabeth, the time was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. When the neighbors and her relatives heard that GOD magnified His mercy with her, they rejoiced with her.

Then it was on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the baby and were calling him by his father’s name, Zacharias. But his mother responded, saying, Nay, instead he will be called John.

But they said to her, There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name! Then they made gestures to his father asking what he would want him to be called.

So asking for a tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And everyone marveled. Instantly, his mouth and his tongue were opened and he was speaking, blessing GOD. Then alarm came upon all those living around them. Then all these matters were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea and placed the question in the heart of all those hearing: What then will this baby be?

And the LORD’s hand was with him.

So then Zacharias, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel, because He has selected and made a ransom for His people, and has awakened a Horn of Salvation²⁹ in the family of His servant David. Just as He has spoken through the mouths of His holy prophets from the ages, that He would rescue us from our enemies and out of the hands of all those hating us, giving compassion to our forefathers and remembering His holy covenant. The oath that He swore to our forefather Abraham to give to us deliverance from our enemies’ hands, in order to worship Him fearlessly, in piety and holiness before Him all the days of our lives.

"So you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the LORD to prepare the way for Him. You will give a knowledge to His people that their sins will be forgiven through the tender mercy of our GOD, which will visit us as the Dayspring³⁰ from on high to shine upon those in sitting darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way to peace."

The child grew and became strong in the Spirit and was in the desert until the days of showing himself to Israel.

Also read these verses: Matthew 1:1, 3:1, 3:3; Luke 1:57–80, 2:4, 2:40, 2:52; Acts 11:21; Romans 6:18, 12:15; Ephesians 4:24; Hebrews 6:13; 1 John 4:18; Genesis 17:12, 22:16–18, 24:27; Leviticus 12:3; 1 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 22:3; 1 Kings 1:48; Psalms 105:8, 105:9, 111:9, 132:17; Isaiah 9:2, 40:3; Jeremiah 31:34; Joel 2:28–29; Malachi 3:1, 4:2, 4:5.

Birth of the Messiah

(Bethlehem─o/a December 25, 5 BC)

It was in those days that a decree was issued by Caesar Augustus³¹ that everyone in the land enrolls.³² This first enrollment was during the rule of Syria by Quirinius.³³ Everyone went to enroll, each in their own town.³⁴

Joseph went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem,³⁵ because he was of the family and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, being pregnant. It was in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. So she gave birth to her Firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him in swaddling³⁶ and laid Him in the manger,³⁷ because there was not a place for them in the inn.

Also read these verses: Matthew 1:24−25; Luke 1:27, 2:1−2, 2:3, 2:4−5, 2:6, 2:7; John 7:42; Acts 5:37 Isaiah 7:14; Daniel 9:25; Micah 5:2.

Angels and Shepherds

(Near Bethlehem—o/a December 25, 5 BC)

Now shepherds were in the same region living in the fields keeping guard over their flocks in that night when an angel of God came to them. The glory of God shone all around them, and they were frightened with a mighty fear. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, because lo, I give to you Good News, a great joy, which will be for all people. For today, in David’s town, a Deliverer was born to you Who is the Messiah,³⁸ the LORD. Now this will be the sign to you: you will find a baby having been wrapped in swaddling, lying in a manger."

Then suddenly there was an army of the heavenly with the angel, praising GOD and saying, Glory to GOD in the highest and peace on earth among men of good will!

Then as the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Indeed, let us go to Bethlehem and see this baby spoken about, which God has made known to us.

So hurrying, they came to find both Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. Then seeing, they proclaimed the words spoken to them about this child. All those hearing marveled over the things spoken by the shepherds to them. Mary remembered all these words, meditating in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising GOD over everything they had heard and seen, just as it was said to them.

Then when eight days had passed, they circumcised the baby and His name was called Jesus, the one given by the angel before He had been conceived in the womb.

Also read these verses: Luke 1:31, 1:66, 2:8–21; John 3:16; Hebrews 1:14; Revelations 5:11; Leviticus 12:3; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:5.

First Temple Visit

(Jerusalem—o/a February 2, 4 BC)

Then when the days were fulfilled of Mary’s purification,³⁹ according to the Law of Moses, they took Him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem⁴⁰ to present Him to GOD. Just as written in GOD’S Law: Every male opening a womb⁴¹ will be called sacred to GOD. Also she gave a sacrifice according to what GOD’S Law said: a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

But, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. This man was holy and devout, confidently waiting for the solace of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him, and it was for him, having been revealed by the Holy Spirit, not to see death before he saw GOD’s Messiah. So in the Spirit, he came into the temple. Also coming in, the parents brought in the baby Jesus to do according to the custom of the Law concerning Him. So he received Him in his arms and he blessed GOD, saying, "Now, Master, release Your slave, according to Your word in peace. For my eyes behold Your Salvation, which You prepared before the presence of all the people. A Light of revelation to the gentiles⁴² and Glory to Your people of Israel."

Then