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Jesus Is Born

¹ Now it was in this time that Augustus Caesar sent out an order that everyone's name would be on a list. ² This would be the first census taken while Quirinius was in charge of Syria. ³ Everyone had to ride back to their home place to put their name on the list.

⁴ Joseph left Nazareth, a town in the Galilee area, and headed toward Bethlehem in Judea. Bethlehem was known as the town of David, and that was his hometown. ⁵ Joseph signed the list and included his fiancée Mary. The wedding would be coming up soon. ⁶ While they were there, Mary went into labor. ⁷ She gave birth to a son and wrapped him up in blankets and laid him in a feed trough. They were staying in a barn because there were not any hotel rooms to be found.

Cowboys and Angels

⁸ That night, there were some cowboys on night watch near Bethlehem. ⁹ An angel appeared to them, and they were scared to death. ¹⁰ The angel told them, "Don't be afraid, boys! I've come to give you some great news. ¹¹ Today in the town of David, the cowboy who will save your souls was born. He is God's Top Hand. ¹² You'll know you've found him when you find a baby wrapped in a horse blanket and lying in a feed trough."

¹³ And just like that, the army of heaven's angels erupted in praise, saying, ¹⁴ "Give God all the glory in heaven, and on earth let there be peace for all the cowboys who ride for the Lord."

¹⁵ Then the angels were gone, and the cowboys said to each other, "Let's head over to Bethlehem and find this little boy the angels told us about."

¹⁶ So they struck a long trot and found Mary and Joseph. And sure enough, there was a baby wrapped in a horse blanket and lying in a feed trough. ¹⁷ When they saw the boy, they told his momma and daddy what the angels had said. ¹⁸ Everyone that night, and later, could hardly believe what the cowboys had to say about that night, ¹⁹ but Mary pondered these things in her heart and tried to sort out everything that had happened. ²⁰ The cowboys headed back out to the herd, giving thanks to God for everything they had seen and heard. It happened just like that angel had told 'em it would.

Jesus Gets Circumcised

²¹ When the baby was eight days old, they clipped his pickle as is the custom. They named the boy Jesus, just like the angel had told 'em.

²² The code of Moses said any first-born baby boy was to be brought to Jerusalem and presented to the Lord. ²³ Moses's code said, "When a momma's first born is a boy, he shall be called 'special for God.'" ²⁴ This code stated that the parents were to sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.

Simeon Speaks Highly of Baby Jesus

²⁵ There was an old cowboy living in Jerusalem named, Simeon. He was a good fellow, filled with the Holy Spirit, who was all-in for God's outfit. He'd been waiting for the day that God would send his Top Hand. ²⁶ The Holy Spirit had told the old cowboy that he wouldn't die before he had seen God's Top Hand. ²⁷ The Spirit guided old Simeon to the main church in Jerusalem. It was no coincidence because after he had arrived there, Joseph and Mary showed up with Jesus to do what the code of Moses instructed. ²⁸ Simeon took one look at the baby and said, ²⁹ "Now, I can die and go to God in peace. ³⁰ I've done seen with my own eyes how you will save everyone. ³¹ Now everyone will know your plan. ³² This boy will be a light for all men and all nations, and he will bring honor and glory to Israel."

³³ Now Joseph and Mary were stunned by what the old cowboy said. ³⁴ Simeon blessed the parents and then said to Mary, "This boy will be the saving and undoing of many. Not everyone will believe in him. ³⁵ He will reveal the hearts of all people. But I'm telling you that the things that will come will bring you much pain—it'll be like a blade through your heart."

Anna Tells Everyone about Jesus

³⁶ Now there was this lady named, Anna. She was a prophet of God, the daughter of Penuel and from the family of Asher. She was eighty-four years old and ³⁷ had only been married seven years when her husband died. Anna was always at the main church, praying, fasting, and worshiping the Boss. ³⁸ So sure enough, she was there when Mary and Joseph came in with Jesus. She praised God and told everyone there about Jesus and what he was going to do to free Jerusalem.

³⁹ After they had done everything to fulfill the code of Moses, the new parents headed back to Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And Jesus grew up to be a man; he was full wisdom and it was plain to see God's blessing was on him.

The Twelve-Year-Old Top Hand

⁴¹ Every year, the little family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. ⁴² When Jesus was about twelve years old, ⁴³ they all left for home after it was over just like they had done every year. But this time, Jesus stayed behind—unknown to his parents. ⁴⁴ Joseph and Mary traveled the whole day, each thinking that Jesus was with the other. When they realized Jesus wasn't with either of them, they began searching for him. ⁴⁵ They searched everywhere. When they couldn't find him, they headed back to Jerusalem.

⁴⁶ After three days of frantically looking, they found him in the main church with the religious teachers, listening and asking questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who was around was amazed at this young boy's understanding and wisdom concerning the Good Book. ⁴⁸ His parents found him, and they were amazed at his understanding. Mary put all that aside and asked Jesus, "Son, why did you do this to your dad and me? We were going crazy looking for you!"

⁴⁹ Jesus calmly replied, "Why did you look frantically? Didn't you know I would be at my Father's House and learning his work?" ⁵⁰ But Joseph and Mary didn't understand what he had asked them.

⁵¹ Jesus went back to Nazareth with them, but Mary couldn't let go of these thoughts of everything that had happened. ⁵² As he grew in stature, Jesus also grew in wisdom. You could tell God loved him, and so did everyone around him.