LUKAS 2
Die geboorte van Jesus
(Matt. 1:18-25)
1 In daardie tyd het keiser Augustus 'n bevel uitgevaardig dat 'n volkstelling in die hele ryk gehou moet word. 2 Hierdie eerste volkstelling het plaasgevind toe Sirenius goewerneur was in die provinsie Sirië. 3 Almal het gegaan om hulle te laat inskryf, elkeen na sy eie stad toe.
4 Ook Josef het gegaan. Hy het van die dorp Nasaret in Galilea na Judea toe gegaan, na Betlehem, die stad van Dawid, omdat hy tot die huis en geslag van Dawid behoort het. 5 Maria, sy verloofde, wat swanger was, het saamgegaan om ingeskryf te word. 6 Terwyl hulle daar was, het die tyd gekom dat haar kind gebore moes word. 7 Sy het haar Eerstelingseun in die wêreld gebring en Hom in doeke toegedraai en in 'n krip neergelê, omdat daar vir hulle geen plek in die herberg was nie.
Die skaapwagters en die engele
8 Daar was skaapwagters in daardie omgewing wat in die oop veld gebly en in die nag oor hulle skape wag gehou het. 9 Meteens staan daar 'n engel van die Here by hulle, en die heerlikheid van die Here het rondom hulle geskyn. Hulle het baie groot geskrik. 10 Toe sê die engel vir hulle: “Moenie bang wees nie, want kyk, ek bring vir julle 'n goeie tyding van groot blydskap wat vir die hele volk bestem is. 11 Vandag is daar vir julle in die stad van Dawid die Verlosser gebore, Christus die Here! 12 En dit is vir julle die teken: julle sal 'n kindjie vind wat in doeke toegedraai is en in 'n krip lê.”
13 Skielik was daar saam met die engel 'n menigte engele uit die hemel wat God prys en sê:
14 “Eer aan God in die hoogste hemel, en vrede op aarde vir die mense in wie Hy 'n welbehae het!”
15 Nadat die engele van hulle af weggegaan het na die hemel toe, sê die skaapwagters vir mekaar: “Kom ons gaan reguit Betlehem toe om te sien wat gebeur het, soos die Here dit aan ons bekend gemaak het.”
16 Hulle gaan toe haastig daarheen en kry vir Maria en Josef, en die Kindjie wat in die krip lê. 17 Toe hulle Hom sien, het hulle vertel wat oor hierdie Kindjie aan hulle gesê is. 18 Almal wat dit gehoor het, was verwonderd oor wat die skaapwagters hulle vertel het. 19 Maria het alles wat gesê is, onthou en telkens weer by haarself daaroor nagedink. 20 Die skaapwagters het toe teruggegaan terwyl hulle God loof en prys oor alles wat hulle gehoor en gesien het. Dit was alles net soos dit vir hulle gesê is.
Besnydenis, afsondering, reiniging
21 Ag dae later, toe dit tyd was om die Kindjie te besny, het Hy die naam Jesus gekry, die naam wat deur die engel genoem is nog voordat Hy in die moederskoot ontvang is.
22 Toe die reinigingstyd soos deur die wet van Moses bepaal, vir hulle verby was, het hulle Hom na Jerusalem toe gebring om Hom tot beskikking van die Here te stel. 23 In die wet van die Here staan immers geskrywe: “Elke eersteling van die manlike geslag moet vir die Here afgesonder word.”t 24 Hulle het ook die reinigingsoffer gebring volgens die voorskrif in die wet van die Here, naamlik “'n paar tortelduiwe of twee jong duiwe.”t
Simeon en Anna by die tempel
25 Daar het destyds 'n man met die naam Simeon in Jerusalem gewoon. Hy was getrou aan die wet en vroom, en het uitgesien na die koms van die Verlosser van Israel. Die Heilige Gees was op Simeon 26 en het aan hom bekend gemaak dat hy nie sou sterwe voordat hy die Gesalfde van die Here gesien het nie. 27 Deur die Gees gelei, het hy opgegaan na die tempel toe. Toe die ouers die Kindjie Jesus bring om vir Hom die gebruiklike bepaling van die wet na te kom, 28 het Simeon Hom in sy arms geneem en God geprys en gesê:
29 “Here, laat u dienaar nou in vrede gaan volgens u woord,
30 omdat my oë u verlossing gesien het
31 wat U gereed gemaak het voor die oë van al die volke:
32 'n lig tot verligting van die nasies en tot eer van u volk Israel.”
33 Sy vader en moeder was verwonderd oor die dinge wat van Hom gesê is.
34 Simeon het hulle geseën en vir Maria, sy moeder, gesê: “Kyk, hierdie Kindjie is bestem tot 'n val en 'n opstanding van baie in Israel en tot 'n teken wat weerspreek sal word. 35 So sal die gesindheid van baie mense aan die lig kom. En wat jou betref, 'n swaard sal deur jou siel gaan.”
36 Daar was ook 'n profetes, Anna, 'n dogter van Fanuel uit die stam Aser. Sy was al baie oud. As jong vrou was sy sewe jaar getroud, en na haar man se dood 37 het sy weduwee gebly. Sy was nou al vier en tagtig jaar oud. Sy het nie van die tempel af weggebly nie en het God dag en nag gedien deur te vas en te bid. 38 Juis op daardie oomblik het sy nader gekom en God gedank en oor die Kindjie gepraat met almal wat na die verlossing van Jerusalem uitgesien het.
39 Toe Josef-hulle alles nagekom het wat die wet van die Here voorskryf, het hulle na Galilea toe teruggegaan, na hulle eie dorp, Nasaret. 40 Die Kindjie het gegroei en sterk geword, en Hy was vol wysheid, en die genade van God was op Hom.
Die Kind Jesus by die tempel
41 Jesus se ouers het elke jaar vir die paasfees Jerusalem toe gegaan. 42 Toe Hy twaalf jaar oud was, het hulle weer soos gebruiklik daarheen gegaan vir die fees. 43 En toe die feesdae verby was, het sy ouers die terugreis begin, maar die Kind Jesus het in Jerusalem gebly sonder dat hulle dit geweet het. 44 Omdat hulle gedink het Hy is by die reisgeselskap, het hulle 'n dag lank gereis voordat hulle Hom onder die familie en bekendes begin soek het. 45 Toe hulle Hom nie kry nie, het hulle omgedraai na Jerusalem toe op soek na Hom. 46 Na drie dae het hulle Hom by die tempel gekry waar Hy tussen die geleerdes sit en na hulle luister en hulle uitvra. 47 Almal wat Hom gehoor het, was verbaas oor sy insig en sy antwoorde. 48 Toe sy ouers Hom sien, was hulle verslae, en sy moeder sê vir Hom: “Kind, waarom het jy so met ons gemaak? Kyk, jou vader en ek het met angs na jou gesoek.”
49 Maar Hy antwoord hulle: “Waarom het u na My gesoek? Het u nie geweet dat Ek in die huis van my Vader moet wees nie?”
50 Hulle het nie begryp wat Hy daarmee bedoel het nie.
51 Hy het toe saam met hulle na Nasaret toe teruggegaan, en Hy was aan hulle onderdanig. Sy moeder het al hierdie dinge in haar hart bewaar.
52 En Jesus het verstandelik en liggaamlik gegroei en in guns by God en die mense toegeneem.
Luke 2
1 IN THOSE days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.2 This was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,5 To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (married) wife, who was about to become a mother. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,7 And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.8 And in that vicinity there were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night.9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.11 For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord! 12 And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find [after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. [I Sam. 2:34; II Kings 19:29; Isa. 7:14.]13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing (saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.16 So they went with haste and [by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,18 And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.19 But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.21 And at the end of eight days, when [the Baby] was to be circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.22 And when the time for their purification [the mother’s purification and the Baby’s dedication] came according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--23 As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every [firstborn] male that opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the Lord--24 And [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout [cautiously and carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).27 And prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law,28 [Simeon] took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,29 And now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.30 For with my [own] eyes I have seen Your Salvation, 31 Which You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,32 A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was before unknown] and [to bring] praise and honor and glory to Your people Israel. 33 And His [legal] father and [His] mother were marveling at what was said about Him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against--35 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also--that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.36 And there was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood, 37 And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.38 And she too came up at that same hour, and she returned thanks to God and talked of [Jesus] to all who were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jerusalem.39 And when they had done everything according to the Law of the Lord, they went back into Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him. 41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover Feast. 42 And when He was twelve years [old], they went up, as was their custom.43 And when the Feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,44 But, supposing Him to be in the caravan, they traveled on a day’s journey; and [then] they sought Him [diligently, looking up and down for Him] among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.45 And when they failed to find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him [up and down] all the way.46 After three days they found Him [came upon Him] in the [court of the] temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47 And all who heard Him were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and understanding and His replies.48 And when they [Joseph and Mary] saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You [distressed and tormented].49 And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business?50 But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them.51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was [habitually] obedient to them; and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.