Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day two.
At that time, the Roman Emperor Augustus decreed that a census should
be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
This was the first census taken when Corus was the governor of Syria,
all returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he
had to go to Bethlehem in Judea.
David's ancient home.
He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who is now expecting a child.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
She gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him snuggly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was
no lodging available for them that night.
There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance
of the Lord's glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.
Don't be afraid.
He said, I bring you good news.
That will bring great joy to all people.
The Savior.
Yes, the Messiah.
The Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David, and
you will recognize him by this sign.
You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth lying in a manger.
Suddenly the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven,
praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth,
to those with whom God is pleased.
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherd said to each
other, let's go to Bethlehem.
Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph, and there
was the baby lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the
angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherd's story were astonished, but Mary kept all these
things in her heart and thought about them Often, the shepherds went back to
their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them eight days later when the
baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus the name given him by the
angel even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for their purification offering as required by the law of
Moses after the birth of a child.
So his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
The law of the Lord says if a woman's first child is a boy, he
must be dedicated to the Lord.
So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord, either a pair
of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.
At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon.
He was righteous and devout, and was eagerly waiting for the
Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he
would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah That day.
The Spirit led him to the temple.
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord,
as the law required, Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God saying, sovereign Lord,
now let your servant die in peace.
As you have promised, I have seen your salvation, which you
have prepared for all people.
He has a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the
glory of your people, Israel.
Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and he said to Mary the baby's mother, this child
is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many others to rise.
He has been sent, has a sign from God, but many will oppose him.
As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and
a sword will pierce your very soul.
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the temple.
She was the daughter of UL from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old.
Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.
Then she lived as a widow to the age of 84.
She never left the temple, but stayed there day and night worshiping
God with fasting and prayer.
She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph,
and she began praising God.
She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly
for God to rescue Jerusalem.
When Jesus' parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they
returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
There the child grew up healthy and strong.
He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on him.
Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
When Jesus was 12 years old, they attended the festival as usual.
After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth.
But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents didn't miss him at first because they assumed he was among the
other travelers, but when he didn't show up that evening, they started looking for
him among their relatives and friends.
When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
Three days later, they finally discovered him in the temple,
sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
His parents didn't know what to think, son, his mother said to
him, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been frantic searching for you everywhere,
but why did you need to search?
He asked, didn't you know that I must be in my father's house?
But they didn't understand what he meant.
Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, and his mother
stored all these things in her heart.
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
It was now the 15th year Lorraine of Tiberius, the Roman Emperor Pontius
Pilate was governor over Judea.
Herod Anus was ruler over Galilee.
His brother Philip, was ruler over I urea and Tracheitis.
Lasus was ruler over Abini Anus and Caiaphas were the
high priests at this time.
A message from God came to John's son of Zechariah who
was living in the wilderness.
Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River preaching
that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their
sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, He is a voice shouting in the wilderness.
Prepare the way for the Lord's coming.
Clear the road for him.
The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.
When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, you brewed of snakes.
Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
Don't just say to each other, we're safe for we are descendants of Abraham.
That means nothing for I tell you, God can create children of
Abraham from these very stones.
Even now, the acts of God's judgment is poised, ready to
sever the roots of the trees.
Yes.
Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped
down and thrown into the fire.
The crowds asked, what should we do?
John replied, if you have two shirts, give one to the poor.
If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked
teacher, what should we do?
He replied, collect no more taxes than the government requires.
What should we do?
Ask some soldiers.
John replied, don't extort money or make false accusations
and be content with your pay.
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon and they were eager to know
whether John might be the Messiah.
John answered their questions by saying, I baptize you with water,
but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am so much greater that
I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork.
Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn, but
burning the chaff with never ending fire.
John used many such warnings as he announced the good news to the people.
John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for
marrying Herods his brother's wife and for many other wrongs he had done so.
Herod put John in prison adding this sin to his many others.
One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized
as he was praying, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit in bodily
form descended on him like a dove.
In a voice from Heaven said, you are my dearly loved son,
and you bring me great joy.
Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
Heli was the son of Mathe.
Mathe was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Malachi.
Malai was the son of Janai.
Janai was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Matthias.
Matthias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Naim.
Nhem was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Naga.
Naga was the son of May, was the son of Matthias.
Matthias was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Joseph Jo was the son of Joda.
Joda was the son of Jo Aan.
Joann was the son of Risa.
Risa was the son of Zobel.
Zobel was the son of she.
She was the son of Neri.
Neri was the son of Malachi.
Malachi was the son of Addai.
I was the son of Koum.
Koum was the son of El, maam?
El Maam was the son of er.
Er was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Ellie Zer.
Ellie Zer was the son of Jora.
Jora was the son of Maat.
Maat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Ayako.
Eliakim was the son of Mia.
Mia was the son of Mena.
Mena was the son of Madha.
Madha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of oped.
Ed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.
Salman was the son of Naan.
Naan was the son of Amab.
Amab was the son of admin.
Admin was the son of Arni.
Arni was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Pez.
Pez was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Tara.
Tara was the son of Hor.
Hor was the son of Sir.
Sir was the son of Riu.
Riu was the son of Peg.
Peg was the son of Eber.
Eber was the son of Sheila.
Sheila was the son of Canaan.
Canaan was the son of our facts.
Ad our facts.
Ad was the son of Shem.
Shem was the son of Noah.
Noah was the son of Lemac.
Was the son of Mathusla.
Mathusla was the son of Enoch.
Enoch was the son of Jared.
Jared was the son of Mahalo.
Mahalo was the son of Keenan.
Keenan was the son of Enoch.
Enoch was the son of Seth.
Seth was the son of Adam.
Adam was the son of God.
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan River.
He was led by the spirit in the wilderness where he was
tempted by the devil for 40 days.
Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
Then the devil said to him, if you are the son of God, tell the
stone to become a loaf of bread.
But Jesus told him no.
The scriptures say people do not live by bread alone.
Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms
of the world in a moment of time.
I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them.
The devil said, because they are mine to give to anyone.
I please.
I will give it all to you if you will worship me.
Jesus replied, the scriptures say, you must worship the Lord
your God, and serve only him.
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem to the highest point of the temple
and said, if you are the son of God, jump off for the scriptures, say.
He will order his angels to protect and guard you, and they will hold
you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.
Jesus responded.
The scriptures also say, you must not test the Lord your God.
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him
until the next opportunity came.
This concludes today's immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.