Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to comply with census requirements, and there Mary gave birth to her first son whom she “placed in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”. Then angels appeared to nearby shepherds watching over their flocks at night and announced the birth of the Saviour. They sang “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men”. The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Jesus lying in a manger and they praised and glorified God. Then at 8-days-old Jesus was circumcised and officially named Jesus, and they offered a pair of doves as a sacrifice. A devout man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms and declared “my eyes have seen your salvation… a light for the gentiles and for glory to Israel”. Also an old prophetess named Ana “gave thanks to God… and spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem” and then Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth where Jesus grew in wisdom and in grace. Then when he was 12-years-old Jesus went to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and Jesus’ parents lost track of him until they found him in the temple courts listening to the teachers and asking them questions. When his parents complained about his disappearance Jesus replied: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Back in Nazareth “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature”.
