Kuzaliwa Kwa Yesu
(Mathayo 1:18-25)
12:1 Lk 3:1; Mt 22:17; 24:14Siku zile Kaisari Augusto alitoa amri kwamba watu wote waandikishwe katika ulimwengu wa Kirumi. 22:2 Mdo 21:3; Mt 4:24; Mdo 15:23, 41(Orodha hii ndiyo ya kwanza iliyofanyika wakati Krenio alikuwa mtawala wa Shamu2:2 Shamu inamaanisha Syria.). 3Kila mtu alikwenda kuandikishwa katika mji wake alikozaliwa.
42:4 Yn 7:42Hivyo Yosefu akapanda kutoka mji wa Nazareti ulioko Galilaya kwenda Uyahudi, mpaka Bethlehemu, mji wa Daudi, kwa sababu yeye alikuwa wa ukoo na wa nyumba ya Daudi. 52:5 Lk 1:27; Mt 1:16Alikwenda huko kujiandikisha pamoja na Maria, ambaye alikuwa amemposa naye alikuwa mjamzito. 6Wakiwa Bethlehemu, wakati wa Maria wa kujifungua ukawa umetimia, 72:7 Mt 1:25naye akamzaa mwanawe, kifungua mimba. Akamfunika nguo za kitoto na kumlaza katika hori ya kulia ngʼombe, kwa sababu hapakuwa na nafasi katika nyumba ya wageni.
Wachungaji Na Malaika
8Katika eneo lile walikuwako wachungaji waliokuwa wakikaa mashambani, wakilinda makundi yao ya kondoo usiku. 92:9 Lk 1:11; Mdo 5:19Ghafula tazama, malaika wa Bwana akawatokea, nao utukufu wa Bwana ukawangʼaria kotekote, wakaingiwa na hofu. 102:10 Mt 14:27Lakini malaika akawaambia: “Msiogope. Kwa maana tazama nawaletea habari njema za furaha itakayokuwa kwa watu wote. 112:11 Yn 3:17; Rum 11:14; Mdo 3:20; 9:22Leo katika mji wa Daudi kwa ajili yenu amezaliwa Mwokozi, ndiye Kristo2:11 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta. Bwana. 122:12 1Sam 10:7; Za 86:17Hii ndiyo itakayokuwa ishara kwenu: Mtamkuta mtoto mchanga amefunikwa nguo za kitoto na kulazwa katika hori ya kulia ngʼombe.”
132:13 Dan 7:10; Mwa 28:12; 32:12; Za 103:20, 21; 148:2; Ebr 1:14; Ufu 5:11Ghafula pakawa na jeshi kubwa la mbinguni pamoja na huyo malaika wakimsifu Mungu wakisema,
142:14 Isa 9:6; Rum 5:1“Atukuzwe Mungu juu mbinguni,
na duniani iwe amani kwa watu aliowaridhia.”
15Hao malaika walipokwisha kuondoka na kwenda zao mbinguni, wale wachungaji wakasemezana wao kwa wao, “Twendeni Bethlehemu tukaone mambo haya ya ajabu yaliyotukia, ambayo Bwana ametuambia habari zake.”
162:16 Lk 2:7Hivyo wakaenda haraka Bethlehemu, wakawakuta Maria na Yosefu na yule mtoto mchanga akiwa amelala katika hori la kulia ngʼombe. 172:17 Lk 2:10-12Walipomwona yule mtoto, wakawaeleza yale waliyokuwa wameambiwa kuhusu huyo mtoto. 18Nao wote waliosikia habari hizi wakastaajabia yale waliyoambiwa na wale wachungaji wa kondoo. 192:19 Lk 2:51Lakini Maria akayaweka mambo haya yote moyoni mwake na kuyatafakari. 202:20 Mt 9:8Wale wachungaji wakarudi, huku wakimtukuza Mungu na kumsifu kwa ajili ya mambo yote waliyokuwa wameambiwa na kuyaona.
212:21 Lk 1:31, 59Hata zilipotimia siku nane, ulikuwa ndio wakati wa kumtahiri mtoto, akaitwa Yesu, jina alilokuwa amepewa na malaika kabla hajatungwa mimba.
Yesu Apelekwa Hekaluni
222:22 Law 12:2-8Ulipotimia wakati wa utakaso wake Maria kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Mose, basi Yosefu na Maria walimpeleka mtoto Yerusalemu, ili kumweka wakfu kwa Bwana 232:23 Kut 2:12-15; Hes 3:13(kama ilivyoandikwa katika Sheria ya Bwana, kwamba, “Kila mtoto wa kiume kifungua mimba atawekwa wakfu kwa Bwana”), 242:24 Law 12:8na pia kutoa dhabihu kulingana na yale yaliyonenwa katika Sheria ya Bwana: “Hua wawili au makinda mawili ya njiwa.”
252:25 Lk 16:6; 23:51; Isa 52:9Basi alikuwako huko Yerusalemu mtu mmoja jina lake Simeoni, ambaye alikuwa mwenye haki na mcha Mungu, akitarajia faraja ya Israeli, na Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa juu yake. 262:26 Za 89:48; Ebr 11:5Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa amemfunulia kuwa hatakufa kabla hajamwona Kristo wa Bwana. 272:27 Mwa 46:30; Flp 1:23; Lk 2:22Simeoni, akiwa ameongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu, alikwenda Hekaluni. Wazazi walipomleta mtoto Yesu ili kumfanyia kama ilivyokuwa desturi ya Sheria, 28ndipo Simeoni akampokea mtoto mikononi mwake na kumsifu Mungu, akisema:
292:29 Mdo 2:24“Bwana Mwenyezi, kama ulivyoahidi,
sasa wamruhusu mtumishi wako
aende zake kwa amani.
302:30 Isa 40:5; Lk 3:6; Isa 52:10Kwa maana macho yangu yameuona wokovu wako,
31ulioweka tayari machoni pa watu wote,
322:32 Isa 49:6; Mdo 26:23nuru kwa ajili ya ufunuo kwa watu wa Mataifa
na kwa ajili ya utukufu kwa watu wako Israeli.”
33Naye Yosefu na mama yake mtoto wakastaajabu kwa yale yaliyokuwa yamesemwa kumhusu huyo mtoto. 342:34 Mt 12:46; Isa 8:14; Gal 5:11Kisha Simeoni akawabariki, akamwambia Maria mama yake, “Mtoto huyu amewekwa kwa makusudi ya kuanguka na kuinuka kwa wengi katika Israeli. Atakuwa ishara ambayo watu watanena dhidi yake, 352:35 Za 42:10; Yn 19:25ili mawazo ya mioyo mingi yadhihirike. Nao upanga utauchoma moyo wako.”
362:36 Mdo 21:9Tena alikuwako Hekaluni nabii mmoja mwanamke, jina lake Ana binti Fanueli, wa kabila la Asheri. Alikuwa mzee sana; naye alikuwa ameolewa na kuishi na mume kwa miaka saba tu, kisha mumewe akafa. 372:37 1Tim 5:9; Mdo 14:23Hivyo alikuwa mjane na umri wake ulikuwa miaka themanini na minne. Yeye hakuondoka humo Hekaluni usiku wala mchana, bali alikuwa akimwabudu Mungu, akifunga na kuomba. 382:38 Isa 52:9; Lk 24:21Wakati huo huo, Ana alikuja akaanza kusifu, akimshukuru Mungu na kusema habari za huyo mtoto kwa watu wote waliokuwa wakitarajia ukombozi wa Yerusalemu.
392:39 Mt 2:23Yosefu na Maria walipokuwa wamekamilisha mambo yote yaliyotakiwa na Sheria ya Bwana, walirudi mjini kwao Nazareti huko Galilaya. 402:40 Lk 2:52; 1:80Naye yule mtoto akakua na kuongezeka nguvu, akiwa amejaa hekima, na neema ya Mungu ilikuwa juu yake.
Kijana Yesu Hekaluni
412:41 Kut 23:15; Lk 22:8Kila mwaka Yosefu na Maria mama yake Yesu walikuwa na desturi ya kwenda Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka. 42Yesu alipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na miwili, walipanda kwenda kwenye Sikukuu hiyo kama ilivyokuwa desturi. 432:43 Kut 12:18Baada ya Sikukuu kumalizika, wakati Yosefu na Maria mama yake walipokuwa wakirudi nyumbani, Yesu alibaki Yerusalemu lakini hawakutambua. 44Wao wakidhani kuwa yuko miongoni mwa wasafiri, walienda mwendo wa kutwa nzima. Ndipo wakaanza kumtafuta miongoni mwa jamaa zao na marafiki. 45Walipomkosa walirudi Yerusalemu ili kumtafuta. 46Baada ya siku tatu wakamkuta ndani ya Hekalu, akiwa ameketi katikati ya walimu wa sheria, akiwasikiliza na kuwauliza maswali. 472:47 Mt 7:28Wote waliomsikia walistaajabishwa na uwezo wake mkubwa wa kuelewa, na majibu aliyoyatoa. 482:48 Mt 12:46; Lk 3:23; 4:22Yosefu na Maria mama yake walipomwona walishangaa. Mama yake akamuuliza, “Mwanangu, mbona umetufanyia hivi? Tazama, mimi na baba yako tumekuwa tukikutafuta kwa wasiwasi mkubwa kila mahali.”
492:49 Yn 2:16Yesu akawaambia, “Kwa nini kunitafuta? Hamkujua kwamba imenipasa kuwa katika nyumba ya Baba yangu?”
502:50 Mk 9:32Lakini wao hawakuelewa maana ya lile alilowaambia.
512:51 Lk 2:19Ndipo akashuka pamoja nao hadi Nazareti, naye alikuwa mtiifu kwao. Lakini mama yake akayaweka moyoni mwake mambo haya yote. 522:52 Mit 3; 4; Lk 1:80Naye Yesu akakua katika hekima na kimo, akimpendeza Mungu na wanadamu.
Jesus Is Born
1In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. 2It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3Everyone went to their own town to be listed.
4So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. 5He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby. 6While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. 7She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. That’s because there was no guest room where they could stay.
8There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,
14“May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!
And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”
15The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. 17After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. 18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over. 20The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.
21When the child was eight days old, he was circumcised. At the same time he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
Joseph and Mary Take Jesus to the Temple
22The time came for making Mary “clean” as required by the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord. 23In the Law of the Lord it says, “The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord.” (Exodus 13:2,12) 24They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Leviticus 12:8)
25In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God’s promise to Israel to come true. The Holy Spirit was with him. 26The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus’ parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required. 28Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29“Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
30My eyes have seen your salvation.
31You have prepared it in the sight of all nations.
32It is a light to be given to the Gentiles.
It will be the glory of your people Israel.”
33The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, “This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him. 35The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years. 37Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without food. 38Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
39Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God’s grace.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42When Jesus was 12 years old, they went up to the feast as usual. 43After the feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. 44They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere.”
49“Why were you looking for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he meant by that.
51Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. 52Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
