Study Desk

So they made signs to his father to inquire what he wanted to name the child.

Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give to His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

And everyone went to his own town to register.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!"

When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.

And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:

Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: "Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.

And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.