Phase 1 – Preparation Period

Luke 1:1-4

1Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having carefully investigated all things from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

John 1:1-18

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and none of the things that were made were made without him. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, but the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about him and cried out, “This is he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ” 16Of his fullness we have all received, even grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Matthew 1:1-17

Luke 3:23b-38

1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac was the father of Jacob, Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers, 3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, 4Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, 5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed was the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse was the father of David the king.David the king was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam was the father of Abijah, Abijah was the father of Asa, 8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram, Joram was the father of Uzziah, 9Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham was the father of Ahaz, Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah, 10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh was the father of Amon, Amon was the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the Babylonian resettlement. 12After the Babylonian resettlement, Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel, 13Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud was the father of Eliakim, Eliakim was the father of Azor, 14Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Achim, Achim was the father of Eliud, 15Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar was the father of Matthan, Matthan was the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David to the Babylonian resettlement fourteen generations, and from the Babylonian resettlement to the Christ fourteen generations.

23bbeing the son (so it was thought) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Mainan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Luke 1:5-25

5In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days. 8While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God when his division was on duty, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10At the hour of incense the whole multitude of the people was praying outside. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her days.” 19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. 20But behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.” 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his delay in the temple. 22When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, because he kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak. 23When the days of his service had come to an end, he returned to his home. 24After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25“The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has looked upon me with favor and taken away my reproach among the people.”

Luke 1:26-38

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women!” 29But when Mary saw him, she was greatly perplexed by his statement and began wondering what sort of greeting this might be. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the holy child that is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For nothing is impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel went away from her.

Luke 1:39-45

39In those days Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42Then she exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43How has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came into my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed, for what the Lord has spoken to her will be fulfilled.”

Luke 1:46-56

46Then Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48because he has looked favorably on the humble state of his servant.For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me;holy is his name. 50From generation to generation his mercy is uponthose who fear him. 51He has done a mighty deed with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down rulers from their thronesand exalted the lowly. 53He has filled the hungry with good things,but the rich he has sent away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel,remembering his mercy, 55just as he spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” 56And Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her house.

Luke 1:57-66

57Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Then her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her. 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to give him the name of his father Zechariah. 60But the child's mother responded, “No! He is to be called John.” 61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62Then they began making signs to the child's father to find out what he wanted to name him. 63So he asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64At once Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65Then fear came upon all who dwelt around them, and in the entire hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66All who heard about this laid it up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:67-79

67Then Zechariah, the child's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,for he has visited his people and brought them redemption. 69He has raised up for us a horn of salvationin the house of his servant David 70(just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets long ago), 71salvation from our enemiesand from the hand of all who hate us— 72to deal mercifully with our fathersand to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath he swore to Abraham our father,to grant us 74that we, having been rescued from the hands of our enemies,might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousnessbefore him all the days of our life. 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,for you will go before the presence of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give his people knowledge of salvationthrough the remission of their sins, 78through the tender mercy of our God,by which the sunrise has visited us from on high, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:80

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Matthew 1:18-25

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being righteous and not willing to shame her publicly, intended to send her away privately. 20But as he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary as your wife, for the child that is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: 23“Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,and they will name him Immanuel”(which means, “God with us”). 24When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. He took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to her firstborn son. And he named him Jesus.

Luke 2:1-7

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered in a census. 2This was the first census, and it took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5to register himself along with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn son. Then she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:8-20

8In the same region there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. 11For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest,and peace on earth,good will among men.” 15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, they made widely known what they had been told about the child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:21

21When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:22-38

22And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”). 24They also went up to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27So he came in the Spirit into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, 29“Now, Master, you are releasing your servant in peaceaccording to your word, 30for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentilesand for the glory of your people Israel.” 33Joseph and the child's mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, the child's mother, “Behold, this child is appointed to bring about the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul as well.” 36There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in days. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, 37and she was a widow of about eighty-four years of age. She did not depart from the temple, but served night and day with fasting and prayer. 38She came at that very hour and began giving praise to the Lord and speaking about the child to all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:1-12

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet, 6‘But you Bethlehem, land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you will come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7Then Herod secretly called the wise men and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I too may come and worship him.” 9They listened to the king and went on their way, and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.

Matthew 2:13-18

13After they were gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is about to seek the child, to destroy him.” 14So Joseph rose, took the child and his mother by night, and departed for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16When Herod saw that he had been fooled by the wise men, he was greatly enraged and sent men to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17Then what had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18“A voice was heard in Ramah,wailing, weeping, and great lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children,and she would not be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:19-23

Luke 2:39

19After Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the life of the child are dead.” 21So Joseph rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee

23and came and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

39When Joseph and Mary had finished everything that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

Luke 2:40

40And the child grew and became strong in spirit; he was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

Luke 2:41-50

41Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43And when they had completed their days there and started returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But Joseph did not know it, and neither did Jesus' mother. 44They assumed that he was in the company of travelers, so they went a day's journey before they began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46After three days, they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you in great distress.” 49He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50But they did not understand what he said to them.

Luke 2:51-52

51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus advanced in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.

Mark 1:1

Luke 3:1-2

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Matthew 3:1-6

Mark 1:2-6

Luke 3:3-6

1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.” 3This is the one who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, who said,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord;make his paths straight.’ ” 4Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and so were all Judea and all the region around the Jordan. 6They were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

2As it is written in the Prophets,“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way before you, 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord;make his paths straight,’ ” 4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside was going out to him, and so were the people of Jerusalem. They were all being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist; he ate locusts and wild honey.

3He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord;make his paths straight. 5Every valley will be filled,and every mountain and hill will be brought low.The crooked roads will be made straight,and the rough ways will be made smooth. 6And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”

Matthew 3:7-10

Luke 3:7-14

7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit consistent with repentance. 9And do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

7John said to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit consistent with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10So the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11John answered them, “Whoever has two tunics must share with him who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been authorized to collect.” 14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations, and be content with your wages.”

Matthew 3:11-12

Mark 1:7-8

Luke 3:15-18

11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

7He proclaimed, “After me comes one who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

15Now as the people were waiting in expectation and were all questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Christ, 16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one is coming who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

17His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 18With these and many other exhortations John preached good news to the people.