Lessons Bread of Life 26 December 2020
Isaiah 61:10—62:3
10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.
2The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.
3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Psalm 111
1Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord
with my | whole heart,*
in the company of the upright,
in the congre- | gation.
2Great are the works | of the Lord,*
studied by all who de- | light in them.
3Full of splendor and majesty | is his work,*
and his righteousness endures for- | ever.
4He has caused his wondrous works
to be re- | membered;*
the Lord is gracious and | merciful.
5He provides food for those who | fear him;*
he remembers his covenant for- | ever.
6He has shown his people
the power | of his works,*
in giving them the inheritance of the | nations.
7The works of his hands are faith- | ful and just;*
all his precepts are | trustworthy;
8they are established forever and | ever,*
to be performed with faithfulness
and up- | rightness.
9He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for- | ever.*
Holy and awesome | is his name!
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good under- | standing.*
His praise endures for- | ever!
Galatians 4:4–7
4When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Luke 2:22–40
22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29“Lord, now you are letting your
servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation
31that you have prepared in the presence
of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.