Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

"The days are coming"-- [this is] the LORD's declaration-- "when I will raise up a righteous Branch of David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.

This is what the Lord God says: I will take [a sprig] from the lofty top of the cedar and plant [it]. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant [it] on a high towering mountain.

Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring down the tall tree, and make the low tree tall. I cause the green tree to wither and make the withered tree thrive. I, Yahweh, have spoken and I will do [it].

You are to tell him: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the LORD's temple.

Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't His sisters here with us?" So they were offended by Him.

Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough-- because there was no room for them at the inn.

When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him.

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."

What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain, and as a sin offering,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

Just as many were appalled at You-- His appearance was so disfigured that He did not look like a man, and His form did not resemble a human being--

"Elijah does come first and restores everything," He replied. "How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.

But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

They ridiculed him: "You're that man's disciple, but we're Moses' disciples.

We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man-- we don't know where He's from!"

They shouted back, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning. Then he told the Jews, "Here is your king!"

But they shouted, "Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Should I crucify your king?" "We have no king but Caesar!" the chief priests answered.

or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.