5 *Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,*6 *who, though he was in *the form of God, did not count equality with God *a thing to be grasped,*7 but *emptied himself, by taking the form of a *servant,**being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by *becoming obedient to the point of death, *even death on a cross.

4 But *when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, *born *of woman, born *under the law, 5 *to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive *adoption as sons.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise *partook of the same things, that *through death he might *destroy *the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who *through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

17 Therefore he had *to be made like his brothers in every respect, *so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest *in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

16 "For *God so loved *the world,**that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not *perish but have eternal life.

18 Now 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.

20 But as he considered these things, behold, *an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and *you shall call his name Jesus, *for he will save his people from their sins." 22 *All this took place *to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 *"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name *Immanuel"

(which means, God *with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And *he called his name Jesus.

30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for *you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, *you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and *you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of *the Most High. And the Lord God *will give to him the throne of *his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob *forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

4 And Joseph 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 lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,* who was with child. 6 And *while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and *wrapped him in swaddling cloths and *laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in *the inn.*

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all *the people. 11 For *unto you is born this day in *the city of David *a Savior, who is *Christ *the Lord. 12 And *this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby *wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

15 When the angels went 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." 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby *lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, *"You say that I am a king. *For this purpose I was born and for this purpose *I have come into the world—*to bear witness to the truth. *Everyone who is *of the truth *listens to my voice."

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, *they offered him gifts, *gold and *frankincense and *myrrh. 12 And *being warned *in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.