Yesu alizaliwa mjini Bethlehemu, mkoani Yudea, wakati Herode alipokuwa mfalme. Punde tu baada ya kuzaliwa kwake, wataalamu wa nyota kutoka mashariki walifika Yerusalemu, wakauliza, “Yuko wapi mtoto, Mfalme wa Wayahudi, aliyezaliwa? Tumeiona nyota yake ilipotokea mashariki, tukaja kumwabudu.” Mfalme Herode aliposikia hayo, alifadhaika, yeye pamoja na wakazi wote wa Yerusalemu. Basi akawaita pamoja makuhani wakuu wote na walimu wa Sheria, akawauliza, “Kristo atazaliwa wapi?” Nao wakamjibu, “Mjini Bethlehemu, mkoani Yudea. Ndivyo nabii alivyoandika: Ewe Bethlehemu katika nchi ya Yuda, kwa vyovyote wewe si mdogo kabisa kati ya viongozi wa Yuda; maana kwako atatokea kiongozi atakayewaongoza watu wangu, Israeli.” Hapo, Herode aliwaita faraghani hao wataalamu wa nyota, akawauliza wakati hasa ile nyota ilipowatokea. Kisha akawatuma Bethlehemu akisema, “Nendeni mkachunguze kwa makini habari za mtoto huyo. Mkisha mpata nileteeni habari ili nami niende nikamwabudu.” Baada ya kumsikiliza mfalme, hao wataalamu wa nyota wakaenda. Kumbe ile nyota waliyokuwa wameiona upande wa mashariki iliwatangulia hata ikaenda kusimama juu ya mahali pale alipokuwa mtoto. Walipoiona hiyo nyota, walifurahi mno. Basi, wakaingia nyumbani, wakamwona yule mtoto pamoja na Maria mama yake; wakapiga magoti, wakamsujudia. Kisha wakafungua hazina zao, wakampa zawadi: dhahabu, ubani na manemane. Mungu aliwaonya katika ndoto wasimrudie Herode; hivyo wakarudi makwao kwa njia nyingine. Baada ya wale wageni kuondoka, malaika wa Bwana alimtokea Yosefu katika ndoto, akamwambia, “Amka! Mchukue mtoto pamoja na mama yake, mkimbilie Misri. Kaeni huko mpaka nitakapokwambia, maana Herode anakusudia kumwua huyu mtoto.” Hivyo, Yosefu aliamka, akamchukua mtoto pamoja na mama yake, akaondoka usiku, akaenda Misri. Akakaa huko mpaka Herode alipokufa. Jambo hilo lilifanyika ili neno alilosema Bwana kwa njia ya nabii litimie: “Nilimwita Mwanangu kutoka Misri.” Herode alipogundua kwamba wale wataalamu wa nyota walikuwa wamemhadaa, alikasirika sana. Akaamuru watoto wote wa kiume mjini Bethlehemu na kandokando yake wenye umri wa miaka miwili na chini yake wauawe. Alifanya hivyo kufuatana na muda aliopata kujua kutoka kwa wale wataalamu wa nyota. Ndivyo yalivyotimia maneno yaliyosemwa kwa njia ya nabii Yeremia: “Sauti imesikika mjini Rama, kilio na maombolezo mengi. Raheli anawalilia watoto wake, wala hataki kutulizwa, maana wote wamefariki.” Baada ya kifo cha Herode, malaika wa Bwana alimtokea Yosefu katika ndoto kule Misri, akamwambia, “Amka! Mchukue mtoto pamoja na mama yake, urudi tena katika nchi ya Israeli, maana wale waliotaka kumwua mtoto huyo wamekwisha kufa.” Basi, Yosefu aliamka, akamchukua mtoto pamoja na mama yake, akarejea katika nchi ya Israeli. Lakini Yosefu aliposikia kwamba Arkelao mwanawe Herode alikuwa mfalme wa Yudea mahali pa baba yake, aliogopa kwenda huko. Naye baada ya kuonywa katika ndoto, alikwenda katika mkoa wa Galilaya, akahamia katika mji uitwao Nazareti. Ndivyo yalivyotimia maneno yaliyonenwa kwa njia ya manabii: “Ataitwa Mnazare.”
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