They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father.

The Prophecy of Anna

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.

The Ancestors of Jesus

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli.

Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.

But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,

Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children.