-LIFE OF CHRIST - PERIOD OF PREPARATIONS

-Events Surrounding the Birth of Christ

-Luke 2:1-7

            -Caesar Augustus issued a decree which required a new census.  The word translated “taxed” in

        the KJV means “to write off (a copy or list), i.e. enroll” (Strongs).  The NASB says, “a decree

        went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken”.  For this to take place, the people went

              to the city of their ancestors.  Therefore, being a descendant of David, Joseph went to Bethlehem.

              (1 Sam 16:1, 20:6).  While there, Jesus was born.  (Micah 5:2, Matt 2:1, 5-6)

            -What a humble entry for the Saviour of the world!  Notice, there was no room for Jesus in the inn.

             Unfortunately, many people still leave no room for Jesus in their hearts and lives.

            -John 1:14, Gal 4:4

-Luke 2:8-20

            -While in the fields tending their flocks, shepherds receive word from angels that “Christ the Lord”

              had been born.  They then went “with haste” to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph and Jesus in

              the manger.  The shepherds spread the word of Christ’s arrival and then returned to their flocks

              “glorifying and praising God”.

-Luke 2:21-39

      -After Jesus was circumcised, He was taken to the temple in Jerusalem.  (Ex 13:2, Lev 12:6-8)

      -Here we learn of Simeon, a “just and devout” man who had been given a revelation by the Holy

        Spirit that, prior to death, he would see the Lord.  Simeon refers to Jesus as “salvation…prepared

        before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles”. (John 1:4-14)  Simeon reveals the

        fact that Jesus’ life was not going to be an easy one and Mary’s soul would be pained by His

  suffering.  (John 19:25)  Some would support Him but others would oppose Him. 

-We also learn of Anna, a widow who prayerfully yearned for the Messiah.  She, too, was thankful

  to see Jesus and spoke of redemption.

-At the end of verse 39, we find that Luke skips forward to another stage of Jesus’ life.  Additional

  details are provided in Matthew’s account.

-Matt 2:1-12

      -News regarding the birth of Jesus continued to spread and reached Herod.  Herod, motivated by

       very poor intentions, called some wise men to him in order to enquire of the birthplace of Jesus.

       Herod then sent these men to locate Jesus.  Herod falsely claimed that he wanted to know His

 whereabouts so that he could go and worship Him. 

-The wise men went to Bethlehem, found Jesus thanks to a Divine star of guidance, worshipped

  Him and presented gifts.  Being warned of God, they did not return to Herod but returned to their

  homes instead.

-Matt 2:13-15

            -Joseph is warned of danger to because of Herod and goes to Egypt.

            -They remained in Egypt until Herod’s death.  (Hos 11:1)

-Matt 2:16-23

            -Herod realizes that the wise men had not followed his instructions.  Therefore, he still didn’t

              know the location of Jesus.  So, Herod had all the children (thought to be the male children), from

              two years old and younger, in Bethlehem and the immediate area killed.   (Jer 31:15)

            -An angel of the Lord then appeared to Joseph with instructions to return to Israel.  Joseph was still

              afraid due to the fact that the son of Herod, Archelaus, ruled in Judea.  However, being warned

              by God in a dream, Joseph went to Galilee – to the city of Nazareth.

            -Special Note on vs 23:  There has been much discussion and a variety of ideas in regards to this

              verse.  There is not a specific Old Testament verse which contains the statement:  “He shall be

              called a Nazarene”.  Some have tried to attribute this to the statement made in regards to 

              Sampson (Judg 13:5).  Others have tried to connect Judges 13:5 (“a Nazarite” from “naziyr” or

              “nazir”) with Isaiah 11:1 due to the occurrence of the Hebrew word “netser” (“the Branch”).  In

               this way, they try to connect Jesus, the Branch, with “Nazarite”.  However, I agree with another

               viewpoint that has been offered in explanation.  It is very possible that Matthew is referring to the

               overall prophecies of Jesus contained in a number of the prophets in regards to the attitude of the

               people toward Him.  (Notice, Matthew wrote, “which was spoken by the prophets” - plural.) 

              They despised Jesus and rejected Him.  “Nazareth bore a bad name even in Galilee…which itself,

               because of its half pagan population and rude dialect, was despised by the people of Judea”

               (Fausset).  Notice Nathanael’s response to “Jesus of Nazareth” in John 1:45-46.  The idea that

               Jesus, as a Nazarene, would be looked down upon, despised and rejected fits well with Old

               Testament prophecies.  For example, see Isaiah 53:3.

-This brings us back to the point of Luke 2:39 – Jesus in Nazareth.