Bible Study Week 6
Part 3
Birth of Jesus Christ
Jesus' Birth
The birth of Jesus is recorded in Luke 2:1-20. It occurred during the reign of Caesar Augustus, who had declared a taxation on all the people in the Roman Empire. Because each person was required to go into his native city to be taxed, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. While they were there, Mary gave birth to the Christ child in a stable, and laid Him in a manger. The city was so crowded that there was no room for the family to stay in the inn.
An angel proclaimed the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord, in Bethlehem to shepherds who were watching over their flocks outside the city.
When the angels departed, the shepherds followed their instructions and came into Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph with the baby in the stable. The shepherds told many people of their angelic visit, glorifying and praising God.
Later, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem in a effort to find the One who was born king of the Jews. (See Mathew 2) They came first to King Herod in Jerusalem, inquiring where the king was to be born. Herod inquired of the chief priests and scribes, who told him that Christ was to born in Bethlehem. King Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, asking that they return and inform him if they found the child. The wise men departed into their own country another way (Mathew 2:12).
The Lord warned Joseph to take Jesus out of the country into Egypt to protect Him from the anger of Herod. Herod became very alarmed upon hearing of a king of the Jews being born, and he killed all the children in the Bethlehem area who were two years old and under.
When Herod was dead, the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream and instructed him to return to the land of Israel. Joseph moved his family to Nazareth in Galilee.
Jesus' Early Life
Jesus lived at home with Mary, Joseph, His brothers, and His sisters until He was about thirty years of age, submitting to parental authority. The only record we have of His activities during the time after the family's return from Egypt to Nazareth is a visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve. At that time, "the found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:41-52).
>>> Why do you think Jesus was born in a manger and the first people to learn about it were simple shepherds?
We've seen that God's plan throughout Scripture has been to be in relationship with all people. While the political rulers like Herod and the religious leaders (we'll soon discuss) were threatened by Jesus, those who simply came to worship were welcome, no matter their status. Jesus still welcomes people today from every walk of life.