The Birth of Jesus Christ #2

The first person words of Mary and Elizabeth

Fred R. Coulter—October 31, 2020

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services!

We're going to cover and finish the birth of Christ today. The book of Acts is a very interesting book and we're going to answer: How did Luke get some of the words that we read in Luke 1 & 2 that are the direct words of Elizabeth and Mary.

Acts 1:1: "The first account I indeed have written, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after giving command by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen" (vs 1-2).

When you read the book of Acts we find that all of the chapters go along and they are a narration about what other people did. You find that in Acts 1, 2 and all the way through different narrations.

When did Luke come on the scene and join Paul? That's key! We find these things in Acts 6-10; all of these are narrations that Paul was not involved in. How do we find where Paul identifies that he's writing this, including himself?

Acts 16 is when Paul had to vision to go over to Macedonia, and it appears that Luke was with him because he's writing it. How would you identify that Luke was there? When you're writing something, you say, 'I'—first person singular. Here's where we first come in and find that Luke must have been with him.

Acts 16:10: "And after he had seen the vision, we…"—first person plural; he's including himself!

When you write a letter to someone to explain to someone about something, and you are with people and did an event, and you're trying to tell someone else, you would say, 'We went to town…' You don't say, 'I went to town.' You don't say, in the case of Paul, 'Paul went to Macedonia.' He writes:

"…we immediately sought to go into Macedonia…" (v 10).

Verse 12: "And from there we went to Philippi…" So, Paul is having this narration written by Luke!

Acts 20—this becomes interesting, because from here on Paul and the group with him are going on up to Jerusalem.

Acts 20:13: "Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take in Paul; for he had so appointed, since he himself was going on foot. And after he met with us… [the other ones listed up at the beginning of the chapter at who were at Assos] …and we took him in, we came to Mitylene" (vs 13-14).

All the way through the journey, it's all we, plus we have some very direct comments written down about what Paul said and the things that happened.

Let's understand what happened. Paul went to Jerusalem and he gave a witness to the Jews. He was almost killed by them, but saved by a Roman Centurion and taken up into Fort Antonia for his own protection.

Then after speaking to the Sanhedrin, Paul went back to Fort Antonia. There were men plotting to kill Paul if he would come to another meeting. The son of Paul's sister heard it and came and told Paul. Then it was told to the Centurion and he told it to the Chief Captain. Then they took Paul down, by armed guard, to Caesarea. That was in 58A.D.

• How long was Paul in Caesarea?
• Where was Luke?
• How did Luke understand these things?

We'll look at two sources on how to do it!

Acts 24:27: "But at the end of two years, Felix was succeeded as governor by Porcius Festus; and, desiring to gain favor for himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. "

Acts 25:1: "Now, three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went to Jerusalem from Caesarea."

He went up there to see what the problem was that happened two years earlier, and it ended up that he could have been let free had he not appealed to Caesar.

During this two-year period, what was Luke doing? He was probably writing the book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke! Some of those things that he has in the first two chapters of Luke, he had to be talking to Mary, especially.

Acts 27:1: "Now, when it was decided that we…" Notice again that Luke was with Paul!

These verses show that Luke was with Paul all during the time that Paul was under house arrest in Caesarea.

"…should sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, who was of the band of Augustus. And after boarding a ship of Adramyttium that was about to pass by the coasts of Asia, we set sail…" (vs 1-2). So, Luke went with Paul to Rome!

That's when Luke probably got all the information for his Gospel, and for the book of Acts up to the point that he was with Paul.

Now let's look at something else that is interesting. In Acts 6 is the account where they have the seven men who were ordained to serve on the tables.

Acts 6:1: "Now, in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a complaint by the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. And after calling the multitude of disciples to them, the twelve said, 'It is not proper for us to leave the Word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brethren, search out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word'" (vs 1-4).

What is "…the ministry of the Word"? That had to be that they were writing the accounts of the Gospel!

• What did they have there?
• What did the apostles already have accumulated and written and was there wherever their main place was in Jerusalem?
• We don't know!

Luke 1—remember that Elizabeth was old and we don't know how old Mary was; she may have been 18 or 19. We don't know how old Joseph was, and we don't know when he died. Here's what we know:

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Mary went to visit her and she stayed for three months. As I mentioned in part one, what do you suppose they talked about? The very thing that was happening to both of them!

We have the first person words of Mary and Elizabeth; that's quite an astounding thing! So, let's go over that again, and we will find one thread that they understood. When they spoke, they were inspired of the Holy Spirit. But you can't speak inspired things of the Holy Spirit unless you already have something in your own mind to begin with.

Luke 1:41—when Mary came to Elizabeth's house: "Now it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leaped in her womb…"

Only Elizabeth knew that, so therefore, she had to write it down. She had to tell someone, but she hid herself for six months. She wasn't talking to anyone but Zacharias, and he couldn't talk back because he was muted because he didn't believe Gabriel the angel.

I don't know how that would work, but we know that Zacharias asked for a writing tablet, so he probably wrote the things down. This tells you that if there's a writing tablet and you write things down, don't you suppose that Mary and Elizabeth also wrote these things down, so that we have their exact words. That's quite a thing to think about!

"…and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb'" (vs 41-42).

How did Elizabeth know that Mary was pregnant? It just happened and Mary went over to see Elizabeth! Of course, Mary knew at the instant that it occurred. But normally a woman doesn't know she's pregnant until a little over a month later. That's the normal sequence of time. How did Elizabeth know that Mary was pregnant? Had to be revealed by the Holy Spirit!

Verse 43: "But why is this happening to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

That had to be inspired by God! If you all of a sudden had an inspiration that was really something, what would you do to remember it? You'd write it down! It says of Mary that she kept these things in her heart, but that doesn't mean that she didn't write them down, because we get the exact words!

Verse 44: "For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the babe in my womb leaped in exultation. And blessed is she who has believed, for there shall be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord" (vs 44-45).

Notice what Mary says, this is quite a thing: v 46: "Then Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has exulted in God my Savior'" (vs 46-47).

• "…the mother of my Lord…" (v 43
• "…God my Savior" (v 47)

Verse 48: "For He has looked upon the humble estate of His handmaid; for behold, from this time forward all generations shall count me blessed." That had to be inspired from God, but so important that it had to be written down!

How would we get it if it wasn't written down? We can say that if it wasn't written down right away—which I suppose that it was—when Luke was there in Caesarea he could travel to Jerusalem back and forth—a little over a day's journey—and he could talk to Mary.

Sidebar on the age of Mary: IF she was 18 when Jesus was born, and Jesus died at 33-1/2-years-old, that means by 30A.D. Mary was 51-1/2-years-old.

28 years later—because it was in 58A.D. Paul was arrested and put in prison in Caesarea. Luke, we saw, was with him. By 28 years Mary was 79-1/2 and the two years that they were in Caesarea would make her 81-1/2.

If Luke—which he probably did—went up to where all the apostles kept all their writings, and you know they would keep them being good record-keepers, Mary was still living. The only other way Luke could have gotten these words would be he talked directly to Mary and she remembered every word at 80-years-old. That would be over 50 years.

It shows that Mary had knowledge, plus inspiration!

Verse 48—Mary says: "For He has looked upon the humble estate of His handmaid; for behold, from this time forward all generations shall count me blessed"

That's quite a statement! That had to be by inspiration of God for her to speak that.

Verse 49: "Because the Mighty One has done great things to me, and Holy is His name… [that's quite a thing that was done] …and His mercy is toward those who fear Him, from generation to generation" (vs 49-50).

In this inspiration, she was given some knowledge that this would go on down in time!

Verse 51: "He has worked strength with His arm; He has scattered the haughty in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down rulers from thrones, and has exalted the lowly" (vs 51-52).

That's exactly what God has continually doing. That applies to us! We are the lowly and weak of the world. It tells us that we have little strength, but we have faith in God! And we know that we are the ones who are going to be sons and daughters of God and rule with Christ!

That's quite a thing; think about that! We're 2,000 years removed from this; this is fantastic information.

Verse 53: "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty."

Did He not do that with the rich man? The rich man came to Jesus and said, 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?' He went away and still had his goods, but he was empty, because he didn't receive anything from Christ, because he wasn't willing to sell and give to the poor.

Verse 54: "He has helped His servant Israel, in remembering His mercy, exactly as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever" (vs 54-55).

Both of the women understood that they were part of the ongoing promise that God gave to Abraham!

Verse 56: "And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house."

Now let's go to the chronologies. This is why we have all of this in the Bible, so that we can turn to and understand things and it's written down. What we are going to see is something very interesting, indeed!

Appendix E (The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version): When Was Jesus Christ Born?

We have all the details, all the historical facts, and it's more than just the Calculated Hebrew Calendar. There were signs in heaven and we will see later who followed the star. God made it known!

Notice that a rare thing happened in the year of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus, and it's the eclipse.

7 & 6 BC—no eclipses
5 BC—Total eclipse, March 23, 8:30 PM

In Jerusalem; that's close to when John the Baptist was born!

5 BC—Total eclipse, September 15, 10:30 PM

showing that Jesus was born in the fall!

Then we go through and see other historical things Read the Appendices at afaithfulversion.org

With the Calculated Hebrew Calendar, you can go backward and forward. But the way that God revealed it after the Flood, He did not reveal the year that creation took place. He left that a mystery!

Today, too many people are interested in the summary of things. They don't like to get into the details, but the details—if you know anything about God, law and history—matter.

Even if you go to court because you didn't understand a contract, and the judge asks you if you read the contract. 'Well, yes, I read part of it.' Did you read the part here that says you're no longer entitled to money? No sir, I didn't! Case closed! You lost, because you didn't read it.

So, the Calculated Hebrew Calendar with the course of Abijah, so we have day by day beginning in 6B.C. when the conception took place that the first day of the first month begins on a Sabbath.

Remember how the courses operated: they run from Sabbath to Sabbath, the course that is going off duty takes the first part of the Sabbath, and the course that's coming on duty takes the last half of the Sabbath. They work for a week and finish off by doing the first course of the next Sabbath.

This is in absolute perfection for the course of Abijah; he was course #8. You will notice, and you have to go down the left column first and then the right column. You will see every course. And what I did was make a probably two-week conception period for Elizabeth.

• How long is a perfect pregnancy? 40 weeks!
• Isn't it interesting that the number of trial is 40!
• What happens the 40th week? The trial of birth!

Then it comes down:

1st month thru 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy

What happened in the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy? The angel Gabriel came to the virgin Mary! Then we do a dual:

the end of the 1st month for Mary
the end of the 7th month for Elizabeth

the end of the 2nd month for Mary
the end of the 8th month for Elizabeth

the end of the 3rd month for Mary
the end of the 9th month for Elizabeth—birth of John the Baptist

Total eclipse on March 23 at 8:30 PM 

Then each month for Mary; then the Feast of Trumpets.

Notice that in 6B.C. the 1st day of the 1st month was on the Sabbath. When you come the month of Tishri we have:

Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 1
Probable day of Jesus' birth

• Does God do important things on His Holy Days? Yes!
• Do you not think that the first coming of Christ on the Feast of Trumpets would be appropriate?

That also would mean that since that was the Sabbath, the first day of the 7th month was on a Sabbath. What would happen on the next Sabbath?

Probable day of Jesus' circumcision

When the Feast of Tabernacles began we have

Total eclipse on September 15, at 10:30 PM

There we have the whole works! Now, it's necessary to bring it on down to when Herod died, because Herod was still alive when Christ was born. 

(break)

I hope that you were able to follow along with the charts in the Bible in the appendices. You can download them from afaithfulversion.org  We tried to cover in the appendices all the things that would be necessary to give you the knowledge and understanding of faith.

The next appendices—Appendix F: Chart Establishing the Year of Christ's Birth—is eight contemporary historical timelines that prove that Jesus was born in 5B.C. and his crucifixion was in 30A.D. Catholics say 33A.D. and some Churches of God say 31A.D. That is incorrect! That's based on an error by Dr. Hoeh in order to please the so-called apostle. The apostle had gotten it from the Seventh Day Adventists.

So, the things that are the most controversial in the Bible in trying to understand we put in the Commentaries and in the Appendices. So, you look at all those charts. If you want a complete Bible, go to afaithfulversion.org and find out how to get one and we'll get one to you right away.

Back to Luke 2, and what we're going to find is that in Luke—though he gave it exactly specifically when these events would take place, where Christ would be born—everything matches up when you have the right starting point.

Because the Catholics say that it was 33A.D., they chose that because in 33A.D the Passover in on a Friday. Hello!!! You can't get three days and three nights from Friday until Sunday morning. He wasn't resurrected on Sunday morning. He ascended! Why? Because that was the Wave Sheaf Offering Day, and that's the first of the firstfruits and the harvest of the saints is likened to a harvest. So, He's the First of the firstfruits!

Notice how God made it happen where Jesus would be born and supposed to be born but didn't live there. That's quite amazing!

Luke 2:1: "Now, it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered."

Who do you suppose inspired that? God did, so that this event would take place!

Verse 2: "(This registration first occurred when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) Then all went to be registered, each to his own city" (vs 2-3)—where he was born!

Joseph was of the line of David, and David was probably born in Bethlehem. But where were Joseph and Mary living? Down in the area of Galilee!

Verse 4: "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the City of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and lineage of David to register himself along with Mary, who was betrothed to him as wife, and was great with child. And it came to pass that during the time they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth" (vs 4-6).

It doesn't say that there was a midwife there. So, it was just Mary and Joseph. Of course, that would be a perfect birth without any complications.

Verse 7: "And she gave birth to her Son, the firstborn, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

That shows that this had to be a Feast occasion, which backs up that Feast of Trumpets was the day of His birth.

Verse 8: "Now there were shepherds in the same country, who were dwelling in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night"—showing that it didn't happen in the winter!

We have in A Harmony of the Gospels a picture of Jerusalem with snow in the first part of January. You don't keep sheep out in the fields in winter. This proves that it had to be before winter.

"…and keeping watch over their flock by night, and suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shined round about them; and they were seized with great fear" (vs 8-9).

Now notice the most important birth in the whole world happened in the least known circumstances possible. Mary and Joseph didn't live in Bethlehem, but they were there when Jesus was born, because it was prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. That means that there was no place there that they could say was their house. A little later they had a house.

Verse 10: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I am announcing to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.'"

Notice that God didn't let this be known to the high priest or to Herod, but to two shepherd boys. Jesus was to be our Chief Shepherd! What was David doing when he was anointed King of Israel? He was shepherding the sheep! Revealed to two shepherds!

Verse 11: "'For today, in the city of David, a Savior was born to you, Who is Christ the Lord. Now, this is the sign for you: you shall find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men of goodwill.' And it came to pass, as the angels were departing from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us'" (vs 11-15).

The only ones to broadcast this abroad were two shepherd boys!

Verse 16: "And they made haste, and came and found both Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. Now after seeing Him, they made known everywhere the proclamation that they had been told concerning this little Child. And all those who heard were filled with wonder by the things that were spoken to them by the shepherds" (vs 16-18). Didn't know a single thing about it!

Verse 19: "But Mary stored up all these sayings, pondering them in her heart." First they were all there, and later they were written down!

Verse 20: "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was said to them. Now, when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising the little Child, His name was called Jesus, which He was named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb" (vs 20-21).

How long were they in Bethlehem? We'll get an estimate on this in a little bit!

Verse 22: "And when the days were fulfilled for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord."

How long was that? 40 days! They were there just before Jesus was born, so we could say that maybe it was 45-50 days. So, they came to the temple.

Verse 23: "As it is written in the law of the Lord that every male opening the womb shall be called Holy to the Lord… [tie in Exo. 13] …And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (vs 23-25).

Imagine all of this going on, what did Jesus tell the apostles after Jesus said to Nathaniel, 'Behold a man in whom there is no guile'? Nathaniel was taken aback and said, 'You're the Messiah!' Then Jesus said to him, 'What if you could see angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man?'

• What do we have? Angels working out all of these things!
• Who came to the shepherd boys? Angels!
• Who inspired Simeon to come to the temple? The Holy Spirit and the angels!
• To come when?
• How long would they be at the temple?

It wouldn't take long for that sacrifice to be given; probably a half hour or 45 minutes at the most. Here Simeon comes just at the right time!

Verse 26: "Now, it had been Divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the little Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, He also received Him into his arms…" (vs 26-28).

He came right up to Mary, took the little baby right into his arms. I don't know what Mary thought when that occurred, but the angels were there making all of this happen according to what God wanted and here's what Simeon said:

Verse 29: "'Now, You may let your servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation… [a babe] …which You have prepared before the face of all peoples… [quite an inspiration with that] …a light for the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.' And Joseph and His mother wondered at the things that were being spoken concerning Him" (vs 29-33). Why is this happening?

Verse 34: "Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, 'Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against.'" How far out does that stretch?

The sacrifice of Christ goes all the way back in time, all through history up to His second coming, and then all through the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment. All of that has to come through Christ. So, it says, all people!

Verse 35: "(And You also, a sword shall go through your own soul) in order that the imaginations of many hearts may be revealed."

Here is this old, old man—I don't know what he look like—but he was holding the baby and being inspired to speak these words and saying that the sword is going to go through His side. That literally happened (John 19). That sword was a short spear and it came on Jesus' right side, straight in and probably pierced His heart so that He would die and all of His blood would be shed there on the ground.

Verse 36: "Now, there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about eighty-four years… [she must have been way up in her 90s by this time] …who did not depart from the temple, serving day and night with fastings and supplications" (vs 36-37).

Notice the people involved. The angels had to move these people just at the right time when they were at the temple.

Verse 38: "And at the same time she came up, giving praise to the Lord; and she spoke concerning Him to all those in Jerusalem who were waiting for redemption. Now, when they had completed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth" (vs 38-39).

Matthew brings out some very important things that needed to be added before they returned to Galilee.

Matthew 2:1: "Now, after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem."

We're not told how far east it was. The Greek word for east is 'anatole.' These Magi were they from the tribes of Israel who were running Parthia at time. So, God revealed it to people far, far away. Not to Herod, not to the priests, not to people in general, but just to special messengers!

Verse 2: "Saying, 'Where is the One Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.'" This is a starling thing! A King! That's a threat to Herod.

Verse 3: "But when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

How could it be that these men come from the east with knowledge that none of us here have? How could that be?

Verse 4: "And after gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. Then they said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judea, in no way are you least among the princes of Judea; for out of you shall come forth a Prince, Who shall shepherd My people Israel"'" (vs 4-6).

Remember that Herod was half Jew and half Edomite. Very interesting combination. That's why we have in the chart in Appendix E: When Was Jesus Born? We carry it on down to the death of Herod, because that becomes an important point in historical understanding about Jesus and so forth. It's important to understand that He died way before 33A.D.

Verse 7: "Then Herod secretly called for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the appearing of the star…. [it doesn't tell us exactly when that was] …And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the little Child; and when you have found Him, bring word back to me, so that I also may go and worshipHim.'" (vs 7-8). Really? This murderous King Herod?

Verse 9: "And after hearing the king, they departed; and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went in front of them, until it came and stood over the house where the little Child was. And after seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they found the little Child with Mary His mother…" (vs 9-11).

This time they were in a house. So, before they went back to Nazareth they were in a house. Let's see what happens here, because who is always after Jesus to kill Him? Satan! We see that right here. What did God do? We'll see that!

"…and they bowed down and worshiped Him; then they opened their treasures and presented their gifts to Him—gold and frankincense and myrrh. But being Divinely instructed in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another way" (vs 11-12).

Sidebar: You may read something by another writer who says that 'there were 2500 troops that came with the Magi. That is not true! There is no account of it here in the Bible.

If there were 2500 troops, it would have been well known to Herod when they left that the troops would go with them! This would automatically reveal where Jesus was.

So, for him to say that is an imagination that he wants to sort of 'puff up' the book. But there were no troops from Parthia.

Verse 13: "Now, after they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and escape into Egypt, and remain there until I shall tell you; for Herod is about to seek the little Child to destroy Him' And he arose by night and took the little Child and His mother, and went into Egypt" (vs 13-14).

It may have been a full moon so they would have enough light to see where they were going. Who was probably in bed sleeping? Herod! A perfect time to get out of town!

Verse 15: "And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I have called My Son.'"

Don't you get the sense that all during this time there were angels guiding and directing things to take place? watching over and protecting Jesus? Yes, of course!

Verse 16: "Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was filled with rage; and he sent and put to death all the boys who were in Bethlehem and in the area all around, from two years old and under…"

That doesn't mean that Jesus stayed there for two years! But Herod wanted to make sure that he killed the One Who was to be the King of the Jews.

Verse 17: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she would not be comforted, because they were not'" (vs 17-18).

Notice that this another important thing, and here is where it ties in with they went to Galilee.

Verse 19: "Now, when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream."

Notice how involved the angels were all through all of this:

• What did Jesus say when He was under arrest? If I would ask My Father for 12 legions of angels, He would give them!

That tells you that angels were active all during His ministry, as well.

• How do you think that all of those crowds were able to come?
• Who helped stir them up?
• Who helped send men around give a message where He was, so they could come?

Here's what the angel told them, v 20: "Saying, 'Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who were seeking the life of the little Child have died.'"

That's why we have on that chart when Herod died. He died in February after Jesus was born. You have September to February, so they were in Egypt about four months.

Verse 21: "And he arose and took the little Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there; and after being Divinely instructed in a dream, he went into the parts of Galilee. And after arriving, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarean'" (vs 21-23). All of that involved with Christ!

Here's something that we don't have: we don't have much about Jesus growing up. There are some legends that when He was a teenager He may have gone with Joseph of Arimathea who may have been His uncle. We don't know, that's just speculation. But we know nothing about from the time He came to Nazareth until the time here in Luke 2 when they went up to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12-years-old.

After 12-years-old we have nothing until we come to the time of His baptism. All of this was to protect Him, to have Him in places where the officials wouldn't think of looking.

Luke 2:40: "And the little Child grew and became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Now, His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover" (vs 40-41).

This is when they were calling Unleavened Bread Passover, because it says in John 2 that He was there during the days. How many days is Passover? One day! So, they went up to the Feast.

Verse 42: "And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast. But when they departed after completing the days… [8 days altogether: Passover is one day and 7 days of Unleavened Bread] …the Child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother did not know it" (vs 42-43).

This shows that they trusted Jesus! They let Him do what He needs to do. But they didn't know that He was going to stay back.

Verse 44: "But supposing Him to be in the company… [because they had other relatives, etc.] …they went a day's journey, and looked for Him among the relatives and among the acquaintances. And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him" (vs 44-45).

Here they were saying, 'Where is Jesus?' and add that on top of everything else that they went through with the special circumstances concerning Jesus.

Verse 46: "Now, it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them."

• How did Jesus know what He knew from an infant up until this time?

We know that in John 7, at the Feast of Tabernacles, that the 'religious' authorities said of Jesus, 'How did He get this knowledge never being schooled.' That means that He never attended any of their schools.

• How did Jesus learn?
• Who taught Him?

Isa. 50 is a very interesting Scripture, indeed! It also shows you the way that God hides things through having 'a little here and a little there' in different places so that you have to properly put it together.

Isaiah 50:4: "The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, to know to help the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as one being taught."

We know from John 12 and other places that Jesus spoke what His Father commanded Him to speak. So, Who taught Him from day one? God the Father! Every morning! That must have been something! I don't suppose that Mary and Joseph knew anything about this.

Verse 5: "The Lord GOD has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor turned away backwards…. [the next verse jumps from His childhood to His trial and scourging] …I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (vs 5-6).

So, it goes from how He was taught right to the end of His life! That's quite a thing. Don't you imagine that Jesus learned a lot by this time? Now you would have to say that Jesus, being the Son of God, had to be the smartest ever in the world. Also, the most humble of any man in the world.

Luke 2:47—He's sitting there questioning them and giving answers: "And all those who were listening to Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers."

Just one verse! See how God ties things together in the Scriptures. Two verses in Isa. 50 and one verse here.

Verse 48: "But when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have you dealt with us in this manner? Look, Your father and I have been very distressed while searching for You.' And He said to them…" (vs 48-49).

He knew what He had to do at age 12; but He couldn't do it for another 18 years. Why? Because He has a lot of other things He needed to learn, as well!

"…'Why is it that you were looking for Me? Don't you realize that I must be about My Father's business?'" (v 49). They didn't understand that!

Verse 50: "But they did not understand the words that He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them…. [all teenagers, listen up; Jesus was not rebellious (Isa. 50)] …But His mother kept all these things in her heart" (vs 50-51).

So, when Luke went up to Jerusalem—58-60A.D.—he got all the information first hand and wrote it down. Here we have this great history of the two most important women on the face of the earth, going back or going forward! And we have their very words, because God wanted us to know how important these events were.

That's what it has to do with the birth of Jesus Christ.

Scriptural References:

• Acts 1:1-2
• Acts 16:10, 12
• Acts 20:13-14
• Acts 24:27
• Acts 25:1-
•  
• Acts 27:1-2
• Acts 6:1-4
• Luke 1:41-56
• Luke 2:1-39
• Matthew 2:1-23
• Luke 2:40-46
• Isaiah 50:4-6
• Luke 2:47-51

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Acts 6-10
• Exodus 13
• John 19; 7; 12

Also referenced:
From The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version:

• Appendix E: When Was Jesus Christ Born?
• Appendix F: Chart Establishing the Year of Christ's Birth

Book: A Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 11/4/20

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