THE BIRTH AND BOYHOOD OF CHRIST

Deep within the heart of every Christian is a longing to

know more about the background of the life of Jesus and the

times in which He lived. It seems that every bit of new

information brings us closer to Christ.

In this volume we show the conditions existing in the world

at the time of Christ’s birth, including the sad spiritual state of

the nation Israel. We have gathered what information is

available from secular sources about customs existing in the city

of Nazareth in those days. We note the humble origin, the

beautiful character, and the grace and exemplary conduct of

Mary when she was tried under the most difficult circumstances.

We sketch the character of her husband Joseph, a humble son of

toil. We see him taking his wife to Bethlehem to register, and

when he arrives, finds that Mary is ready to become a mother.

He looks for but cannot find a single available room in the city

of Bethlehem. Almost in despair he is forced to take her to a

shelter where the animals share space with them. In the humble

facilities of a manger the greatest event in the history of the

world took place—the birth of Jesus Christ.

In this volume we give a background of the historical events

which occurred in the world at that time. The book answers such

questions as:

What woman in the Bible saw events unfold during the

whole century before Christ’s birth, and who dedicated her life

to the work of praying for the coming of the Messiah?

What does history say about Herod who murdered the

children of Bethlehem?

How did it happen that Joseph and Mary underwent the

hardships of the trip to Bethlehem just before she was to give

birth to the Christ child?

Was Christ born on December 25th?

What do the apocryphal gospels say about the boyhood of

Christ? Are these stories credible?

Did Jesus go to school?

What events happened in Nazareth during the boyhood days

of Christ?

What terrible and shocking catastrophe happened three

miles from Nazareth during the time Christ lived there?

The Birth and Boyhood

of Christ

by Gordon Lindsay

Published by

CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS

Dallas, Texas

Reprinted 1977

All Rights Reserved

Contents

Chapter 1

The World When Jesus Was Born. .............................................7

Chapter II

Mary, the Mother of Jesus. ........................................................13

Chapter III

The Birth of Jesus. ....................................................................21

Chapter IV

The Boy Jesus. ..........................................................................31

Chapter V

The Visit to Jerusalem. ..............................................................39

Chapter 1

The World When Jesus Was Born

1

There was a remarkable woman in the city of Jerusalem by

the name of Anna who lived in the days just before the coming

of Christ (Luke 2:36-38). She stayed in the temple, and there she

prayed night and day for her people. She had married in the year

91 B.C., but her husband had died seven years later. She with a

few others like her had interceded to God continually with

fastings for the Messiah to come. During her lifetime she had

witnessed the world passing through great political convulsions.

Rome was shaken again and again by bloody civil wars.

Kingdoms rose and fell in her march to world power.

In 63 B.C. Pompey invaded Palestine and besieged

Jerusalem. Anna could well remember the awful day when the

Roman army broke down the wall with battering rams. The

battle had been fought on the Sabbath when many of the Jews

refused to fight. The slaughter that had followed had been

terrible. After breaking into the temple, Pompey went into the

holy place where only the priest was supposed to go. Eleven

years later another general by the name of Crassus entered the

temple and plundered it again.

Then came Julius Caesar. Caesar crossed the Rubicon and

made himself master of Italy. Pompey, who had profaned the

temple, fought desperately; but his army was crushed in the

battle of Tapsus. Three years later it was Caesar’s turn to meet

his fate. He was assassinated in Rome on the Ides of March.

More civil war followed, and Mark Antony came to power; but

he and his paramour, the ambitious and unscrupulous Cleopatra,

lost the battle at Actium. Augustus Caesar was the victor. All

these things took place in Anna’s life time, but she prayed on. In

time her prayers and those of others like her were to change the

world more than all the armies of the Caesars.

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The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

During Augustus Caesar’s reign, a man by the name of

Herod had watched these events warily, and he was always

careful to throw his lot on the winning side. As a reward for his

services, Augustus made him king of Palestine. Ambitious and

ruthless, he beautified Jerusalem and authorized the building of

a new and magnificent temple. Anna could remember when the

great edifice was far enough along that they could worship in it.

From that time on, day and night, she was in the temple fasting

and praying that the Messiah might come. Then one day she was

prompted to go to that part of the temple where the priests were

making ready the offerings for the people. The Spirit had

witnessed to her that a certain child who was being presented in

the temple was none other than the One who would bring

redemption to Jerusalem. She went in and gave thanks to God

and told the people that it was He who would save Israel. At

about the same time a man called Simeon had also received a

similar revelation. After seeing the Babe and taking Him in his

arms, he blessed God and said, “Lord now lettest thy servant

depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have

seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).

The State of the Nation Israel

With the appearance of the Messiah, an altogether new force

came into the world. If we are to understand the impact of this

epochal event, we must know something of the state of Israel at

that time. Let us, therefore, take a brief view of those conditions

existing in the nation within whose borders the life of the

Messiah was to be passed.

As one reads through the Bible and passes from the Old

Testament to the New, he may think that the people of Israel in

Jesus’ day were much the same as they were in the earlier

period. But during the four centuries that elapsed after the days

of Malachi, as great a change took place in Israel as ever

occurred in the history of any nation. Even the language of the

people had changed, as well as many of its customs and

institutions.

8

The World When Jesus Was Born

Politically, Israel had passed through evil times. In the days

of Ezra and Nehemiah the nation had been organized as a sort of

theocratic state. One conqueror after another had passed through

the land, gradually but surely changing everything. The brave

Maccabees had raised the battle cry of freedom, and for a certain

period they had thrown off the yoke of the oppressor. However,

within a century after the Maccabees the Jewish state had fallen

completely under the sway of Rome.

The Herod dynasty which came to power a few years before

Christ’s birth held the nation under subjection. But shortly after

Jesus was born, the country was divided into three parts. Galilee

and Peraea were reigned over by vassal kings. Judea, after

suffering the misrule of Archelaus, was ruled by a governor. The

iron heel of Rome was now felt everywhere. Roman soldiers

were stationed throughout the country. Roman standards waved

over the nation’s fortresses. Roman tax gatherers were in every

town of any size.

The Sanhedrin, which was the supreme religious body of the

nation, retained only a shadow of power, they being mere

puppets of Rome and subject to the caprice of the imperial

rulers. Notwithstanding, religious and national patriotism burned

with as fierce a passion as at any time in Israel’s history.

Religiously, the people were more orthodox than in any

previous period. Prior to the Babylonian captivity, the nation had

been cursed with idolatry. But the captivity had cured them of

that. The priestly orders had since been reorganized, and the

temple services and the annual feasts were regularly observed.

Although Herod the Great had built a new temple in

Jerusalem that rivaled that of Solomon, a new institution had

sprung up which almost put the temple into the background—the

synagogue. There were synagogues wherever the Jews

worshipped in Israel, as well as throughout the civilized world.

People filled the synagogues on Sabbath days. There they

prayed, heard the Scriptures read, and listened to an exhortation

of a rabbi. Schools of theology had sprung up in which rabbis

were trained and the sacred books interpreted.

9

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

With all this activity true religion in Israel, nevertheless,

greatly declined. Even during periods of apostasy in ancient

Israel, there had arisen great prophets who spoke to the

conscience of the nation and maintained a contact with heaven.

But for four hundred years no prophet had appeared in Israel.

During this period, there had arisen several new religious

sects, one of which was the Pharisees, who became champions

of Jewish racial superiority. Characterized by an extreme

narrowness and sectarianism, they were committed to legalism

and externals. They despised and hated other races and came to

look upon themselves as the special favorites of heaven, simply

because they were descendants of Abraham.

There were the scribes who were associated with the

Pharisees and who devoted their lives to copying the Scriptures.

They professed great reverence for the Scriptures, counting

every word and letter in them. However, their interpretation of

the Old Testament was entirely legalistic, and much that was

spiritual and noble in it they passed by.

The rabbis added their mass of opinions to the Scriptures,

and in the course of time the scribes came to regard these

traditions as being as authoritative as the Holy Writings

themselves. The multiplication of interpretations finally reached

such proportions as to regulate every detail of human life—

personal, domestic, and social. The learning of a scribe consisted

of memorizing a vast number of these opinions. It was these

traditions that the scribes taught the people in the synagogues

which became such a burden that the people were unable to bear

it. The spiritual and moral issues were forgotten as rituals and

ceremonies multiplied and proliferated.

The Sadducees were the “modernists” of their day. They

rejected the authority of tradition, but their protest was merely

negative. They had nothing to offer in the place of the traditions.

They were a worldly group of men, many of whom were

wealthy. They ridiculed the exclusiveness of the Pharisees, but

at the same time they had lost all faith in that which had once

been the hope of the nation. They did not believe in miracles or

10

The World When Jesus Was Born

angels. The Sadducees were entirely materialistic in their

thinking and even denied the resurrection. They can best be

described as a worldly sophisticated group with a superficial

veneer of religion who reflected Greek culture and enjoyed

foreign amusements. They worshipped wealth and worldly

position. One special section of the Sadducees flattered Herod;

they sought his favor and were for that reason called Herodians.

Outside the pale of these religious parties were the masses

of the lower social scale—the publicans, harlots, and sinners—

the flotsam and jetsam of humanity for whose souls no man

cared. These were the people that God had once called the

children of Abraham. These were the people to whom the

Messiah had been promised. There were still some among them

who cherished the hope of the consolation of Israel. There were

those such as Anna and Simeon who prayed night and day with

fastings and tears that the Lord might come and redeem His

people from their sins.

11

Chapter II

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

2

As the mother of Jesus, Mary stands apart from all other

women. No other in history has ever been so honored. Both the

angel Gabriel and Mary’s cousin Elizabeth said to her, “Blessed

art thou among women” (Luke 1:28, 42). To get the true

picture of Mary, we must escape the legend and fancy of

centuries and confine our attention to what the Scriptures

actually say about her.

Mary had a humble beginning. She was an obscure peasant

girl living in the village of Nazareth of a poor family, although

of the royal Davidic line. She seemed to be of a retiring nature,

reticent, and shrinking from public view.

When we first see Mary, she is a young girl having scarcely

crossed the threshhold of womanhood. Marriage was early in the

East; and a Jewish maiden just betrothed could hardly have been

out of her teens. To this young woman, born in a peasant’s

home, accustomed to the little round of domestic duties and

completely ignorant of the world and its ways, came a startling

and overwhelming revelation.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent

from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. To a

virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the

house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the

angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly

favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among

women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his

saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation

this should be. (Luke 1:26- 29)

The first thoughts of Mary could only have been those of

bewilderment and dismay. First the appearance of the archangel

which in itself would have startled anyone—and then his

message of expectant virgin motherhood must have astonished

13

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

her beyond measure. But she managed to recover her composure

and bowing in submission to the angel listened to what he had to

say:

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou

hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt

conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call

his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the

Son of the Highest: And he shall reign over the house of

Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I

know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto

her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power

of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that

holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the

Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath

also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth

month with her, who was called barren. For with God

nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, behold the

hand maid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy

word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:30-38)

It is the artists rather than the theologians who have tried to

convey to us the feeling of the Nazarene maiden at the time of

the annunciation. Rosselli shows Mary shrinking from the angel,

almost cowering at his feet, but not because she is dazzled by

coming into the presence of so great a personage, for she keeps

her eyes upon him in a steadfast gaze. The dark eves have in

them the terror of the hunted deer. It is his overwhelming

message, not Gabriel, that smites her with alarm.

Mary recovered herself, and in humble self-possession

answered the angel with simple dignity. She did not say as

Zacharias did, “Whereby shall I know this?” , but rather,

“How shall this be?” The first statement was one of unbelief,

but Mary took the words of the angel for granted. She only

inquired how the event would come about.

The angel informed Mary that the conception would occur

by the power of the Holy Ghost who would overshadow her, and

that the child that was to be born would be called the Son of

14

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

God. In humble submission the young maiden said, “Behold the

handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”

(Luke 1:38).

We are then told that “Mary arose in those days, and went

into the hill country with haste, unto a city of Juda” (Luke

1:39). What was the reason for this haste in departure? Was her

mother a person that she could not confide in? Or was Mary

already an orphan? Since the Scriptures are silent on this point,

we cannot be sure. But the fact that Mary left “in haste” is

significant. It was important to her that she should have time to

ponder the meaning of her strange experience and adjust herself

to it. It would seem that there was no one in Nazareth in whom

she could fully confide. Moreover, women have a way of

quickly discovering when another woman is with child.

Although betrothed to Joseph, she did not feel that the subject

was one that she could tell him about at that particular time.

The angel Gabriel had mentioned that her cousin Elisabeth

had “conceived a son in her old age.” Mary apparently felt that

a visit to Elisabeth’s home at that time would provide her with

wisdom and counsel for the events that were to come. She made

the trip southward to the home which was located in the hill

country not far from Jerusalem.

The warm welcome she received at the household of

Elisabeth and Zacharias was reassuring. Even as Mary entered

the house and gave her salutation, her cousin was filled with the

Holy Ghost. Elisabeth began to prophesy, speaking of Mary as

the “mother of my Lord.”

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed

art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my

Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy

salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my

womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there

shall be a performance of those things which were told her

from the Lord. (Luke 1:42-45)

The words of Elisabeth spoken under the Holy Spirit were

15

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

just the encouragement that Mary needed at the time. Following

Elisabeth’s prophecy, Mary spoke in the Spirit the beautiful

Magnificat:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. And

my Spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath

regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold,

from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For

he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is

his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from

generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his

arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of

their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats,

and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry

with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his

mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his

seed for ever. (Luke 1:46-55)

These Scriptures are Mary’s hymn of praise to God, and

they showed that apart from being the mother of the Lord, Mary

was a prophetess in her own right. This jubilant song pouring

from her lips revealed Mary’s wonderful breadth of spiritual

experience. Her words remind us of the song of Hannah, but as

the mother of the Lord her song reaches even more sublime

heights.

Mary found in Elisabeth a true mother in Israel. They spent

many a holy hour together, discussing the tremendous

significance of the events that had come into their lives.

Zacharias sat near them with sealed lips, mute evidence of the

goodness and severity of God. (Luke 1:18-23). From time to

time he would send them a note from his writing table,

informing them of things he had discovered from the prophecies

and the Messianic psalms.

The three happy months spent in Elisabeth’s home came to

an end all too soon. Perhaps Mary remained until Elisabeth’s

child was born, for the three months added to the six would have

completed Elisabeth’s time. If so, Mary left immediately after

that event and returned to Nazareth.

16

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Mary, although a pure virgin, was soon to face the problem

that a young unmarried girl does when she becomes pregnant.

She could not keep the news from others for long. With natural

delicacy and reserve, she hesitated to say anything. Indeed how

could Mary reveal to a suspicious world, or even to Joseph, an

experience that must have seemed utterly impossible?

And then came that awful day when Joseph became aware of

her condition, and though he may have said nothing, she knew

he doubted her. Or she may have told him her story, but how

could he believe it? Despite her great faith, that night must have

been dark indeed with only the light of her knowledge that she

was pure and innocent of any wrong.

It must have been a black night also for Joseph. There is

evidence that he was much older than Mary, and she was his

first real love. His discovery could only have left him crushed

and bewildered. Yet, despite his grief, his thoughts were on how

he could help the poor girl in the hour of shame that seemed to

be upon her.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not

willing to make her a public example, was minded to put

her away privily. (Matt. 1:19)

To Joseph there seemed only one thing left to do—to make

some arrangement whereby Mary could be sent away from the

village to have her baby and thus be spared the humiliation and

embarrassment of bearing the child in Nazareth. But God had

not forgotten Mary, the holy virgin, for the child she was to bear

was the very Son of God. At that fateful moment, the angel of

the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,

Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee

Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the

Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt

call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their

sins. (Matt. 1:20-21)

When dawn came, what a morning it must have been for

both Joseph and Mary! Joseph was at her door, his face beaming

17

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

with joy and reassurance to tell her he knew all, and that all was

well.

There are some who have exalted Mary above her position.

Others have reckoned her only as common and ordinary. Neither

view is correct. Mary was a person not lacking in energy and

strong character. She possessed the gifts and graces that make

for womanly greatness. Because some have exalted her beyond

her place, we must not allow this to keep us from granting her

full due. The record of her in the Scriptures, even though

relatively brief, shows her to be a woman of unusual spiritual

depth and piety. The fact that she conducted herself well in the

presence of the angel showed her to be a person of courage and

nobility of spirit.

Faith was a great element in Mary’s character. If it is hard

for some to believe in the Incarnation, it would have been far

more difficult for her. Yet she believed it with all that was

within her. Jesus Himself said that no mighty work could be

done where there was unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). Therefore, her faith

must have had a part in the great miracle of the Incarnation. It

was the greatest of all miracles performed in the history of the

human race. So it was for her as Elisabeth had said, “Blessed is

she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those

things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Mary’s humility is another of her striking virtues which

manifested itself, not so much in self-depreciation, as in an utter

forgetfulness of self. She did not seem to think of herself as

either worthy or unworthy. Her soul was lifted away from

herself, and she thought of God only.

Standing at the forefront of Mary’s greatness was her purity

as is revealed in the Magnificat. There is no confession, but a

wonderful joy. Only the pure heart rejoices when God is near.

Mary’s life was filled with mysteries that were beyond her.

Yet she never ceased to ponder them as she waited their

unfolding. When possible she was nearby to watch the

developments in her son’s ministry. She witnessed the soul-

piercing scenes of the crucifixion. She shared in the first

18

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

revelations on the resurrection morn. She waited with the 120 in

the Upper Room. She with the others received the blessed

baptism of the Spirit.

There was a patience in Mary in her long years of waiting.

After the birth of her child, there were no more angel choirs,

strange stars, or miraculous escapes. No pilgrims came to

Nazareth to search Him out; no kings came to do Him obeisance.

Silence fell on the scene as thirty years came and went. What

were Mary’s thoughts in those days? Through all those years she

pondered in her heart the things that the angel had spoken. She

never doubted. And when the day of His ministry began, she

turned to those who were serving and said, “Whatsoever he

saith unto you, do it.”

19

Chapter III

The Birth of Jesus

3

Mary, according to the genealogy given in Luke, was the

daughter of a man by the name of Heli. The family was poor,

though we may assume that their standard of living was not

much different from that of their neighbors. They came from a

devout stock. Mary and Elisabeth were cousins, although we do

not know that they were first cousins. It is hardly possible

because of the differences in their ages that their fathers were

brothers.

On each Sabbath day Mary went with her parents to the

synagogue to listen to the Scriptures. She little realized at the

time that certain of those Scriptures referred to her personally

(Isa. 7:14). She did not quickly forget what she had heard (Luke

2:51). We do not have a record of what kind of education Mary

received, though probably it was little. Nevertheless, her song in

Luke 1:46-55 indicates that she was by no means unlearned.

What kind of man was Joseph? As far as the record shows,

he was only a humble carpenter, probably much older than

Mary, but the Scriptures describe him as a “just man.” Like his

ancestor Joseph, after whom he was named, he too seemed to

have a special gift of dreams. Several times the revelations he

received in dreams gave him information of the utmost

importance.

Where did Mary first meet Joseph? Was it at the spring in

Nazareth where she went to draw water? Or did she first meet

him at the carpenter’s shop? No doubt she admired his skill as a

craftsman, and on that day her parents told her that Joseph had

asked for her hand, her face probably lit up with joy. We can see

Joseph bringing some gift which he had fashioned in the

carpenter’s shop. From that time Mary began making simple

preparations for her wedding. Then began the strange events that

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The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

were to change her life completely—events that almost tore her

heart apart, but which in the providence of God had a happy

ending.

In the city of Rome on the great throne sat Augustus Caesar,

the ruler of an empire that was more vast than any the world had

ever known. It might be supposed that this powerful figure was

complacent in his victory in the great power struggle for control

of the world. But actually he was puzzling over the problem of

financing his unwieldy kingdom. The cost of maintaining the

army and his far-flung administration required great sums of

money. Many provinces were paying tribute, but Palestine was

among those that were not. The emperor decided that each

country must share its part of the burden. So it was that

Augustus set the wheels in motion for carrying out his plan of

universal taxation. This decree went down from one official to

another until eventually the news reached the ears of Joseph and

Mary. They realized that they immediately would have to go to

the city of their ancestors, despite the fact that Mary was far

advanced in pregnancy.

It was a familiar road, for Mary had returned on the route

just six months before from her visit to Elisabeth. She was

seated on the back of a donkey; and with Joseph leading, they

began their trip down the road that led to the plain of Esdraelon.

Not all the people on the route were friendly. While passing

through Samaria, no hospitality was offered them. At Shechem

they saw Ebal and Gerizim, the mountains of curse and blessing

where the Samaritans worshipped. Perhaps they stopped and

refreshed themselves at the well of Sychar, the one that Jacob

dug. Then they went on, passing Shiloh, Gibeon, and Bethel. At

last as they drew near Jerusalem, the magnificent temple burst

into view. Though it was still in the process of building, the

outer courts shone with a dazzling whiteness.

It was an unforgettable experience to visit Jerusalem, but

they were not yet at their destination. Bethlehem was still five

miles away. Within an hour after leaving the outskirts of

Jerusalem, they were in view of the city. In another half hour,

22

The Birth of Jesus

they were passing the tomb of Rachel, and then finally they

entered the city. They had been frugally saving their money, so

that they could hire a room at the inn. But alas, they found that

many visitors were there ahead of them for the same purpose.

Every spare room was taken. Joseph, almost in despair, at last

found a manger which the innkeeper permitted them to use. The

best that Mary could have was a rug and a little covering thrown

over the straw. And thus the humble couple who would some

day be the world’s most famous family laid down to rest.

Some time in the night Joseph may have awakened. If so, he

probably saw a star shining more brightly than all the rest, and it

seemed to be hanging over the stable. His rest was soon to be

broken again. Mary was not sleeping. She was in severe pain.

The pangs of childbirth were upon her. What pitiful

circumstances these were in which a mother should have to give

birth to a child! Bravely Mary faced the situation, and despite all

the discomforts the child was brought safely to birth with

Joseph’s poor help. Who could believe that in that humble

surrounding the greatest event of history had just taken place!

Was Christ Born in the Winter?

The traditional date of the birth of Christ is December 25,

but of course the Bible does not say this and the evidence is

against its being at this time. Jerusalem and Bethlehem are at an

altitude of 2500 feet. Snow often falls in this area. The winters

were severe enough for Christ to have warned the Jews who

were to flee the Romans when they surrounded Jerusalem to

pray “that your flight be not in winter” (Matt. 24:15-22). The

weather at that time of the year would have been very severe for

a prospective mother to travel the long distance from Nazareth to

Bethlehem. The child Jesus was born in an open manger, and it

must be noted that the shepherds were on their own volition out

in an open field. It was not customary for shepherds to be out

with flocks at night in the winter. Historical evidence indicates

that Christ was born in October.

23

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

The Visit of the Angels

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding

in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And,

lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of

the Lord shone around about them: and they were sore

afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,

behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall

be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of

David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall

be a sign unto you; ye shall find the 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

on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

The visit of the angels to the humble shepherds was an

interesting event, but it may be asked, Why did the angels not

appear instead to the priests at Jerusalem who sat in Moses’

seat? The priests indeed were informed of the event, but they

were not interested enough to make the journey of five miles to

Bethlehem to find out for themselves (Matt. 2:4-5). Why did the

angels appear to the shepherds? Undoubtedly the shepherds, like

Simeon, were among those who were watching for the

consolation of Israel. In the quietness of their occupation they

had time to meditate and prepare their hearts for the great event.

Nevertheless, the effect of the sudden heavenly visitation was to

make them “sore afraid.”

After the angels had gone back to heaven,

The shepherds said one to another, Let us now even go

into Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,

which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came

with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe

lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16).

They of course told the remarkable story of the visitation to

Mary and Joseph. We are sure for many a day to come they were

to repeat the story to any and all who would care to listen.

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The Birth of Jesus

The Poverty of Christ

The Scriptures tell us that He who was rich became poor

that we might through His poverty become rich. By our

standards today the family of Jesus was poor indeed, although

probably not much poorer than the average family of Nazareth.

One incident occurred in the temple which gives us a

glimpse of Joseph’s financial condition. When it came time for

the circumcision of the child, the Law required that the parents

bring a lamb and offer it for an atonement. But the Scriptures

taking due notice of the exigencies of the poor added, “And if

she is not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two

turtles, or two young pigeons” (Lev. 12:6-8). The poverty of

the family of Jesus is thus evident. The devoted couple would

have certainly brought a lamb had their means permitted. The

most they could afford was two turtledoves.

By reason of their limited finances they could have scarcely

made their way to Egypt to escape from Herod. Only because in

the providence of God the Wise Men had brought gifts—gold,

frankincense, and myrrh, were they able to make the trip.

The Visit of the Wise Men

When they heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the

star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it

came and stood over where the young child was. When

they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

(Matt. 2:9-10)

The Wise Men and the Star of the East are inseparably

associated with the birth of Christ. What was this Star of

Bethlehem? The verses above indicate that the Wise Men saw

the star at different times—first in their homeland in the East

and then later after they left Jerusalem on they way to

Bethlehem. Since Christ was born in 4 B.C., the Wise Men saw

the star at least two years earlier according to Verse 16. This

would mean that the date that they first saw it was 6 B.C., or

perhaps late 7 B.C.

25

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

Was this star a comet with its bright tail sweeping across the

sky? Comets have always made a deep impression upon men’s

minds. They were believed to portend special events. It would

not be surprising that men of that day would consider an

especially brilliant comet as presaging some extraordinary event.

Comets, however, do lot linger long in the sky. Drawn by the

powerful attraction of the Sun, a comet revolves around that

massive body, and then after gathering great momentum, it

swings out into space. It would not have reappeared two years

later.

History records a brilliant comet in 44 B.C., just before the

Ides of March when Caesar was assassinated. Another appeared

in 66 A.D., just before the Christians fled to Pella to escape the

siege of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans. Halley’s comet

appeared in 12 B.C. and is described in great detail by Chinese

astronomers. This, however, is too early to be associated with

the birth of Christ in 4 B.C.

Astronomers inform us, however, that there was a

conjunction of planets at about this time. Jupiter, Saturn, and

Venus came so close together in the year 7 B.C. that “they

appeared as one.” But such a planetary configuration lasts only a

few days. Matthew 2:9 declares that “the star, which they saw in

the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the

young child was.” This wording would indicate that the star

actually appeared to change its position as they travelled from

Jerusalem to Bethlehem, much as the Pillar of Cloud and the

Pillar of Fire arose from the tabernacle and went before the

children of Israel.

And who were the Wise Men, or Magi, as they are

sometimes called? They were a priestly class from a region of

Persia, who specialized in interpreting dreams and supernatural

visitations. It is hardly possible that they were Jews since they

did not seem to be familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures.

When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the temple priests to

inquire where Christ the King was to be born. The Wise Men

were typical of the great multitude of Gentiles who were to

26

The Birth of Jesus

believe on Him.

It is strange that the Wise Men of the East should travel all

the way to Bethlehem to see the newborn babe, while the scribes

and chief priests in Jerusalem only five miles away who knew

where He was to be born, did not bother to investigate the report

of His birth.

There was one person, however, who took their quest

seriously. This was none other than Herod the king. Slowly

dying in his bed, he hoped to perpetuate his dynasty and would

stop at no cruelty to accomplish his purpose. To maintain his

grip over the country, Herod had spies stationed everywhere to

bring him news of anything that might jeopardize his interests.

When word of the Magi’s arrival came to him, he sent for the

scribes and the priests to learn where Christ was to be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for

thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in

the land of Judea, art not the least among the Princes of

Judea: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall

rule my people Israel. (Matt. 2:5-6)

Having obtained this information, he called for the Wise

Men. He told them he knew where the King of the Jews was to

be born. They were to go to Bethlehem and search out diligently

where the child was. Then craftily he asked them to return and

give him the information as to where the child was so that he

might also worship Him.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men,

enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search

diligently for the young child; and when ye have found

him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship

him also. (Matt. 2:7-8)

The Magi turned and left the palace of Herod. They took

their gifts they had brought from Persia and mounted their beasts

for the short trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The Star they

had seen in the East went before them and led them directly to

the place where the child was.

27

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

By this time Joseph had found a house. Mary was no longer

occupying a stable. And when the Wise Men came in, they fell

down on the floor and worshipped the Babe. Then they took

their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and laid them at His

feet.

But as they were ready to return to Jerusalem, one of them

was visited by a dream which warned them not to return to

Herod, and they departed down the valley east of Bethlehem and

returned to their country another way.

Naturally the Wise Men conveyed knowledge of their

warning to Joseph and Mary. While Joseph was pondering this

strange matter, he too had a dream. In the vision he received a

warning to take the child and His mother and flee at once from

Herod and go down to Egypt. There was no time to be lost.

Herod had a fortress palace close to Bethlehem, and at any hour

the word might go out to slay the child. Joseph knew enough

about Herod that as soon as he discovered that he had been

mocked by the Wise Men, his fury would know no bounds.

In the dead of night Joseph sat Mary and the child upon the

back of the animal and they began the trek south to Egypt. By

morning light they would not be far from the valley of Elah

where Mary’s ancestor David once fought the giant Goliath. It

was not easy for Mary to hold the child in her arms hour after

hour all through the night, but it had to be done. Every mile

brought them closer to safety. By the time they reached

Beersheba, they had put danger well behind them.

Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Herod waited impatiently for the

return of the Wise Men. At last a messenger brought him the

disconcerting news that the Wise Men had defied his command

and returned to their country by another way. Filled with rage,

Herod determined on a fiendish act which was in keeping with

his cruel spirit. His officers were to go to Bethlehem and slay all

the children in that part of the country from two years old and

under. Then was fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and

weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her

28

The Birth of Jesus

children, and would not be comforted, because they are

not. (Matt. 2:18)

This is a remarkable prophecy, and it refers to Rachel,

Jacob’s wife. In her earlier years of marriage she had been

barren and had once cried out to Jacob, “Give me children, or

else I die” (Gen. 30:1). At length her prayer to God was heard,

and she gave birth to Joseph and later to Benjamin. Rachel’s

passionate love for children seemed to project itself down the

ages to her descendants, and so it is said that the cry of

mourning over the slaughter of the innocents is spoken of as

“Rachel weeping for her children, and could not be

comforted because they were not.”

It was one of the last acts of the wicked Herod. To the very

end of his life, the fiendish cruelty of his nature could not be

satisfied. He ordered fires to be kindled in Jerusalem, and forty-

two students were consigned to the flames. About the same time

he wrote a letter to his son Antipas, asking him to come home.

When the boy arrived, Herod made terrible accusations against

him. After putting him in prison, he sent word for him to be put

to death. As Herod’s death drew near, spies came and told him

that the people were rejoicing. Furious over this, he gave a

command that when he died soldiers were to kill all who

rejoiced at his death—a command that was never carried out.

The agonies of the dying king were beyond description. Finally

when he died, the people breathed a sigh of relief.

Archelaus Reigns, and Joseph and Mary

Return to Israel

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the

Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying,

Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go

into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the

young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child

and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when

he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of

his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:

29

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he

turned aside into the parts of Galilee. (Matt. 2:19-22)

Herod, altogether, had made four wills. At his death,

Archelaus was chosen as king of Judah, while the other sons,

Herod Antipas and the half-brother Philip, inherited other

provinces of the kingdom. All this, of course, had to be ratified

by Emperor Augustus. But even before Archelaus could get

away to Rome, violent demonstrations broke out in Jerusalem

with the rioters demanding special concessions from Archelaus.

The ringleaders of the mob were captured and burned alive.

Joseph and Mary of course did not intend to remain in

Egypt. As soon as the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a

dream, assuring him that Herod was dead, he made the decision

to return.

When the family had crossed the desert and began to climb

the hills of Judea, Joseph received word of further events

occurring in Judea. He heard the terrible news that thousands of

pilgrims who had gone to the city had been massacred by the

soldiers.

It did not appear safe to pass through the land. When he

learned that Archelaus was king over Galilee, he decided to

follow the road that went up the lowlands and around Mt.

Carmel. From there he crossed the Plain of Esdraelon to

Nazareth where their former home had been.

30

Chapter IV

The Boy Jesus

4

The city of Nazareth was to be the home of Jesus until He

was thirty years of age. Writers of the life of Christ generally

deplore the fact that so little is recorded about His youthful days.

There was, however, a reason for this. The early life of Jesus

was divinely intended to be little different from that of any other

boy in Israel. Although it is probable that people recognized that

Jesus was an unusual child, it was certainly furthest from their

thoughts that the youth who dwelt in their midst was the very

Son of God, whose impact on the world would be greater than

any other person who ever lived.

The inhabitants of Nazareth may have noticed that although

all children at times are given to misbehaving, yet they could

never recall Jesus’ acting improperly. Those who were

especially close to the family probably observed His devotion to

Mary and Joseph. Others perhaps marked His unusual interest in

the Scriptures. Yet, He made mistakes that any boy makes, such

as missing the party when they began the trip back to Nazareth.

It seems probable that Jesus grew up in Nazareth without

attracting any extraordinary attention.

The Apocryphal Gospels

Although the gospels have little to say about the boyhood of

Jesus, some of the apocryphal New Testament gospels profess to

push back the curtain of mystery that shrouds this period of His

life. It is natural that where God is silent, the curiosity of man

should attempt to fill in the blanks. In the days of Paul there

were evidently those who sought to delve into the early life of

Jesus. The apostle cautioned against too much zeal in this

saying, “Yet, though we have known Christ after the flesh,

yet now henceforth we know him no more” (II Cor. 5:16). It

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The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

was His ministry and message that were significant, not His

boyhood days.

The apocryphal gospel of Thomas records a number of

miracles that were supposed to have transpired during Jesus'

childhood. These are nothing but fabrications, and poor ones at

that. Not a single historian considers them anything but fiction.

These fables only show how unequal the imagination of man is

to such a task. The stories are crude caricatures in comparison to

the majestic narratives of the four gospels. They make Jesus a

worker of frivolous and useless marvels. According to these

apocryphal stories, Jesus made birds of clay and caused them to

fly. He was supposed to have raised a boy from the dead to

prove he was innocent of a crime. He changed playmates into

animals. In short, the apocryphal gospels are compilations of

mere chaff and some of the tales are not only incredible but

tinge on the blasphemous.

Such miserable concoctions of fantasy warn us to stay clear

of trying to peer too far into the hallowed enclosure of His early

life. It was the purpose of God that Jesus should grow up quietly

in an obscure village and draw to Himself no special attention.

We are told that He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor

with God and man, thus passing through all the stages of normal

development.

As for the miracles which were supposed to have been

performed during His boyhood, the gospel of John specifically

tells us that the first miracle of Christ was that of turning the

water into wine (John 2:11).

Childhood Experiences

Despite the lack of specific information in the Scriptural

account, we can reconstruct in general outline the scenes of

Christ’s boyhood from our historical knowledge of the times.

It is probable that when Joseph and Mary departed from

their home in Nazareth to go to Bethlehem, they left their house

in the hands of relatives, possibly in the care of Mary’s father.

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The Boy Jesus

Perhaps they thought at the time that they might establish their

home in Bethlehem where the child as He grew would have

special educational opportunities afforded those who lived near

Jerusalem. Subsequent developments which involved Herod’s

murderous decree to slay the children of Bethlehem and the

oppression of the people by Archelaus changed any such plans if

they existed. The decision was made to go back to their quiet

home in Nazareth after they learned of Herod’s death.

The family home, if it were similar to others in the city, was

made of stone. It probably had a flat roof supported by rough

hewn beams. Steps outside led to the roof which served as

additional space for the family.

When Joseph and Mary began housekeeping in Nazareth,

Jesus was probably only a toddling child, just old enough to

accompany His mother when she went to the village spring for

water. Each day Mary went to this fountain several times. She

filled her jar with water, and then balancing it on her head, she

returned home.

Outside the house there probably was a stone mill. One

millstone revolved above another. Grain was poured in a hole in

the center of the top stone. As the stone turned, the kernels were

crushed into flour. The flour was gathered into a vessel, mixed

with water and a little leaven until it became dough. The mixture

was set aside until the bread had risen.

In another part of the courtyard was a large oven made of

baked mud and clay. Into the oven Mary thrust a layer of grass,

shrubs, and small sticks. When the fuel was set afire and

consumed, the gray ash which was left was raked away. Then

Mary took the dough, patted it into the shape of pancakes and

laid the cakes on the hot stones at the bottom of the oven. A lid

was placed over the oven. When the bread was baked, it was

eaten with cheese, olives, dates, and honey—commodities

common in that country.

By our standards today, the family of Jesus was poor indeed.

However, Joseph and Mary were probably neither richer nor

poorer than the average family of the village.

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The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

As Jesus grew up in Nazareth, He was alert to all that was

happening around Him. He watched the children as they played

in the market place (Luke 7:32). He observed the corn merchant

and the customers as they haggled over prices. He noticed the

flowers, the trees, the sparrow that fell to the ground, and the

foxes in their dens. He heard the shepherd call the sheep by their

names (John 10:3). He learned the lore of the weather (Matt.

16:2-3). He watched the vine dresser as he pruned the branches

of the vine, so that it would bear more fruit (John 15:1-2). All

these things He saw, remembered, and used as illustrations when

He began His ministry of teaching.

The Home of Jesus

The home of Jesus was a godly one. Joseph was a righteous

and just man, although probably considered a peasant by the

upper classes. He performed his tasks faithfully in the

carpenter’s shop and acquitted himself as an honest son of toil,

supporting his large family to the best of his ability. As Jesus

and each of His brothers grew older, they undoubtedly joined

Joseph in the shop to help in the task of providing for the family.

As we have seen Mary was a superior person. She was

certainly a woman of faith as was shown by her beautiful

response to the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38). She showed a

knowledge of the Scriptures, possessed poetic genius, yet was an

exquisitely humble woman. She was keenly conscious of the

great and utterly unexpected honor that had been conferred upon

her as mother of the Messiah.

Despite her large family, she no doubt took special time to

teach the children all she knew about spiritual things. The Great

Secret she kept in her heart spurred her to do everything possible

for her Firstborn. In return we know He was devoted to her, and

even during the last hours of His life He was thinking of her

welfare and making provision for her. While He suffered on the

cross, He told John His disciple that he was to be a son to her.

Outside of her home, however, Mary was reticent and said little

about these matters. We are told that “His mother kept all

34

The Boy Jesus

these sayings within her heart” (Luke 2:51).

The Synagogue School

About the age of eight Jesus was sent to the teacher of the

synagogue who taught the children from the sacred rolls of the

Scriptures. The teacher would write Aramaic letters in the sand

with a pointed stick, and the students sitting down cross-legged

repeated together the letters that were spelled out. The teacher

also read to the boys stories of the Bible characters, such as

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Jesus listened to these

stories with rapt attention. He let nothing that was read from the

Scriptures fall to the ground.

On the day before the Sabbath, Joseph put away his saw, his

chisel, and his hammer, and as night came on, the men of the

village went to the synagogue. On the following morning, the

boys and girls attended special services. The ruler of the

synagogue usually appointed someone to read the Scriptures.

Anyone who could read was qualified to take his turn at this

task. The cylinder that contained the sacred scroll was brought

out and unrolled. Then the one appointed chose a certain portion

of the Scriptures to read to the congregation.

When the Scriptures were read Jesus took the greatest

interest. While other boys might have thought that the sessions

were sometimes dull, Jesus eagerly gave attention to them. It

was during these hidden years at Nazareth that His mind became

richly endowed with the knowledge of the Old Testament.

It appears from Luke 4:16 that the reading ability of Jesus as

He became older was so superior that it fell to Him on numerous

occasions to perform his task. “And as his custom was, he

went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for

to read.”

The Feasts of Israel

There was another activity in which Jesus participated that

must have had an unusual interest for Him—the annual feasts of

35

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

Israel.

The Jews of this period were very faithful in the observance

of these feasts. One of these was the Feast of the Dedication of

the Temple, or the Feast of Lights. This occurred during the

winter time. People lit their lamps, and the young men marched

down the streets with blazing torches. On the following day they

went to the synagogue and sang joyful songs. The people

recounted the stirring stories of the great hero, Judas Maccabeus,

who vanquished Israel’s enemies and purified the temple. The

temple once had been defiled by the wicked Syrian tyrant

Antiochus Epiphanes, and the Jews celebrated its purification by

this eight-day Feast of Dedication.

There were other festivals, including the Feast of Purim, in

which they remembered how Queen Esther overthrew the

wicked Haman who plotted to destroy the Jews from the face of

the earth. During this feast, the story of Esther was read from a

scroll in the synagogue.

Then of course, there was the greatest of all feasts, the

Passover. This feast was held each year at about the same time

as our Easter. Many pilgrims went to Jerusalem to celebrate this

notable event. Those who remained home ate the Passover feast

in their houses with unleavened bread. Following the Passover

was the feast of Pentecost, a little over a month later. Finally in

the fall was the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. People left their

houses and camped out in the open under the branches of trees.

This was something a small boy would relish. And so these

various feasts in which the people celebrated the goodness of

God were important events in the lives of the people of Israel. It

was a time when parents would teach their children about God

and about His peculiar dealings with their nation. We may be

sure that the Boy Jesus gave all these occasions His most

thoughtful attention. Each of these feasts had a meaning to Him,

and He let nothing get past Him.

The Rebellion of Judas

When Jesus was about ten years of age, news reached

36

The Boy Jesus

Nazareth that Archelaus had been removed by Augustus as king

of Judea. Archelaus had apparently inherited the worst traits of

his father Herod, and at the same time he lacked his political

finesse. Having little interest in trying to help the impoverished

subjects of his kingdom, Archelaus embarked on an extravagant

building program. He divorced his wife and married his

brother’s spouse. At last the news of his misgovernment reached

the ears of the Emperor Augustus. The emperor had Archelaus

recalled to Rome and then exiled to Vienne where he died a few

years later. Augustus decided he no longer would have a king

over Judea, but a governor. Thus it was at the trial of Jesus that

Pilate the governor ruled instead of a king.

The year following the removal of Archelaus there was a

rebellion in Galilee. News had come to Nazareth and other

Galilean cities that the Roman government had ordered a census

taken. Great anger was aroused among the Galileans. In every

town and village young nationalist patriots arose and gathered in

groups to curse Rome and swear revolt. In the neighboring town,

Sepphoris, only three miles from Nazareth, a man by the name

of Judas raised the standard of revolt (Acts 5:37). Young men

throughout Galilee poured into the city to gather around Judas.

They shouted the cry of war and vowed to give their lives to free

the Jews from the Roman yoke. Ten thousand of them marched

across the land to Tiberias, the new city where Herod’s palace

was soon to be built, and after overpowering the guards broke

into the armory and appropriated the spears, swords, and shields.

Then they went out to face the Romans.

The news of the revolt quickly reached the ears of Varus,

who commanded the Roman legions in the hills above Gadara.

His veterans marched against the undisciplined mob that Judas

had gathered. There could only be one result. The raw Galilean

recruits broke and fled. Then Varus went to Sepphoris and set

fire to the town. That night every person in Nazareth went to the

summit of the hill to see the whole city of Sepphoris going up in

flames. By morning nothing was left but a smoldering ruin. The

people of the city were driven like cattle to the sea coast. There

they were forced to board ships to be taken to the slave markets.

37

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

Two thousand of the young prisoners were crucified on crosses.

But the saddened Jews that survived hoped on. Some day the

Messiah would come, and He would drive out the hated Romans

and set up the kingdom of God on earth. But the boy Jesus who

even then was learning what the prophets had taught knew that

freeing the land of the Romans was not the Messiah’s first task.

Even then He must have been thinking of the possibility of the

cross. Soon He would have His first opportunity to go to

Jerusalem, and there learn from the teachers of the temple more

about the hopes and aspirations of His countrymen.

38

Chapter V

The Visit to Jerusalem

5

In the days of Jesus the thirteenth birthday of a Jewish boy

marked a great milestone in his life. He then became “a son of

the Law.” At that age the responsibility for the keeping of the

Law shifted from his father to him. He stepped over the

threshold into a new world. It was the greatest day in his life.

When a boy reached thirteen years of age, it was customary for

pious parents to take him with them to Jerusalem to celebrate the

Passover. In the case of Jesus who was probably born in

October, his twelfth birthday had occurred about six months

before the Passover. Although not yet thirteen, He was allowed

to go with Joseph and Mary.

Ever since the crescent of the new moon had appeared in the

western sky, there was great activity in Nazareth. Pilgrims were

making preparations for the journey to Jerusalem before the full

moon of the Passover came. Joseph and Mary, like many others,

were getting ready for the journey. The donkey besides carrying

Mary also bore sleeping mats and the food that was needed.

The journey to Jerusalem was a long trip for a boy of

twelve, but we may be sure that Jesus looked forward to it.

Despite the artists who tend to make the boy Jesus appear weak

and frail, He must have been of a strong constitution. During His

ministry, He constantly made long trips from one part of the

country to the other. The record says, “The boy grew and

waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40).

When all preparations had been completed, the family of

Jesus met with the other pilgrims at the village spring. Water

skins were filled at the fountain and fastened to the backs of the

donkeys and camels. The beasts drank their fill, and the signal

was given for the procession to start. Friends who remained

behind waved goodbye, and the smaller boys, too young to go,

39

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

stared wistfully as the caravan began to move. Dogs barked, and

the babies taken along for their dedication at the temple cried.

The road from Nazareth led steadily downhill to the plain of

Esdraelon. As the procession passed the bluffs, the pilgrims

could see other caravans moving southward far down the valley.

By the time they were well into the plain, the noon hour had

come, and the whole company paused for lunch. Then they

moved on. As night neared, the caravan leader called a halt. By

this time they were into the foothills of Samaria. The evening

meal was eaten; prayers were said, and the people laid their mats

on the ground and were soon asleep.

The Samaritan people were generally hostile and had no

dealings with the Jews, but if a caravan were large, there was

little danger that any of the Samaritan raiders would attempt to

attack the party. As the first rays of dawn were seen in the east,

the caravan was astir.

Late in the afternoon of the second day they came to the city

of Sychar which stood between Mount Gerizim—the mount of

blessing—and Mount Ebal—the mount of cursing. Nearby was

Jacob’s well where Jesus later was to meet and talk with the

Samaritan woman.

As they continued on the third day to journey southward,

they passed many historic spots. There was the Valley of Ajalon

where Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stay their

courses. Further south were the ruins of Bethel where Jacob

dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven. Other places marked

historic events in the lives of Saul and Samuel. These varied

scenes must have attracted the interest of the boy Jesus. At last

Jerusalem came into view. The weary but happy travelers ate

their meal and then began preparations at once to rest. As many

of the pilgrims as possible camped on the Mount of Olives

where a magnificent view of the temple and its court could be

had.

The Passover must have been a time of intense interest to

Jesus. There was the visit to the temple—that dazzling edifice

built by Herod which stood almost as one of the wonders of the

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The Visit to Jerusalem

world. Joseph and Jesus walked into the outer court and looked

around, admiring the magnificent architecture. They continued

until they came to the inner court. There was a sign carved in

Greek letters, “Let no foreigners enter within the screen and

enclosure around the holy place. Whosoever is taken in so doing

will himself be the cause of the death that overtakes him.”

This meant of course that God was only for the Jews. Since

He was only a young lad, Jesus could go no further than the

Court of the Women. Joseph, however, was allowed to go into

the inner court where the heads of families offered their lambs

for sacrifice. He received the sacred parts of the Passover lamb

and came out again through the Gate Beautiful. Then they went

to a place where the family and others of the Nazareth company

celebrated the Passover supper.

Only two days were required for the essential observances

of the Passover feast to be completed. Many might have wished

to stay longer. Others were eager to get back home, since it was

nearing the time of the wheat planting. Joseph’s carpenter shop

was without its master. At an agreed time, many of the Nazareth

pilgrims started on their homeward journey, and Joseph and

Mary joined the group. They took for granted that Jesus was

with the other boys. Jesus as other lads naturally desired to be

with those of his own age. All day long the company moved

northward. As they neared a village (today called Ramaliah), the

caravan prepared to halt for the night. It was then that Joseph

and Mary discovered to their great alarm that Jesus was not with

them. They ran quickly throughout the whole company inquiring

anxiously of everyone as to His whereabouts. But not one had

seen Him. What if something had happened to Him? The very

thought almost drove them frantic. Would not the wrath of

heaven be visited upon them if through their carelessness

something had happened to Him?

But there was nothing to do but to wait for the morning to

come. At the dawn they started to retrace their steps, reaching

Jerusalem before the day was over. But neither that day nor the

next could they find the lost boy. Their search was apparently

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The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

without plan; they just went from one place to another walking

and looking. An increasing dread came upon them. Finally on

the third day they went to the temple, and there to their

unbounded relief, they saw Him talking with the doctors and

elders.

What had happened? The Passover supper had absorbed the

whole soul and spirit of the boy Jesus. He felt that He had to

contact the minds of the religious leaders as to what they

believed was God’s will and plan for the nation. It was His

golden opportunity to ask them questions that were pounding in

His soul. As He went into the temple, He found one of the

groups of rabbis who were teaching. For a while He said nothing

but listened quietly. Then the questions leaped from His lips.

The rabbis were astounded by His insight and comprehension

and in turn began asking Him questions. Though we do not

know all the matters that were discussed, we do know that the

burning question of the hour was when and how the Messiah

would come and usher in the new age. Was He to be a warrior

who would drive out the hated Romans? Or was He, as Isaiah

foretold in the 53rd chapter, to come to make an atonement for

the sins of the nation? Most of the people, the rabbis included,

held to the first view.

One day passed, then two. On the third day suddenly Jesus

heard a familiar voice. It was His mother reproaching Him for

not being in the company (Luke 2:48). The answer that the

young lad gave marks the beginning of a new era in the life of

Jesus. They are Jesus’ only recorded words before He began

public ministry. “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that

I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). Christ’s

humanity clearly shows here. He had not meant to displease His

mother. He had tried to make the most of His trip to Jerusalem,

and when He finally left the doctors and lawyers in the temple

and returned to the camp, He found that His family had already

left. There was nothing for Him to do but to await their return.

When Mary and Joseph found Him, He dutifully returned with

them to Nazareth. But from that time on there was a change in

His life. He began to think about His mission in the world.

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The Visit to Jerusalem

The next eighteen years in Nazareth are called the silent

years, but they were by no means idle years. Jesus worked with

His hands at the carpenter’s trade and at the same time He was

making preparation for His life’s work. When that was

completed He would go forth in His ministry which in three

short years would profoundly change the destinies of the human

race.

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Document Outline

- The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

- Contents

- 1 The World When Jesus Was Born

- The State of the Nation Israel

- 2 Mary, the Mother of Jesus

- 3 The Birth of Jesus

- Was Christ Born in the Winter?

- The Visit of the Angels

- The Poverty of Christ

- The Visit of the Wise Men

- Archelaus Reigns, and Joseph and Mary Return to Israel

- 4 The Boy Jesus

- The Apocryphal Gospels

- Childhood Experiences

- The Home of Jesus

- The Synagogue School

- The Feasts of Israel

- The Rebellion of Judas

- 5 The Visit to Jerusalem

Table of Contents

The World When Jesus Was Born.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus.

The Boy Jesus.

The Visit to Jerusalem.

The Birth and Boyhood of Christ

Contents

The State of the Nation Israel

Was Christ Born in the Winter?

The Visit of the Angels

The Poverty of Christ

Archelaus Reigns, and Joseph and Mary Return to Israel

Childhood Experiences

The Home of Jesus

The Synagogue School

The Rebellion of Judas