The Life of Christ

• Instead, an annual feast was held in Israel to commemorate this happy event!

• Prov. 11:10 says, “When the wicked perish there is joy and shouting!”

When Herod died, Caesar Augustus divided Palestine among three of Herod’ s sons.

• Antipas would govern Galilee; Archelaus would become tetrarch over Judea and Samaria; Phillip would govern the balance of the land.

• None of them would be considered king as was their father; Jesus and Herod were the last kings of Israel.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were only in Egypt for about one year.

• Egyptian historical records indicate the family stayed at numerous different locations where Jewish settlements existed.

• At the location where Joseph received the dream to return, today stands a Christian church built directly over where they lived.

Mt. 2:21-23 “Arise and take the Child and His mother and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” 21 And he arose and took the Child and His mother and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he departed for the regions of Galilee 23 and came and resided in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

The first communication from the angel of the Lord told Joseph to return to the land of Israel.

• Once Joseph obeyed what he heard, more revelation came from God, specifying precisely where Joseph was to settle.

• Revelation from heaven often comes in segments; after we have completed the first segment, we are then eligible to receive the second segment (compare with Ex. 4:19).

SECTION 20

Lk. 2:40 And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

We note that Jesus continued to “increase” in wisdom, implying that He didn’t have all wisdom at the early age.

• Wisdom is gained through instruction and life experience.

During these days young Jesus would have learned to read from the local scribe, whose job was to write letters for people, formulate bills of sale and compose various important contracts.

• Jesus would have also begun learning carpentry, Joseph’s profession.

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