The Birth of Christ
Announcement made to the shepherds (Luke 2.8-20)
- Shepherds considered unclean
- Shepherds not educated
- God revealed His glory
- Not to priests but shepherds
- Not in the temple but in a field
- God gave a sign
- A baby in a manger
- Wrapped in cloth
- In a manger not a palace
- Wrapped in cloth not luxurious
Arrival of the wise men (Mt. 2.1-12)
- Gentiles from the East
- Revelation from the star
- Wealth of the Gentiles brought to Israel’s Messiah
- Gold, deity
- Frankincense, priesthood
- Myrrh, death
- Gifts worthy of a king
The Infancy of the King
Dedication of Jesus (Luke 2.22-38)
In Bethlehem (Mt. 2.1-12)
In Egypt (Mt. 2.13-18) [Hos. 11.1]
In Nazareth (2.19-23)
- Military town
- Occupied by Romans
- Jews in Nazareth catered to the Romans in order to make a living
- Jews in Jerusalem hated those who associated with Romans
- Jerusalem was known as a place for the wise people
- Galilee known as a place for rich people
- Is. 53.3
The Boyhood of Christ
Luke 2.40-52
- Grew—physical growth
- Strong in the Spirit—spiritual growth
- Filled with wisdom—intellectual growth
- Visit to Jerusalem (2.41-50)
- To observe Feast of Passover
- Obedience
April 29, 2012 at 16:07
Would the child Jesus ever miss any questions on a school test? I’ve always wondered how His unique mix of humanity and deity played out during His childhood years.
April 30, 2012 at 11:44
That’s always fun to think about. Just off the cuff I’d say that Jesus had to learn just like any other child. Regarding the self-understanding of Christ, I’d say his divinity was a subconscious. He could have accessed his omniscience if he wanted to but I’m sure he would have messed up 4 x 7 when learning it for the first time. However, if he wanted to access quantum mechanics I think he could have. Whether that access is by his power or the Spirit’s power I don’t know.