The Promise, the Birth, and the Hidden Years

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Promised for Centuries

The Old Testament pointed forward from its first book. The earliest promise says that the woman's offspring will crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Later promises narrowed: he would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3), of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). The prophets gave specific signs: born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and bearing a name that means "God with us." Isaiah wrote: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

The Announcement

The angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman named Mary in Nazareth: "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" (Luke 1:30-31). When Mary asked how this could be, the angel answered: "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" (Luke 1:35). Joseph, her betrothed, was told in a dream, "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Matthew adds that this fulfilled the prophecy of Immanuel, "which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23). The name Jesus means "the LORD saves."

Bethlehem

The decree of Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the city of David, for the census. Luke tells the story simply: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). The first to hear the news were shepherds in the fields: "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" (Luke 2:10-11). Luke notes that the census took place "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria" (Luke 2:2), a detail that scholars have discussed at length, offering several proposed solutions [5].

The Wise Men and the Flight to Egypt

Matthew tells of Magi from the East who came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). Herod, alarmed, sought to kill the child. Warned by an angel, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt until Herod's death, and Matthew sees in this the fulfilment of Hosea 11:1: "Out of Egypt have I called my son" (Matthew 2:15). The family later settled in Nazareth in Galilee.

The Hidden Years

Of Jesus's youth, we are told little. Luke gives two summaries: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke 2:40), and "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). One story survives. At twelve, travelling to Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple, and when his anxious parents found him, he said: "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49). Already he speaks of God as his Father in a unique sense. He worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3) and lived under the authority of his parents in Nazareth for some eighteen more years.

CHAPTER 4