was the first born he was to be consecrated to God and was to be devoted to the service of God in the temple. However, Jesus was the first born of God and Mary and would be devoted to being the Savior of the world.
God could have allowed Jesus to be born in a mansion with great wealth and many servants befitting a king. Why would God allow his only begotten son not only be born in a shed for cattle but in poverty as well and in danger of being slain by Herod?
The birth of Jesus and the status of his birth are directly related to the requirements needed to fulfill God promises to mankind. God’s example to us is the life of Jesus. A man who’s only purpose in life was to fulfill God’s plan that would provide eternal life for his chosen people that believe him and obey his commandments.
Luke 16:19-24 reads, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of scores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angel into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this fame.”
We need to show respect to all men regardless of their wealth or standing in society. We honor them because their souls are of more value than all the wealth in the world. This rich man walked by this beggar at his gate each day and only offered crumbs off his table. This beggar was created in God’s image and was dependent on others for love. John 13: 34-35 reads, A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Isaiah 8:13 reads, Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
We fear an all-powerful God that allows us to take each breath and requires us to love one another and obey his commandments.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 reads, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
With wealth comes great responsibility. Those that have been blessed with wealth must share that wealth generously with the poor. There is a callous attitude among some that wealth is a sign of God’s favor and that the poor have done something to deserve their condition. 1 John 3:17 reads, But whose hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Wealth is not given for the purpose building mansions, purchasing expensive cars or expensive works of art, but for the purpose of serving the poor and providing for those that are in need. God will severely judge those with wealth that do not provide for the poor and do not show his love for their neighbors.
Jesus did not declare wealth a sign of God’s favor or that poverty is God’s punishment for doing something wrong. Jesus saw wealth as a gift that should be used to help the poor and to show God’s love.
The Childhood of Jesus
The gospels tell us little about Jesus during his childhood. After the birth of Jesus, King Herod, hearing that a king was born sent out a decree to kill young babies. The young family was forced to flee for their lives and escaped to Egypt where they stayed until the death of Herod.
Matthew 2:13-16 reads, And when they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
The death of Herod occurred about 4 B.C. Herod was a man of great barbarity and his son Archelaus was as brutal as his father.
Matthew2: 19-23 reads, But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth 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: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in the city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Joseph was directed by God to move to Egypt for a few years and live there with Mary and Jesus until it was safe to return to Israel. Once Herod was dead God again appeared to Joseph and directed him to return to Israel and to avoid the son of Herod, Archelaus. They eventually ended up in Nazareth where Jesus spent his childhood.
Luke 2: 40-51 reads, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, 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. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem: and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they returned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
We know from this account Jesus at the age of twelve was already confronting the wise men (rabbis, teachers) of the day with questions and answers. Joseph and Mary must have been completely exhausted from looking for Jesus for three days. And, we see that Jesus was in submission to them as they returned to Nazareth. We also need to remember Jesus took on the nature of God and the nature of his parents and continued to grow both physically and spiritually in Nazareth and along the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus grew up in a family with both brothers and sisters. The brothers are named in a number of places within the Bible.
Matthew 13:55 reads, Is not this the carpenter son? Is not the mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas (Jude). And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
There is not a lot of information about the family. However, it is commonly believed that both James and Judas were writers of the New Testament epistles.
