The Life of Christ – Lesson 2 The birth of Jesus Presentation in the temple Visit of the wise men Flight to Egypt and return to Jerusalem Jesus visit to Jerusalem at age 12 The Life of Christ – Lesson 2

Matthew 2:13-15 The flight to Egypt Direction given by the angel to “get up” and “flee to Egypt” and “remain there until I tell you” because Herod seeks to “destroy” the Child. Flee – to run away, vanish (Strong) seek safety by flight (Thayer) He did not say, when you get up in the morning, or at the end of the week, or as soon as it’s convenient. The command was immediate. Joseph obeyed “while it was still night”. Acts 22:16; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Psalms 119:60 2 Cor 6:1-2 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — 2 for He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you , And on the day of salvation I helped you "; behold, now is "the acceptable time, " behold, now is "the day of salvation " — Ps 119:60 I hastened and did not delay To keep Thy commandments.

Matthew 2:16-18 Herod slays the children “Tricked” (mocked, deceived, “to play like a child”; Vine) by the Magi, Herod became “enraged” – “incensed”, “hot anger” (Vine). Not recorded historically. Perhaps due to Herod’s character; even towards his own family. Not known how many.

Matthew 2:16-18 Herod slays the children According to prophecy: Jeremiah 31:15 – Bethlehem/Ephrath – where Rachel died and was buried. Genesis 35:16-19 Jeremiah 31:14 Thus says the Lord , "A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." This quote is from Jeremiah 31:15 and comes in the context of God promising those in Judah that there would be a return after the promised exile into Babylon. The next verse, in Jeremiah 31:16 reads, “‘Restrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded,’ declares the LORD, ‘And they shall return from the land of the enemy’” (Jer. 31:16, NASB). Surely at the time they were revealed, these words would only have been understood in their immediate context. Matthew 2:18 These words, as they stand in Jeremiah, undoubtedly relate to the Babylonian captivity. Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, was buried in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem. (Gen 35:19), where her grave is still shown. She is figuratively represented as rising from the tomb and uttering a double lament for the loss of her children-first, by a bitter captivity, and now by a bloody death. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23 Joseph told in a dream to take the Child and His mother and return to Israel. But to fulfill prophecy, he could not return to just anywhere and because of Archelaus, he was again warned in a dream not to go to Judah and went to Galilee instead – specifically Nazareth where Joseph was from. Luke 2:4

Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23 What prophecy did this fulfill? Matthew used the word “prophets”. Not citing a single prophecy. Possible sources/applications?

Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23 “Nazarene” – Hebrew verb ‘nazar’ word meant to be holy and set apart. Jesus was the “Holy One”. Psalms 16:10; Isaiah 10:17; Mark 1:24; Acts 2:27; 3:14 Ps 16:10 For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. Isa 10:17 And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day. Mark 1:23-24 And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!" Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. Matthew uses the Gr. Nazraios of one who dwells in Nazareth. However, there is good evidence that Nazraios carried an extended meaning. Tertullian, in his work Against Marcion, refers to this text and uses the Lat. Nazarenos as synonymous with the “nazirites” of Lamentations 4:7 (4.8). The Heb. verb nazar referred to something that was consecrated or set apart. It was a near synonym of the more common Heb. verb qadas of the same meaning.

Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23 “It may be that this term of contempt (John 1:46; 7:52) is what is meant, and that several prophecies are to be combined like Psalms 22:6-8; Psalms 69:11 Psalms 69:19 ; Isaiah 53:2-4.” (Robertson’s Word Pictures) John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, "aCan any good thing come out of Nazareth?" bPhilip *said to him, "Come and see." John 7:41, 52 Ps 22:6-8 But I am a aworm and not a man, A breproach of men and cdespised by the people. 7 All who see me 1asneer at me; They 2separate with the lip, they bwag the head, saying, 8 "1Commit yourself to the Lord ; alet Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him." Ps 69:17-19 And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly. 18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies! 19 You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before You. Isa 53:2-3 For He grew up before Him like a atender 1shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has bno stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should 2be attracted to Him. 3 He was adespised and forsaken of men, A man of 1sorrows and bacquainted with 2grief; And like one from whom men hide their faceHe was cdespised, and we did not desteem Him.

Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23 "Verse 23 alludes to Isa. 11:1, which states that a "branch" (netser, Heb.) will grow out of the roots of Jesse (cf. Jer 23:5). Under this view, "branch" and "Nazarene" share the same root (nzr, Heb.), and "branch" refers to the coming ruler of Davidic descent. Although they used a different word, other prophets also spoke of the Messiah in terms of the "branch" (Jer. 23:5; Zech 3:8; 6:12), and Matthew could legitimately say that this prediction was "spoken by the prophets" (vv. 6, 15)." – Mark Copeland – Believers Study Bible Isa 11:1-2 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Jer 23:5 Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. Zech 6:12-13 "Then say to him, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. 13 "Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."'

Jesus Visit to Jerusalem – Luke 2:41-52 Devout Jews “went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover”. What took place? Jesus is 12 years old. Any significance? They were part of a larger “group”. Jesus stayed behind. After a days journey, his parents realize He’s not with them. They supposed He was “in the group”. What took place? Animal sacrifices? How effective were they? What was Jesus doing “here”?