Chapter 5: The Mission Begins Preparingthe Way Way of the of the Lord Lord  CONCEPT B  The Hidden Years of Jesus’ Life

The Hidden Years  Jesus’ life was that of a Jew of his day.  Little of his life before his public ministry is unknown - except what Mt. & Lk. say about his birth & early years.  He was a special person even as a young boy – must have been particularly gifted, intelligent & sensitive.  We say this from studying him as an adult.

The Hidden Years  He was like all of us – with all the physical, emotional, intellectual & spiritual needs we each experience.  Jesus was like us in all things but sin.

The Hidden Years  “Fanciful images” of Jesus can make him sound like a “freak” of sorts.  Story in text of Jesus as a young boy taking clay models of birds and making them fly away

Jesus’ Birthday  Jesus was born during King Herod’s reign.  King Herod died in 4 B.C.E.  So Jesus was born about 6 to 5 B.C.E.

Circumcision  practice of removing the foreskin of the penis  a permanent sign of covenant between God and the Jewish community – as far back as Abraham’s time

Circumcision  Name is given at the circumcision.  Jesus was a popular name.  means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation”

Circumcision Jesus was presented in the temple in Jerusalem by his parents – where they consecrated him to God with the offering of a pair of turtledoves, or pigeons - a common sacrifice of the poor.

Influences on Jesus’ Life While Growing Up  Raised in Nazareth in Galilee – a town of only a few thousand people  Probably worked along with his father Joseph, a carpenter

Influences on Jesus’ Life While Growing Up  From ages 8 to 13 he likely attended school in a room attached to a synagogue, studying the Scriptures & the history of his people.  Knew Hebrew (rare among lower-class people of his day)

Influences on Jesus’ Life While Growing Up  Because of the historical setting in which he was raised & due to the location of Nazareth geographically, Jesus probably spoke about 3 languages: Hebrew, Greek & Aramaic – the common language of Palestine.

Influences on Jesus’ Life While Growing Up  His education was enhanced by Nazareth itself – though Galilee was held in low esteem by many Jews, it was an area in which Jesus would have encountered many of the new ideas of the Greeks & Romans.

Influences on Jesus’ Life While Growing Up  Jesus had a faith-filled family life: Mary & Joseph were devout Jews & Jewish family life was recognized as a religious community in itself.

Jesus  a man of deep prayer  intense religious awareness  an understanding of God & God’s relationship with men & women  one day this would put him in direct conflict with his people, his friends & perhaps even his family.

Jesus  His vision would eventually lead him to death on the cross, which would offer all people the possibility of fullness of life.