Matt 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea... (13) ...An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt. (23) And he came and settled in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazarene.
[Part 1 of 2] Mary conceived a child in Nazareth. According to the prophecy in Micah 5:2, however, Christ had to be born in Bethlehem. Under God's sovereign arrangement, Caesar Augustus ordered the first census of the Roman Empire. This forced all the people to return to their native places. Mary and Joseph were forced to return to Bethlehem, their hometown. Immediately after they arrived in Bethlehem, the child Jesus was born. The mistake of the magi [in searching for Jesus in Jerusalem] aroused the hatred and jealousy of King Herod, who was angered that a kingly child had been born. Then Joseph received guidance in a dream to take the child to Egypt. This enabled God to fulfill the prophecy of Hosea 11:1. After Herod had died, Joseph received word in another dream to return to the Holy Land. When Joseph had returned and had learned that Archelaus, the son of Herod, was in power, he was afraid to remain in the territory around Bethlehem. Therefore, he went to Nazareth, where Jesus was raised. For this reason Jesus was called Jesus of Nazareth. What does all this mean? It means that when Jesus was born into the human race, He appeared in a way that was somewhat hidden, in a way that was not open or evident. Sometimes I have even used the word "sneaky" to describe it. Everyone called Him Jesus of Nazareth, for He was a Nazarene. But the Bible said that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. [continued tomorrow]
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Matthew, 1986, pp. 89. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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