2025 1214 The Story of Christmas Part Two

Jesus 0 to 4 yrs of age

Jesus was born between 6 to 4 BC

month of birth was most likely September to October

shepherds were in the fields tending their flock

magi came from the East to honour a king

Nature of Jesus

Mary was the mother of Jesus - his human nature

Joseph was the husband of Mary - a step dad

the Holy Spirit provided the divine nature

Jesus was born without sin

Timeline

4 BC

MAry’s cousin Elizabeth was in child

Luke 1:33–36 NIV

and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

John the Baptist was 6 months older than Jesus

Jesus born, circumcised after 8 days

Joseph takes family to Egypt

Herod the Great dies

Joseph returns to Nazareth

8 AD

family travelled to the Temple in Jerusalem

Luke 2:41–42 NIV

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

Jesus was left behind

found in the temple talking to religious leaders

Luke 2:46–47 NIV

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Jesus in his Father’s house

no further record untl his public ministry

Luke 2:51–52 NIV

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

28 AD

Ministry of John the Baptist

preached a message of baptism of repentance

knew that Jesus was the main man

Luke 3:16 NIV

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Ministry of Jesus

Luke 3:23 NIV

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

30 years old

– Joseph was 30 years old when he became second in command to Pharaoh, after being in prison as a slave in Egypt (Genesis 41:46).

– The priests officially entered service at age 30 (Numbers 4:3).

– Saul became King when he was 30 years old (1 Samuel 13:1).

– David became King when he was 30 years old (2 Samuel 5:4).

– Ezekiel was called by God as a prophet at age 30 (Ezekiel 1:1).

Old testament resonance of ministry at 30

priestly and regal and prophetic service

Highlights of Jesus’ Ministry

teaching through parables and divine wisdom

healings

power over the natural world

various miracles - water into wine, gold coin in a fish

raising dead people

his resurrection from the dead

Death and Resurrection

Matthew 26:1–2 NIV

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

celebration of the Passover

meal then went to the Mount of Olives

Jesus arrested and taken to Caiaphas

Pontus Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified

Jesus died Friday around three in the afternoon

Buried in a tomb as evening approach

after the Sabbath, jesus was raised from the dead

Luke 24:7 NIV

‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”

John 2:19 NIV

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

Romans 6:9 NIV

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

Some Points to Ponder

the birth of Jesus brought the promise of hope

love, joy and peace is in the person of Christ

these were not released into the world at the birth

Jesus dying on the cross brought freedom

freedom for inner peace and joy

Christmas is nothing without Easter

Matthew 1:21–23 NIV

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).