This Article: (3 Pages)
- 1. The Virgin Birth
- 2. Jesus' Early Life
- 3. Baptism of Jesus
2) Jesus' Early Life
The second chapter of Matthew continues on to look at what happened after Jesus was born. Right from the early age, strange events occurred around him, including special attention from distant spiritual men and the Roman appointed governor of the area.
Matthew 2
Matthew 2:1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,
6 `You Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are in no way least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'"
7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way. WEB
This is the start of Jesus receiving the label of “King of the Jews”. Many people gave him that status, though at that time he never directly stood up to try and become the national leader. The term came partly from the people who understood Jesus to be the promised Messiah from God, the one to follow on from the great King David of many years earlier - someone to release the Jewish people from the government of the Romans and re-elevate the national position again.
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