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"Behold, a virgin shall conceive,and bear a son,and shall call his name Emmanuel" Isaiah 7:14 - Matt 1:22-23 WHERE JESUS LIVED Jesus was born about 5 or 6 B.C. in the Year of Rome 749 and the Year of the World 3970 at the season when other Passover Lambs were born ..... . Herod the Great (who gave the order to kill all children of Bethlehem two years old and under) died on the 13th of March 4 B.C. (about 18 months after the birth of Jesus.)The course of World Empires had moved from Egypt to Assyria, to Babylon, to Medo-Persia, to Greece..... Greece developed the city-state during the period between the Old and New Testaments. Socrates the Greek Philosopher was a contemporary of Malachi ...... In 27 B.C. the Roman Republic under its first Emperor, Caesar Augustus, became the Roman Empire.... Thus Jesus and the Roman Empire grew up at the same time. Thirty three years later the Early Church and the Roman Empire continued to grow at the same time..... The Romans called the Mediterranean Sea "Mare Nostra", Our sea. They controlled its entire perimeter.....Except for a short time in Egypt, Jesus spent his entire life in a small area southeast of the Mediterranean Sea.
In Northern Israel midway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee with a view of Mt Carmel and Mt Hermon to the north was Nazareth,.... . Mt. Hermon's 11,000 feet snow covered peaks supply water to the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.... Mt Hermon also supplies water to the oldest continuously inhabited city on the face of the earth, Damascus Syria.
First, we need to establish the date of the birth of John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus by six months. This is provided through the cycle of duties of the priests in the Temple and through knowing the "course" of service under which Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, served. The Bible tells us clearly that Elizabeth, conceived immediately after Zacharias returned home from his priestly service. Luke 1:5 also states that Zacharias was a priest of the "course of Abijah." 1 Chronicles 24 divides the priestly families into 24 groups or "courses." 1Chronicles 24:10 designates the "eighth course" as that of Abijah. Zacharias finished his first period of duty about the middle of Sivan. Because of his unbelief, God struck him dumb. Nevertheless, he went home to his wife and she became pregnant. Count off 40 weeks, the usual period of gestation, and we get to the month of Nisan the following year. Beginning on the 14th of Nisan, and lasting for eight days, we have the festivals of Pesach (Passover), Matzot (unleavened bread) and Bikurim (First Fruits), which are all occur in the spring. This raises the distinct possibility that John the Baptist was born at Passover which coincides with the Jewish expectation that Elijah would come at Passover It has always been custom to put an extra cup of wine on the table at Passover in the hope that Elijah will come and drink it.
" So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (Luke 1:8-13)
"And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days (of his Temple service) his wife Elizabeth conceived (in June) ; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.
LISTEN TO THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY Now in the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) or December during the Feast of Hanukkah, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:23-27) So in late December the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth and announced that she was to be the mother of Jesus the Messiah. From this annunciation we get the first part of the song, "Ave Maria" or "Hail Mary".
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favor with God..And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. ..He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David...And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:30-33
CLICK TO SEE VIDEO A decree of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus caused Mary and Joseph to make the difficult trip southeast to cross over the Jordan River and follow its western banks down to Jericho and across the Jordan again and climb up the steep winding path to Jerusalem, turning south to Bethlehem, the city of King David's birth. This massive annual visitation to Jerusalem during Sukkot was the logical time for Herod to impose his census and tax. It is important to note that the Hanukkah season, which coincides with the traditional December 25th birthdate for Jesus does not make such a demand for the sons of Israel to journey to Jerusalem, and would have been a very impractical time to collect a tax and to count the population. It is most likely the date of the Angel Gabriel's visit and the Conception of Mary.
LISTEN: THE BIRTH OF JESUS It was the Feast of Tabernacles in October and the Temple Shepherds were watching their flocks of Passover Lambs born to be offered as a sacrifice for sin. It was at this time and in this very place that Jesus the Messiah was born.
Daniel's prophecy in Chapter 9 verse 25 establishes the birth date of Jesus as follows: 483 years (69 weeks of years) was the period from the Dedication of the Great Temple at Jerusalem By Ezra in October 458 B.C. until Jesus was anointed the Messiah at His baptism by John in October of A.D. 25. Then backing up thirty years ( according to Jewish Law and Custom, Jesus could not teach until age thirty ) we come to October again, the actual date of His birth. We, in error, celebrate His birth December 25 on the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah.
Simeon's prohecy at the Circumcision of JesusAnd when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord--observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord--and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said: Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised; for my eyes have seen the salvation which you have made ready in the sight of the nations; a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel. As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Look, he is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed--and a sword will pierce your soul too--so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'
Luke 2: 22-35
The evidence overwhelmingly points to the actual birth of Jesus the Christ as occuring during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day, Simhat Torah - the "great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles. The circumcision would have occurred on Simhat Torah as life is counted as beginning when a male child survives to the day of circumcision eight days after his birth, at which time he formally receives his name. Forty days after His birth Mary was purified in a ritual bath. Mary made the offering of two pigeons (squab), the offering of a poor person ( Emeril Lagasse prepared squab recently on the Food Network.)
The actual birthdate of Jesus was 4 or 5 B.C. due to an error in the 6th century when the Roman monk and astronomer Dionysis Exeguus, reformed the calendar to pivot around he birth of Christ. He dated the Nativity 753 years from the founding of Rome calculated to the date King Herod died. But Dionysis miscalculated because Herod died 749 years after the founding of Rome in 4 BC. Christ was born a year or two before Herod died.
CLICK TO HEAR THE PROPHECYBethlehem was prophecied by Micah [5:2] to be the birthplace of the Messiah. Justin Martyr A.D. 100- 167 first recorded that the site of the Nativity was a cave. The nearby Inn of Chimham [Jer.41:17] has been the starting point for caravans to Egypt from ancient times and there are numerous caves nearby that have been used as stables. Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread" is 2700 feet above sea level and located five and one half miles southwest of Jerusalem . Salma,the son of Caleb was the "father of Bethlehem" [1Chr 2:51]. Ruth married Boaz, David's great grandfather in Bethlehem [Ruth 1:2] King David was born here.
"Jesus Ben Joseph"
"Jesus" is the English for of the Greek "Iesous", which in Hebrew is Jeshua (Joshua), meaning "Jehovah is Salvation".. Many young boys were named Joshua in Bible times. .... Christ is from the Greek word "Christos" meaning "The Anointed One." In Hebrew, Christ is translated "Messiah".
The full name of Jesus, "The Christ", was "Jesus Ben Joseph", (Jesus, son of Joseph.) As the people began to recognize him as the Messiah, they called him Jesus Ben David, (Jesus, son of David.) His brother's names were: Joses Ben Joseph, Simon Ben Joseph, Judah Ben Joseph and James Ben Joseph, (The author of the book of James). His sister's names are not given in the Bible.
The purpose of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is that we might believe in the name of Jesus and receive eternal life. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and the believing ye might have life through his name." John 20:31
LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Mary's well is one of the most authentic sites in the Holy Land. It was and still is the city's only water supply. Jesus, with his mother, came here to draw water as the women of Nazareth have always done.
In spite of our traditions.....The visit of the Wise Men and Joseph's dream happened at their home in Nazareth (Luke 2:39). Jesus was a young child, a "pais" (a young Child) not a "brephos" (a baby). Jesus was more than 1 year old when Herod decreed that all the children two years old and under in or near Bethlehem should be slain (Matthew 2:16) .... The Wise Men scorned Herod's directions to go to Bethlehem and followed the star to the house of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. Joseph, Mary and the young child, Jesus, went to Egypt about 4 B.C. to flee the wrath of Herod. and were there for less than a year The wise men gave the family wealth in compact form which would sustain them in Egypt. They returned to Nazareth after Herod died on March 13, 4 B.C . This date in secular history is why Bible Scholars put Jesus' birth at 5 or 6 B.C.So Joseph and Mary settled down to raise a family in Nazareth. Jesus and His brothers, Joses, James, Judah and Simon no doubt helped at the carpenter shop as Jewish boys are required to learn a trade. His sisters may have cleaned up the shavings. It must have been a little crowded in their home as there were at least nine people living there at one time. "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them" Luke 2:51A.... Daily Bible study was not optional. Mary and Joseph were commanded to see that their children studied the Bible at home and school, starting at the age of five...Deuteronomy 6:4-7....Jesus and his four brothers attended the Synagogue school at Nazareth.
Food of course was a major concern. Water was drawn from nearby wells. Goats milk and sweet grape juice were also served. Baking consisted of wheat and barley bread, cakes and pancakes mixed with figs, almonds, fruit and honey. Leaven or yeast was used except at Passover. Fish was the main staple. On occasion other meat was baked or roasted. The fat was removed from clean animals and the blood completely drained. This is the reason we have Rabbis approve kosher meat at slaughter houses. Olive oil was used for cooking and baking. Meat and fish were seasoned with onions, garlic, dill, cucumbers and mint. Fresh fruit and vegetables were eaten in season. The word "corn" actually refers to wheat in the Bible. Corn was first introduced to us by the Indians when the Pilgrims landed. There was a village Miller who ground the wheat and barley into flour, a village Baker who prepared bread and pastries, and a village Potter who made the clay stoves, bowls, lamps and plates. A village Fuller cleaned and bleached the clothes.
"We have piped unto you and you have not danced"
"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplace and calling unto their fellows, and saying, "We have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, he has a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say, Behold a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans & sinners.." Matthew 11:16-19aJesus and His brothers and sisters played games much like our children play today. Instead of doctor and nurse and cops and robbers they played mock wedding dance and mock funeral procession, possibly having a service for a dead baby goat or a pet. Jesus referred to the use of the popular shepherds pipe or flute to create the proper mood. (Children in that day also played ball games in teams where a ball was tossed in the air and players tried to catch it.)
Woolen clothing was typically a tunic which can still be seen in the dress of modern Arab sheiks. The mantle was a large cloak similar to our overcoat which doubled as a sleeping blanket. Sandals were made or wood or leather soles bound with leather thongs. Modesty was a virtue among women and only pagan women wore skin-tight,skimpy or see-through clothing. Women wore head covering. Prostitutes had their heads uncovered.
On the front door of their house was the Mezuzah, a small Bible scroll container just a few inches high that can be found on the door post of any Orthodox Jewish home today. When Jesus and His siblings reached the age of 3, their mother began to teach them Scriptures from the Old Testament. At age 5 the children went to Synagogue school. The boys were expected to memorize the entire Old Testament Scriptures and in particular the 613 commandments in the first 5 books by the age of 13. At age 12 on a pilgrimage to the Temple with His family Jesus tested His skills with the Bible professors in Jerusalem.
"And Thou Shalt Write Them Upon The Post Of Thy House, And Thy Gates"
Deuteronomy 6:9
Near the top of the righthand doorpost of the house Jesus lived in was fastened a Mezuzah. A small case containing the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. The first passage is known as the Shema (Hear, from the first word of the passage). In that passage, God commands us to keep His words constantly in our minds and in our hearts, by (among other things) writing them on the doorposts of our house., the Hebrew letter "Shin" is written on the outside of the case). The Bible verses are arranged so that the word "Shaddai" (almighty) appears through a small hole near the top.
Devout Jews to this day display the Mezuzah on their doorpost; whenever entering or leaving the home they touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for God and his commandments. and recite Psalm 121:8 "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
The Mezuzah is a sign to the community that this is a home where the Laws of God reign supreme and that the family studies the Bible and instructs their children in the Law of God.
The case and scroll are then nailed or affixed to the right side doorpost on an angle, with a small ceremony called Chanukkat Ha-Bayit (dedication of the house ). It is proper to remove a mezuzah when you move. If you leave it in place, the subsequent owner may treat it with disrespect.
When in Nazareth visit the Nazareth Village - The Nazareth Jesus knew - click above to view
In 1818, when Joseph Mohr was told the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken, he wrote three stanzas that could be sung to guitar music. The song is Silent Night, Holy Night.
