Life of Christ Challenge Lesson 8

Taught live Sunday, November 27, 2022

Introduction

Jesus’ Life Prior to His Ministry: The Introduction of Christ, Part 5 The Silent Years
Looking into the Face of Jesus
Life of Christ, 1: Pages 82–89 Outline: Lesson Plan 8

1. Texts for this study: Matthew 2:13–18, 2:19–23; Luke 2:39b, 2:40–52
2. We will cover the first 30 years of Jesus’ life in this lesson. We call them “The Silent Years.”
3. We have discussed His birth and the sequence of events that happened after His birth.
   1. Shepherds came first.
   2. Then they went for the Jewish rituals at the temple.
   3. Then the wise men came.
   4. Remember, the wise men came to Herod first and told him about the king.
   1. Herod wanted them to come back and tell him where this king was.
   2. The wise men were told by an angel to not go back to Herod, so they went out another way.
   5. Then God told Joseph to go to Egypt.
4. Now, we will discuss Jesus in Egypt, His return to Israel, and His coming to Jerusalem as a twelve-year-old boy.
   1. This is the only event that is recorded in Jesus’ childhood. 2. Also, we will hear His first recorded words.

I. The Flight to Egypt and Herod’s Slaughter

A. Read Matthew 2:13–18.

1. An angel told Joseph to go to Egypt because of what Herod was going to do.
   a. Note Joseph’s response.
   b. He manifested no hesitation.
2. It was 100 miles to the border and then another 100 more to perhaps Alexandria.
3. We do not know how long they stayed in Egypt.
4. We find interesting words in Matthew 2:16.
   1. “Two years old” in Jewish terms would mean approximately 12 months. You were in the first year of your life when you are born.
   2. Matthew 2:16 makes us believe that the star appeared around 12 months earlier based on Herod’s calculations and the understanding of the wise men.
   3. Many believe that Herod may have doubled his guess. Some think Jesus was around 6 months old when the wise men came to Him.

d. Bethlehem was a small city, so the estimations of the number of babies killed range between 12–50.

B. Why did God not protect those babies? Any thoughts?

1. Herod had free moral choice; Satan has free moral choice; and God has a sovereign will.
2. God is always just, righteous, and longsuffering in everything He does. God’s judgments have the best interests of man always in mind.
3. Our answer to this question must include all three wills: Herod’s will, Satan’s will, and God’s Sovereign will.
4. Consider the price that God paid to give freedom of will to man. Think of the price we have to pay for it.

II. Jesus Brought to Nazareth

1. Read Matthew 2:19–23; Luke 2:39b.
   1. Herod died. An angel returned to Joseph, and told him to go back to Israel.
   2. Because Herod’s son was now reigning, Joseph decided to go back to his hometown, Nazareth.
2. Their return to Nazareth was all a part of God’s plan.

II. Jesus in Nazareth and His Visit to Jerusalem

A. Read Luke 2:40–52.
B. Luke 2:40: Luke describes Jesus’ growth.

1. He was God, but He was still man and grew like a boy grows.
   1. Jesus was a baby, a boy, a young man, and a man. How else could He become one of us?
   2. The Apocryphal Gospels are far-fetched and factitious.
   3. Jesus was perfect at each stage, but He did not take over His class at school.
2. Luke 2:46, 47
   1. This was normal interaction between teachers and students.
   2. But they were amazed at His answers and interactions. He was a perfect twelve-year-old.

C. Twelve was an important age for a Jewish boy.

1. He had started learning His trade.
2. He began sitting with the men at the synagogue. 3. He was called “a son of the Law.”

D. Luke 2:48: Mary’s frustration is revealed.
1. Luke 2:49: These are the first recorded words of Jesus. 2. Luke 2:51: We see an interesting word; Jesus stayed in

“subjection” to His parents.
3. Luke 2:52: Jesus’ development is clearly seen.

a. He grew mentally (“in wisdom”). b. He grew physically (“in stature”).

Conclusion

c. He grew socially (in favor with men).
d. He grew spiritually (“in favor with God”).

1. We have passed over very quickly the first 30 years of Jesus’ life.
2. It is obvious that it was not God’s purpose to give an autobiography of Jesus.
3. Will it not be great to get to Heaven and . . . 1. Ask Him about His childhood,
   2. Ask Him about His first words,
   3. Ask Him about His interactions with his brothers and sisters,
   4. And ask Him about how He developed and grew?
   5. Yes, we want to ask Him a hundred other questions, do we not?

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