INFANCY OF JESUS by L. H. Hunting

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 17, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 33.

INFANCY OF JESUS.

By L. H. Hunting

BY L. H. HUNTING.

EVERY truth, however unimportant it may seem, is so connected with other truths that a mistake in regard to the lesser may lead to a serious mistake in regard to the greater. Every incident and every note of time in the Bible is, or has been, or will be, important to some persons at some time, nearly all to us now. The Holy Spirit has not caused the recording of anything unimportant.

So what the Scriptures may teach us of the infancy of Jesus is, all of it, important. An error here may lead to a greater and more serious error in matters of great consequence.

In what follows we shall take for granted that there were four Passovers in Christ’s public ministry; not attempting to prove it at this time. This has to do with some matters of the chronology of the truth.

Jesus seems to have been born in the autumn of B.C. 4. The place of his birth was Bethlehem. Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4–7. There the shepherds, directed by the angels, found Him in a manger. Luke 2:16. That the shepherds were abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night would indicate that it was before the November rains set in.

At eight days of age He was circumcised. Luke 2:21.

Joseph and Mary appear to have remained near Jerusalem, probably at Bethlehem, for over a month. Then He was carried to the temple, forty days after His birth, and ransomed according to the law (Ex. 13:13–15), at the time of Mary’s offering for her purification. Lev. 12:2–8. This accomplished, the family returned home to Nazareth, three days’ journey northerly from the city. Luke 2:39. The child was about six weeks old when they arrived at their old home on the hill.

How long they continued in Nazareth we do not know. We next find them at Bethlehem. Matt. 2:1–8. Here they evidently intended to make their new home. Why they removed from Nazareth to Bethlehem we can only conjecture. We know that Bethlehem was the city of David (Luke 2:4), and the place where, in the providence of God, this Heir of David’s throne had been born, and where it might seem appropriate that He should be brought up. Nazareth had a bad reputation as to its moral and religious character (John 1:46; Luke 4:28, 29); but Bethlehem had no such record. Here, within two hours’ walk of the temple, with its constant worship for religious culture, and the best schools for education, the young Prince would have the best advantages. Here, too, Joseph might hope to have more constant and remunerative employment at his business. Herod was engaged in his building operations both at Jerusalem to the north, and at other places east and south. Joseph would be between, and near to busy points.

Whatever may have been their reasons for leaving the old home, they had moved; for on the arrival of the Magi from the east, they were at Bethlehem. Matt. 2:8, 9.

How long had Joseph and Mary been at Bethlehem? How old was Jesus at this time? How many wise men were there? We do not know, and can not positively answer. The Holy Spirit has not seen fit to have it recorded how long it was from their return to Nazareth before they removed to Bethlehem; how long they had been in their new home before the wise men came; nor just how many wise men there were. There were more than one, there may have been a dozen. But we do know that Herod inquired of the wise men the exact time of the appearing of the star (Matt. 2:7, R. V., in the Greek) which marked the birth of Jesus, and then slew all the male children not over two years old according to that time. Verse 16, R. V. This might indicate that Jesus was more than a year old, perhaps a year and a half. Another indication of His age at that time is found in the wise men’s visit. The star had appeared. They had taken time to study its appearance, and what it meant; had of course consulted together, arranged for a visit, prepared for a journey, and then come from “the east,” Persia, the home of the wise men, as much as 750 miles. All this might have taken anywhere from a few months to more than a year.

Now here, as on our fixing on B.C. 4 as the date of the birth of Jesus, we are met with the objection that Herod died in the spring of B.C. 4. On this see Geikie’s life of Christ. He shows that we have the best of reasons for believing on the authority of an old Jewish writing that Herod did not die until in January nearly three years later.

The Magi have come. They find Him in a house (Matt. 2:11), not in a manger. They offer their gifts. Joseph has the needed money to flee into Egypt. Warned by an angel, he goes there. The mother and child have sufficient strength to start by night, and take the long, hard journey. Verses 14, 15. Quite likely, as Geikie says, they may have gone to Alexandria; many Jews were there. Then, after the death of Herod, warned by an angel, they return into the land of Israel. Verse 21. But, hearing that Archelaus, who resembled his father Herod in cruelty and craftiness, reigned in Judea, they left Bethlehem, probably to their right, and went north to their former home in Nazareth. Verses 22, 23.

Here in that wicked place of ill repute, Jesus was brought up. We hear no more of Him in detail (Luke 2:40), until at twelve years of age He goes up to the temple, probably for the first time. He is found listening to the doctors of the law, and asking them questions. Verses 41–50. Going home with Joseph and Mary He seems to have remained at Nazareth where he was subject to them, until He entered upon His public works at the age of thirty. Verse 51.

Thus He demonstrated the possibility of living a holy life under the most unfavorable surroundings. Henceforward there can be no reasonable excuse for failure in the parents for sin in the child.

Silver Creek, Wash.