Jesus Christ Is Born in Bethlehem
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king” (Matt. 2:1; Luke. 2:4-7)
In accordance with the prophecy: Matt. 2:5; John. 7:42; Mic. 5:2.
The Flight into Egypt
After His birth, Joseph and the Virgin Mary take the infant Jesus to Egypt for several years, hiding Him from the persecution of King Herod (Matt. 2:16):
“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod” (Matt. 2:14-15)
In accordance with the prophecy: Matt. 2:15; Hos. 11:1.
The Return to Nazareth
And then they return to Joseph’s home (Luke. 2:4) in Nazareth:
“saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.’ Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel <...> he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth” (Matt. 2:20-23)
In accordance with the prophecy: Matt. 2:23, possibly: Judg. 13:5.
Yearly Visits to Jerusalem
Every year Jesus Christ went to the temple in Jerusalem with His parents, relatives and acquaintances (Luke. 2:43-44):
“His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast” (Luke. 2:41-42)
By the age of 12 the boy Jesus already possessed great wisdom, which amazed the teachers in the Jerusalem temple:
“His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast <...> Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Luke. 2:41-42,46-47)
After the age of 12 Christ also lived in Nazareth, in obedience to His parents:
“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them” (Luke. 2:51)
The Move from Nazareth to Capernaum: the Beginning of the Preaching
Only on reaching the age of 30, after His baptism by the prophet John, does Christ leave Nazareth and move to Capernaum to begin His preaching:
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Matt. 4:12-13)
In accordance with the prophecy: Matt. 4:14-16; Is. 9:1-2
Important Details
The Galileans Know Jesus Well as the Son of a Carpenter
During His preaching in Galilee, the people know Jesus Christ well as an ordinary carpenter, the son of a carpenter:
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him” (Mark. 6:3)
“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?” (Matt. 13:55)
Regular Visits to the Temple to Keep the Law
To keep the Law, Christ had to visit the temple in Jerusalem 3 times a year:
“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD” (Ex. 23:17)
“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel” (Ex. 34:23)
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed” (Deut. 16:16)
Christ Fulfilled the Law
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17)
“But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (Matt. 3:15)
“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt. 26:24) (Mark. 14:21)
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’” (Luke. 24:44)
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4)
Waiting for Full Age to Preach
Christ refrained from preaching and miracles until the age of 30, because public ministry began at 30 by divine ordinance and established tradition (Num. 4:3). Therefore Christ, who came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17), waited until 30 and then went out to preach:
“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli” (Luke. 3:23)
Christ waited for His time to come:
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come’” (John. 2:4)
“Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come” (John. 7:30)
“These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come” (John. 8:20)
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready’” (John. 7:6)
“You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come” (John. 7:8)
“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” (Luke. 12:50)
“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You’” (John. 17:1)