TASK

1
TASK As the Reporter on the Jerusalem Sun, you
are told to go back to Nazareth or Bethlehem to
check out information on Jesus early years for
the Newspaper. You are looking to find out
details of Jesus birth to see if he is the
Messiah, to see if he has been sent from God.
What else can you make of the stories you find in
the town? OR - You will go to Nazareth to find
out what happened in his youth and why he
suddenly started to preach and heal people. If
you choose this for your article you will have to
use your imagination more. Remember to give your
article a catchy headline. You can draw a picture
within the article if you want to illustrate
something which you are writing about. Think
carefully about your article before you start
writing.
The Birth of Jesus
ANGEL GABRIEL APPEARS TO MARY Gabriel came to
Mary and said - You will be with child and give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name
Jesus. He will be great and will be called the
Son of the most High. The Lord God will give him
the throne of Davidthe holy one to be born will
be called the son of God. Luke 131
The name Jesus means Saviour. The Jews were
awaiting the arrival of a Messiah, sent from God
to help them and this person was to be a
descendent of King David and born in Bethlehem.
Joseph and Mary have to travel to Bethlehem
because of the population census imposed by the
Roman Emperor Augustus. Bethlehem is Josephs
place of birth. We know the date is around
5-7BCE. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the three
Kings came from the East looking for him, and
they said - Where is the one who has been born
King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and
have come to worship him. Matthew 22 This had
been prophesied seven hundred years before by the
Jewish prophet Micah. The Kings find the baby
Jesus and bring gifts of gold, incense and
myrrh. Herod the King of the Jews heard of Jesus
from the three kings and tried to kill him by
ordering all the baby boys under 2 years old in
Bethlehem to be killed - but Jesus and his
parents escaped.
The trip from Mary and Josephs home town of
Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken about
three days. Luke says that after Jesus was born
Mary wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manager - there was no room in the local Inn.
Local Shepherds were told by Angels of this event
and that Jesus was Christ the Lord. After
visiting the baby the shepherds spread the word
around to everyone in the local area and people
were amazed by the events the shepherds
described.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN THE
BIBLE, LUKE 1-2 MATTHEW 1-2
2
In the New Testament there is not a lot of
information about Jesus and what happened to him
as he was growing up. His father Joseph was a
carpenter and we can assume that Jesus followed
in his fathers footsteps. Luke says of the
early years whilst Jesus was growing up in
Nazareth - And the child grew and became
strong he was filled with wisdom and the grace
of God was upon him. Luke 240.
The Early Years
THE TORAH
Nazareth
Jesus probably started his public ministry,
preaching and healing people around 27CE. He was
about 30 years old. As far as we know he had
spent all his life growing up and working in
Nazareth.
JESUS IN THE TEMPLE AT 12 YEARS OLD Every year
Jesus parents went to Jerusalem to the Temple to
celebrate the feast of the Passover and when he
was twelve they took him with them. After the
feast was over they started back home but
realized Jesus wasnt with them - they hurried
back to Jerusalem. After 3 days they found him in
the temple courts sitting and talking to the
teachers -everyone who heard him was amazed at
his understanding and his answers.Jesus grew in
wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and
men. Luke 247-52