Part 19 (1/2)

3. =The Settlement at Nazareth.= (From Egypt to Nazareth.) After the death of Herod, Jesus was taken from Egypt to Galilee, to the village of Nazareth, the early home of Joseph and Mary. Here he spent his youth.

(Matt. 2:19-23.)

4. =The Visit to the Temple.= (From Nazareth to Jerusalem and return.) The only recorded event of the Saviour's youth, is his journey to Jerusalem, at the age of 12 years, to attend the Pa.s.sover. On the return journey, he was lost by his parents, and after three days, found in the Temple (probably in the Court of the Women), conversing with the doctors of the law. He returned with Joseph and Mary to Nazareth (Luke 2:40-52), and thenceforth no events in his life for 18 years are related.

The places in this period are: (1.) Bethlehem, a village six miles southwest of Jerusalem, now _Beit-lahm_. (2.) The Temple in Jerusalem.

(See plan on page 138.) (3.) Nazareth, a village on the border of the Plain of Esdraelon, in Galilee, now _en Nasireh_, a place of 6,000 population.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST

MAP 1.

PERIOD OF PREPARATION, FROM THE BIRTH TO THE BAPTISM.]

OUTLINE REVIEW OF JOURNEYS--FIRST PERIOD.

PERIOD OF PREPARATION.

1. _Presentation in the Temple._ (Bethlehem to Jerusalem and return.) Recognized by Simeon and Anna.

2. _Flight into Egypt._ (Bethlehem to Egypt.) Escape from Herod.

3. _Settlement at Nazareth._ (Egypt to Nazareth.) Childhood and youth.

4. _Visit to the Temple._ (Nazareth to Jerusalem and return.) Found among the doctors.

II. PERIOD OF INAUGURATION.

This embraces 15 months, from the Baptism of Jesus to the Rejection at Nazareth, and contains the record of five journeys. Its places are as follows: 1. Nazareth, already located. 2. Bethabara was formerly supposed to be the ancient Beth-Nimrah, now _Nimrin_, on a small stream east of the Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea. But Conder locates it at _Abarah_, a ford of the Jordan above Beth-shean, and near the Sea of Galilee. 3. ”The Wilderness” is probably the uninhabited region of Judaea near the Dead Sea, though it may have been the desert far to the south.

4. Cana is located at _Kefr Kenna_, northeast of Nazareth, though Dr.

Robinson places it at _Kana el Jelil_, 9 miles north of Nazareth. 5.

Capernaum was probably at _Khan Minyeh_, on the west of the Sea of Galilee, though long located at _Tell Hum_, on the north. 6. Jerusalem.

7. Sychar, the ancient Shechem, now _Nablus_, beside Mount Gerizim. The journeys of this period are named, each from its leading event.

1. =The Baptism.= (From Nazareth to Bethabara.) Near the close of John the Baptist's ministry, Jesus left his carpenter shop at Nazareth, and journeyed down the Jordan Valley to Bethabara. There he was baptized by John, and received from heaven the testimony of his sons.h.i.+p. (Matt.

3:13-17.)

2. =The Temptation.= (From Bethabara to the Wilderness and return.) (1.) Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the Wilderness, where he fasted 40 days, and overcame the temptations of Satan. (Matt. 4:1-11.) (2.) Returning to Bethabara, he received the testimony of John the Baptist, and met his earliest followers, Andrew and Peter, John, Philip, and Nathanael. (John 1:37-50.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LIFE OF CHRIST

MAP 2.

PERIOD OF INAUGURATION, FROM THE BAPTISM TO THE REJECTION AT NAZARETH.]

3. =The Marriage at Cana.= (Bethabara to Cana and Capernaum.) (1.) Jesus left Bethabara, journeyed up the Jordan Valley to Galilee, and over the mountains to Cana, near Nazareth. Here he was present at a wedding, and wrought his first miracle, turning the water into wine. (2.) Thence, with his mother and brothers, he went down to Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee, and remained a few days. (John 2:1-12.)