The Early Life of Jesus Christ

Early Life and Birth

• Jesus Christ was born around 4-6 BC in Bethlehem, about six miles from Jerusalem
• His parents, Joseph and Mary, fled to Egypt to escape King Herod's massacre of infant boys
• Ancient Hebrew writings foretold the arrival of a Messiah who would lead his people to freedom
• Mary was a virgin who became pregnant inspired by the Holy Spirit
• Mary and her husband, Joseph, travelled to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census

Visit of the Wise Men and Escape to Egypt

• Around 4 BC, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem looking for the infant "King of the Jews"
• King Herod asked the wise men to inform him once they found the boy
• The wise men worshipped Jesus but didn't tell Herod
• Herod ordered a massacre of all boys aged two or under in Bethlehem
• Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt after Joseph was warned in a dream
• They remained in Egypt until Herod's death, believed by historians to be in 4 BC

Childhood and Adolescence

• The family returned from Egypt to Nazareth in Galilee around 8 AD
• At age 12, Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents for Passover, but they mistakenly left him behind
• After three days, they found him in the temple talking to religious teachers
• When challenged for his absence, Jesus replied, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
• This biblical story provides the first indication of Jesus' awareness of his divinity

Ministry Begins

• Around 28 AD, John the Baptist drew crowds to the desert, urging them to change their behavior and attitudes
• John prepared the way for " greater teacher"
• Jesus recruited his first followers: Andrew, Simon (Peter), James, and John, all fishermen on the Sea of Galilee
• Other followers include Philip and Nathanael
• At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine

Teaching and Miracles

• Around 28-30 AD, Jesus cleared the temple in Jerusalem of merchants and money-changers and began teaching and healing the sick
• Great crowds followed Jesus overlooking the Sea of Galilee
• He taught on diverse topics, including loving enemies, retaliation, anger, lust, divorce, giving to the needy, and criticizing others
• Religious leaders opposed Jesus' teachings and his breach of Jewish Sabbath laws
• Jesus calmed a storm and sent out 12 disciples to heal the sick

Arrest, Crucifixion, and Resurrection

• In the spring of 30 AD, Jesus and his followers traveled to Jerusalem for Passover
• Crowds recognized and welcomed him as the long-awaited Messiah
• Jesus angered the religious authorities by overturning tables in the temple and criticizing the leaders’ hypocrisy
• Judas, a disciple of Jesus, betrayed him
• After celebrating Passover with his disciples, Jesus was arrested and charged with blasphemy before Jewish and Roman authorities
• The authorities demanded the death penalty and so Jesus was crucified on Good Friday
• His body was laid in a tomb
• On Easter Sunday, followers found the tomb empty and learned that Jesus had risen from the dead
• Jesus appeared to his disciples and over 500 other followers over the next six weeks
• On the Mount of Olives, Jesus ascended to heaven in front of his followers