Though born in Bethlehem, Jesus did not grow up there. Though born King of the Jews,[2] he was not raised in Jerusalem. Instead, he was raised in the region of Galilee in the tiny town of Nazareth where, Luke tells us, he “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). He had an ordinary childhood, as ordinary as a sinless child could have.[3] So unremarkable were his years in Nazareth, years later he would be remembered only for his parents and siblings.[4]
Tag Archives: God's Ways
God’s Perfect Gift
We often think of the sudden, supernatural appearance of the heavenly host in relation to Jesus’ birth, and rightly so. But in a sense, their explosion of praise is but a commencement of our continued celebration. For, we are not waiting like the Old Testament saints or even the angels, but “in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son” (Hb. 1:2) and has revealed his redemptive purposes in his church. So, let the angelic chorus continue, “Glory to God in the highest!”
Planter, Pastor, Preacher 