%% generate tags start %% #religion %% generate tags end %% #religion/christianity > [!bible]+ [Luke 2:1-14 - NIV](https://bolls.life/NIV/42/2/) > 1. The Birth of Jesus<br/>In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. > 2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) > 3. And everyone went to his own town to register. > 4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. > 5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. > 6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, > 7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. > 8. The Shepherds and the Angels<br/>And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. > 9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. > 10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. > 11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. > 12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." > 13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, > 14. "Glory to God in the highest,<br/>and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Bethlehem and Nazareth are two cities that are fundamentally linked to the life of Jesus according to Christian tradition: ## Bethlehem - **Birthplace:** Bethlehem is most famously known as the birthplace of Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke both describe Jesus as being born in this town. - **Prophecy Fulfillment:** The choice of Bethlehem as the birthplace for Jesus is significant because it fulfills Old Testament prophecies that a messiah would come from the lineage of King David, who was also born in Bethlehem. - **Symbolic Significance:** Bethlehem, meaning "House of Bread" in Hebrew, has come to symbolize the advent of Jesus into the world, and it is a focal point for Christian pilgrimage. ## Nazareth - **Upbringing:** Nazareth is where Jesus was raised. Although born in Bethlehem, Jesus was brought up in Nazareth by Mary and Joseph. As such, he is often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth. - **Identity:** Jesus's association with Nazareth is a significant part of his identity in the New Testament. It's where he grew into adulthood and where he began his ministry. - **Rejection:** According to the Gospels, Jesus faced rejection in Nazareth when he revealed himself as the Messiah to the townspeople. They refused to believe someone from their town could be the promised savior. ## Overall Relationship The relationship of Bethlehem and Nazareth with Jesus represents different aspects of his life and mission. Bethlehem symbolizes the nativity and the fulfillment of prophecy, while Nazareth represents his formative years and the beginning of his public ministry. Both locations are central to understanding the narrative of Jesus's life and are important sites of Christian heritage. ## When Jesus Leave Bethlehem and Go to Nazareth? ```mermaid flowchart LR Bethlehem --> Egypt --> Nazareth ``` According to the New Testament in the Bible, after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the family didn't immediately move to Nazareth. The timeline goes as follows: 1. **Birth in Bethlehem:** Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. 2. **Flight to Egypt:** - In the Gospel of Matthew, after the visit of the Magi (Wise Men), an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, warning him of King Herod's plan to kill the infant Jesus. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus then flee to Egypt for safety. - They remain in Egypt until Herod's death. ==After Herod dies, an angel tells Joseph it is safe to return, but not to Judea where Herod's son reigns==. 3. **Return to Israel and Moving to Nazareth:** - Upon their return, Joseph hears that [[The Roman rulers in Jesus time|Archelaus]] is reigning over Judea in place of his father, Herod. Fearing for Jesus's safety, he is warned in another dream and decides not to settle back in Bethlehem. - Instead, the family moves to Nazareth in the region of Galilee, which was not under the direct rule of Archelaus. This decision fulfills the prophecy that he would be called a Nazarene. 4. **Growing up in Nazareth:** Jesus spends his childhood and early adult years in Nazareth, where he is raised by Mary and Joseph. The exact age of Jesus when they returned to Nazareth is not specified in the Bible, but it is generally believed he was still a young child. The move to Nazareth was a significant turning point, setting the stage for Jesus's upbringing and the commencement of his ministry in later years.