The scriptures say as a baby, Jesus was laid in a manger, yet it also mentions that the Wise Men saw Him in a house. Is this a contradiction?
When Jesus was born, the SAME night shepherds were given the news by angels. “And there were in the same country shepherds day in the city of David a Savior” (Luke 2:8-11). That very day the shepherds saw Christ in the MANGER (Luke 2:15-16). The need for a manger was due to the temporarily crowded conditions.
Several weeks after the visit of the shepherds Jesus was taken to Jerusalem by His parents. “And when the days of her [Mary's] purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). According to Leviticus 12:2-4, Jesus was taken to Jerusalem nearly six weeks after His birth. “If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man-child: then she shall be unclean seven days. And she then will continue in … her purifying three and thirty days.”
When Joseph and Mary returned to Bethlehem they then moved into a HOUSE, where the Wise Men finally saw Jesus for the first time. “And when they (the Wise Men) were come into the HOUSE, they saw the young child with Mary his mother” (Matt. 2:11).
So now we can see that the Wise Men and shepherds did not visit Jesus at the same time. They saw Him weeks after the shepherds did, and therefore visited Jesus in the house.
As further proof that the Wise Men saw Jesus after His parents took Him to Jerusalem, we find that Joseph in a vision was ordered to go into Egypt as soon as the Wise Men LEFT (Matt. 2:12-14). Therefore they saw Jesus sometime after He returned with His parents from Jerusalem, and just before they fled to Egypt. Upon their return to Palestine from Egypt, Jesus’ parents resided at Nazareth, not Bethlehem.
So now all the Christmas myths of Jesus in a manger being visited by the wise men can be laid to rest!
actually it was common for jewish houses to have a basement and keep their animals in there . This basement in the house can be refer to manger.
Comment by Travis — November 18, 2009 @ 6:53 am |
Even if they kept animals in their basement, they are in their own house; so, why in the world would you place your child in the animal pit if you have a room upstairs. I think the interpretation above is most likely. This is my main beef with most Christians, they interpret the Bible to mean whatever they wish; thus, all of the different Christians basically invent their own religions. In general, Christians follow a Pagan calender of holidays and teach their children traditions (rituals) rather than scripture.
Comment by TJ — December 7, 2009 @ 2:21 pm |
The article makes sense, the magi visited Christ after His birth and after the shepherds. Its really not about religion but about the salvation plan that God has for us. religion is not strong enough to change God’s course, but if you surrender to His will and the Holy Spirit we then have the ability to participate in change for Hs better kingdom. House is also translated to a place that a person or people set to reside in temporarily or long term. in other words, two people that are poor – their car is their house, they live in their car. Its not a house per say but it is their home.
regardless, the important message here is that the long awaited Messiah was born, he lived died and RESURRECTED from the dead for YOU!
Blessings!
Comment by Lou — December 21, 2009 @ 9:09 pm |
Where is it derived that the wise men actually found Jesus in Bethlehem? Granted, it clearly states that Jesus was BORN in Bethlehem (Matt 2:1) and that the prophecies foretold this location (Matt 2:5). Matt 2:8 says Herod told the wise men to go to Bethlehem, but verse 9 clearly states they followed the star until it stood over where the “young child” was. I wondered if the star actually lead the wise men to Nazareth because Luke 2:39 states that after “they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord” in Jerusalem, “they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth”. Jesus would have been roughly 2 months old at that time…plus, would it not have made sense for Joseph to return to his home in Nazareth after the taxes / census? Scripture does not say where they were before fleeing to Egypt, but it does state they returned to Nazareth again following that Matt 2:23. Is there any passage that implies they returned to Bethlehem after Jerusalem? Or any passage that states that the wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem? I’ve not found any.
Comment by Kurt — December 25, 2009 @ 5:13 pm |
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