A Savior, Which Is Christ The Lord ll

   490. The Baby Jesus was like any other baby-He was human and had the same needs as babies do today. He cried to be held and fed, needed His diapers changed, and learned to talk like any other baby does.

   491. Though nativity scenes tell the story differently, there were likely no animals present at Jesus' birth. The Bible makes no mention of camels, donkeys, cattle, or sheep. All these are cultural additions to the story that have been added through the ages.

   492. The shepherds weren't given a miraculous sign to follow like the magi were two years later. The "star of the East" did not guide them. The angels told the shepherds to look for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Presumably this was an unusual sign in itself and the shepherds found Jesus with little difficulty.

   493. The Christmas story has undergone cultural interpretation to such an extent that many people believe the Bible tells of Joseph asking the innkeeper if the Baby can be born there. There is, however, no record of such a conversation occurring. Luke 2:7 simply states: She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

   494. Jesus did not receive His name, which means "The Messiah" or "The Christ," until His eighth day when he was circumcised. The name had been given to Mary by the angel before she conceived, but the practice was to officially name the Child when He was circumcised.

   495. At twelve years of age, Jesus already demonstrated that He was aware of His lifework. His parents had taken Him to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. When they left, they thought He was with them, but He had stayed behind in order to speak with the teachers at the Temple.

   496. His ministry began when He was about thirty years of age. John the Baptist was serving as a "voice in the wilderness" and calling the people to remember that their Savior was coming, that the time had come to repent. Jesus was baptized by John at the Jordan River.

   497. Satan tempted Christ and tried to weaken the Savior's resolve, but Jesus stood firm in His mission. Christ's ministry would ultimately lead to His death, and though satan's temptations would have saved Him great pain, He was faithful to His Heavenly Father.

  498. The Lord's preaching took Him all over the area for three years. He traveled throughout Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He healed the sick and brought hope to many through miracles. He often spoke in parables to the people to help them better understand what His ministry was all about.

   499. Jesus spent much of His ministry life in and around the Sea of Galilee. Galileans in Bible times were considered country hicks to the more cosmopolitan residents of Jerusalem. Jesus spoke primarily to the humble people who labored on the land and were familiar with the animals and plants around them. His parables are filled with images of the natural world.