From, the Annunciation to Zacharias, B. C. 6, to the Baptism of Jesus, A. D. 26; 32 Years.

Jesus was actually born four years before we date his birth. This error in the chronology is due to a mistake of Dionysius Exiguus, the monk who arranged our present calendar in A. D. 526. He dated the birth of Christ in the year of Rome 754, but Herod the Great, who murdered the children of Bethlehem, died in April of the year of Rome 750. Jesus must have been born several months before, probably in December 749 of the year of Rome. Since it was not possible to correct all records and books scattered over the world after the mistake was discovered, the system has been retained and the actual date of Christ's birth is B. C. 5.

I. THE ANNUNCIATION TO ZACHARIAS (Luke 1:5-25). When the reign of Herod the Great was drawing to a close there lived in the hill country of southern Judea, near Hebron, an aged couple of priestly descent, both blameless and devout in character. But they were old and childless. But when the time came for Zacharias to burn incense at the Temple in Jerusalem the angel Gabriel announced to him that Elizabeth should bear a son whose name should be John, and he should be the forerunner of the Messiah. Zacharias doubted and became speechless until the fulfillment of the prophecy.

II. THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY (Luke 1:26-38). In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a holy virgin of the tribe of Judah, who lived at Nazareth, and announced that she should become the mother of the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel.

III. THE VISIT OF MARY TO ELIZABETH (Luke 1:39-56). After receiving this annunciation Mary immediately set out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias. Elizabeth saluted her as the mother of her Lord and confirmed the annunciation of the angel. Full of faith and assurance that her son should be the Savior of Israel, she burst forth into words of praise and gave utterance to her wonderful prayer song.

IV. THE ANNUNCIATION TO JOSEPH (Matt, 1:18-25). In a dream an angel appeared to Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed, bidding him to take Mary for his wife, and to call her son Jesus, for he should save his people from their sins.

V. THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Luke 1:57 -80). The promise to Zacharias was fulfilled and a son was born to him. The relatives proposed that the child should bear his father's name, but Elizabeth declared that his name should be John. They appealed to Zacharias and he wrote on a tablet that his name was John, and suddenly his speech was restored. Then he burst forth in a psalm of thanksgiving and prophesied of his son's future greatness as forerunner of the Messiah. The child grew and remained faithful to his Nazarite vow, drinking neither wine nor strong drink and denying himself of even the ordinary comforts of life.

VI. THE BIRTH OF JESUS (Luke 2:1-7). Joseph and Mary lived at Nazareth, but according to the sure word of prophecy (Micah 5:2) the child was born in Bethlehem. Augustus Caesar had issued a decree that all the world should be taxed. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem of Judea, to be enrolled, a city of the tribe of Judah to which tribe they belonged. The inn was crowded with strangers and they were forced to seek shelter in the stable, where Jesus was born and laid in a manger.

VII. THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS (Luke 2:8-20). There was no lack of heralds to carry the good news of a Savior's advent into the world. On the very night of his birth an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks on the hills about Bethlehem and announced the tidings of the birth of the Savior. Then a multitude of the heavenly host joined in the song of " glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Immediately the shepherds left their flocks and hastened to the village where they found and worshiped the child, and returned to their flocks praising God for all they had seen and heard, and went and reported the tidings to the people.

VIII. THE CIRCUMCISING AND NAMING (Luke 2:21). When Jesus was eight days old he was circumcised according to the Jewish Law and named Jesus, meaning Savior.

IX. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE (Luke 2:22-38). When Jesus was forty days old, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to present the child to the Lord and make the offerings of a pair of turtle doves. Simeon, a devout and just man, who had been told that he should not die until his eyes had seen the Lord's Christ, was
led to the temple by the Spirit, and when he saw Jesus he took him up in his arms and praised God that he had been permitted to see his salvation. At the same time the aged prophetess, Anna, came forward, and when she beheld the holy child she also gave thanks for the child^who should bring redemption to Jerusalem.

X. THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN (Matt. 2:1-12). But Jesus received a welcome from Gentiles as well as from Jews. Guided by the star, the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem to inquire of Herod concerning the King of the Jews. Herod was alarmed and bade the chief priests and scribes look into the records, and they found the passage that declared Bethlehem of Judah to be the place. In his attempt to conceal his evil intentions he told the wise men to seek the child, and if they found him he would also come and worship him. The wise men were directed to the house where the child was by the star, and after worshiping him and laying rich gifts before him and being warned of God not to return to Herod, they went to their land by another route.

XI. THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT (Matt. 2:13-18). The same night Joseph was warned in a dream of the evil intentions of Herod, and taking the child and his mother they fled to Egypt. Herod, vexed that the wise men had frustrated his design against the child's life, slew all the male children under two years of age in Bethlehem, hoping in this way to get rid of the rival king.

XII. JOURNEY TO NAZARETH AND EARLY YEARS (Matt. 2:19-23; Luke 2:39, 40). Herod soon died, and the angel bade Joseph return with the child and his mother. They started on their journey, but when they came into Judea they heard that Archelaus, Herod's son, was reigning, and they were afraid; but at the bidding of the Lord they went down to Nazareth, and there the child grew in body, mind and spirit.

XIII. THE VISIT TO JERUSALEM (Luke 2:41-50). It was the custom of Joseph and Mary to attend the Passover every year. When Jesus was twelve years old he accompanied them. After the feast they started home with a great company of pilgrims, but the first evening they failed to find Jesus in the company, and they immediately returned to Jerusalem to seek him. On the third day they found him in the temple with the learned doctors, hearing them and asking them questions so that they marveled at his wisdom. His parents were surprised to find him among these wise rabbis, and his mother reproved him for causing them so much anxiety by his absence. Jesus told them "that he must be about his father's business." His mother kept these sayings in her heart, and Jesus went with them to Nazareth.

XIV. THE EIGHTEEN YEARS OF SILENCE (Luke 2:51, 52). These are obscure years. We know only that he lived in Nazareth and was subject to his parents, while he developed in body and soul, preparing for his public work.

XV. THE BEGINNING OF JOHN'S MINISTRY (Matt. 3:1-12; Mark i:1-8; Luke 3:1-18). While Jesus was still in retirement at Nazareth, John the Baptist had begun to prepare the way for the Messiah. He preached the doctrine of repentance and baptized the people in the Jordan. Great crowds of people, Pharisees and Sadducees, rich and poor, listened to his preaching and sought baptism at his hands. Some thought John was the Messiah, but he replied that he was only a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for a mightier One who would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

XVI. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22.) After John had been preaching about six months, Jesus came to Bethabara and desired to be baptized. John hesitated to baptize one who was 'greater and holier than himself, but at Christ's word he suffered it to fulfill all righteousness. After John had baptized him, Jesus was praying, and he received the threefold testimony of his divine Sonship:

1. The opening of the heavens.

2. The descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove.

3. The voice of the Father saying, " This is my beloved Son."

QUESTIONS.

• Give the opening and closing date of this period.

• When was Jesus born?

• From what do we reckon his birth?

• Who was Zacharias?

• Where did Elizabeth live?

• Where was the announcement made to Joseph?

• What did the relatives desire to name John?

• What self-denials were made?

• Where and under what circumstances did the angel make the announcement?

• Why did Zacharias become speechless?

• How long after this was the announcement made to Mary?

• Who announced the tidings of the birth of Jesus?

• Where was Jesus born?

• Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?

• What was the song of the angels?

• What did the shepherds do?

• What does the word Jesus mean?

• How old was Jesus when he was presented in the temple?

• What offerings were made?

• Who had waited at the temple and why?

• Where were the wise men from?

• What was their mission?

• What warning was given them?

• What was Herod's purpose in making the decree?

• Why did they leave Egypt?

• Why go to Nazareth?

• How old was Jesus when he was at the temple the second time?

• What happened on their return home?

• How long was Jesus away at this time?

• What surprised them? How long time is spent in silence?

• Who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus?

• What was his sermon?

• How long was John preaching before Jesus was baptized?

• What is the threefold testimony of the divine Sonship?

• Locate each event of this period.

• Draw map and trace journeys of Jesus.