Jesus, Boy to Man (edited)

Jesus evidently grew up in Nazareth of Galilee and made family Jerusalem visits.

Nativity

Following are almost all of the (translated) original sources of the “Nativity Story” chapters, as related in Matthew and Luke (minus table of ancestors, headings and some punctuation). I have somewhat arbitrarily inserted the text from Matthew 2 in Luke. In some places today “Nativity Scenes” are popular; they also appear on some Christmas cards. Those scenes reflect ideas common in parts of the culture. (I have not tried to establish how these scenes and popular traditions came to be.) I will add notes to point out the common extraneous guesses or wishful thinking or errors. I am also repeating these notes of mine at the end in larger font. (The Bible text is available in these versions, and others, through biblegateway.com and through blueletterbible.org. )

Luke 1: 1-25 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study[a] of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.

   When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.[b] Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. But they did not have children.

Mary

Jesus' mother was named Mary. Despite the interest of the Gospel writers in the role of women in the Christ-event, references to this Mary are actually sparse, apart, naturally, from the “birth narratives”. This final NT mention has her in Jerusalem during the waiting period between Jesus’ death and resurrection and his sending of his replacement (the Holy Spirit).

Carpenter!

The Carpenter who was Different

This is good and pleases God our Savior,  who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.  For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2: 3-6 (NLT)