“Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua which was originally Hoshea(Oshea) (Num. 13:8, 16- the King James Version of the Bible spells it “Oshea”), but changed by Mosesinto Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exileit assumed the form Jeshua, from which came the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save. An angeltold Joseph(his foster-father), “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
JESUS CHRIST - Je'sus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others with the same name, he is spoken of as “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 18:7), and “Jesus the son of Joseph” (John 6:42).
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods, (1) his private life, till he was about thirty years of age; and (2) his public life, which lasted about three years.
In the “fulness of time” he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothedto Joseph, a carpenter(Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:23; compare John 7:42). His birth was announced to shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Wise men from the east came to Bethlehemto see him who was born “Kingof the Jews,” bringing gifts with them (Matt. 2:1-12). Herod'scruel jealousyled to Joseph's flight into Egyptwith Maryand the infant Jesus, where they waited till the death of this king (Matt. 2:13-23), when they returned and settled in Nazareth, in Lower Galilee(2:23; compare Luke 4:16; John 1:46, etc.). At the age of twelve years he went up to Jerusalemto the Passoverwith his parents. There, in the temple, “in the midst of the doctors,” all that heard him were “astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:41, etc.).
Eighteen years pass during which we have no record, except that he returned to Nazarethand “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). [Some have claimed that during this period, Jesus went to India and learned from Hindu Gurus? Is this true?]
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