This one is a re-post from last December, slightly editted. Back-story is here. The collection is here. You can subscribe over there. >>>

I’m sure this one is on the poster somewhere, but I didn’t bother to look for it. I’ve heard this “contention” come up several times in the past few weeks – for obvious reasons – so I decided to skip ahead.

What happened to Joseph, Mary and Jesus after Jesus’ birth?

Matthew 2:13-15//
Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Luke 2:21-22, 39-40//
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

It seems that Matthew records the family travelling to Egypt after the magi left, and Luke records them going to the temple in Jerusalem and then back to Nazareth. Which is it?

Both. 

Circumcision at Home

Luke tells us that Jesus was circumcised and named after eight days, according to the law. This probably happened at home. The next verse tells us that when Mary’s purification time was over, they went to the temple. According to Leviticus 12, that was 33 days. So there is a delay of at least a month between verses 21 and 22.  Continue Reading…