About a year or so later, Mary and Joseph were back in Bethlehem to complete the census. Notice Matthew 2:1. Jesus was already born. The wise men were led by a star, and they came to Herod, the king. Herod asked them what time did the star appear? It took them, from the actual birth of Christ in Luke 2, over a year before the wise men got to Herod (A totally different time period from the birth of Jesus).
The wise men were not present at Christ's birth as pictures of Christmas contend. Continuing the account, Herod said after you see Jesus, let me know because I want to worship Him. The star was still shining, and brought the
wise men to Jesus who at this time was a young child and living in a house (Matthew 2:11). Also Mary was only there with Jesus, no Joseph, as at the time of his birth in the manger (Luke 2). After they saw the young child, Jesus (not a new baby), they gave him presents and departed another way and did not tell Herod. At this point Joseph was told by an angel to go to Egypt until Herod died. Herod got angry and killed all children under two years old (verse 16)
because he knew Jesus was already a young child and not a baby: "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16, KJV)
After Egypt, Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth because Herod was dead. From there the life of Jesus resumes in Luke 2:40. You see these are two different events, one at His birth in the Manger and the other, Jesus is nearly two with the wise men and their gifts. |