The Lord Jesus was raised in a Jewish family

Perhaps we do not think often enough about the first thirty years of Christ’s life. His parents were forced to flee to Egypt while He was very young, and then the family returned to Nazareth.

No doubt Jesus had a normal upbringing in a devout Jewish home.

He had brothers and sisters.

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then hath this man all these things? (Matthew 13:55,56)

The family obeyed the commandment concerning going up to Jerusalem on the feast days.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:42)

The family had "kinsfolk and acquaintance"—all Jewish.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. (Luke 2:44)

Jesus was the Son of God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit. But He was born of a Jewish woman and experienced and possessed all the aspects of humanity (except sin). The Lord Jesus was a Jew, not a Gentile; and Gentile believers ought to consider this fact carefully.

Someday Jesus will return to His own people and they will worship Him as their own Redeemer.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

Zechariah was a Hebrew prophet, and he spoke of the piercing of Christ. When Christ comes He shall be pierced—and He was!

Back to You are My People