King Herod, upon learning from the chief priests and scribes that the prophesied Ruler of Israel was to be born in Bethlehem, sends the wise men to locate the child under the pretense of wishing to worship him. However, the wise men are divinely warned not to return to Herod after finding the infant Jesus, which enrages the king. In his fury, Herod orders the massacre of all young boys in Bethlehem. Before his soldiers can carry out this act, God intervenes by warning Joseph in a dream to flee immediately with Mary and the child into Egypt, which Joseph obeys without hesitation, departing in the night. The family remains in Egypt until Herod dies, after which an angel again appears to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to return to Palestine and settle in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophetic declaration that the child would be called a Nazarene, and also the words spoken by the prophet affirming that God had called His Son out of Egypt. The narrative emphasizes that Jesus, though the Son of God, willingly became human and lived on earth so that he might die as a sacrifice for humanity. Following his crucifixion, he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, where he remains ever-present and accessible to those who call upon him. He is described as eternally alive and ready to offer aid at any moment. Jesus spends approximately thirty years growing up in Nazareth, a town not particularly esteemed. Despite living among sinful people, he himself remained without sin, serving as a model of holiness and demonstrating that righteous living is attainable through God's help regardless of one's surroundings or circumstances.
By Catharine Shaw · Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction