Where Was Jesus?

Where was Jesus? When the Magi (Wise Men) came from the East, where did they find Him? I know many people assume it was in Bethlehem, as I always have, but some think otherwise, as I began to think recently after one of our morning Bible readings. Read below and see what you think.


Joseph and Mary, whose home was in Nazareth, in the region of Galilee, were in Bethlehem, in Judea, because Caesar Augustus had ordered a census to be taken, with each family returning to its ancestral hometown. Jesus was born while they were in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7).

According to Leviticus 12, the time for Mary's purification following the childbirth would have been forty days. After that time, they traveled to Jerusalem. To fulfill the Law of the Lord, they presented Jesus to the Lord at the temple and offered a sacrifice (Luke 2:22-24). In Luke 2:39, we read "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth."

In Matthew 2, we read about the Magi (Wise Men) coming to visit. In the chapter, it says the chief priests and teachers told King Herod(in Jerusalem [Matt. 2:1]) about the prophecy of a ruler coming out of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5-6). When the Magi left the palace, they saw the star again and followed it to where Jesus and his family was staying. The king sent them to Bethlehem, but according to Matt. 2:9, as soon as they started on their way, they saw the star again and followed it to where it stopped over the place where Jesus was.

One more verse, and then I'll share my thoughts. Luke 2:41 says Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.


Of the discussions I've read on this topic, there are two sides: Jesus was either in Bethlehem or Nazareth. I'd like to propose a third possibility - Jerusalem.

Why Jerusalem?
1. Jesus was most likely not an infant when the Magi arrived, but was actually 1-2 years old (Matt. 2:16). I doubt Mary and Joseph would have stayed in Bethlehem that long. They would have their family life and Joseph's job to return to in Nazareth. A census wouldn't have taken that long, displacing all those people. It would have ruined their economy.
2. In Luke 2:22 and 29, we learn that they did leave Bethlehem. After a visit to the temple in Jerusalem, they headed home to Nazareth.
3. I don't believe they could have been in Nazareth at the time of the Magi's visit because, when Herod's soldiers were ordered to kill all boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem and its vicinity (Matt. 2:16), Nazareth would have been too far away to be considered "in it's vicinity." If they had been in Nazareth at the time, I don't think Joseph would have had such an urgent dream of an angel telling him to leave immediately due to Herod's orders.
4. Jerusalem, however, could have been considered close enough. It is only six miles away from Bethlehem.
5. Luke 2:41 says that Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem every year for Passover. We don't know what time of year that the Magi came. Is it possible that they came during a time that Jesus and his family had traveled to the temple in Jerusalem?
6. When the Magi left King Herod, they were sent to Bethlehem - but the Bible never says they got there. The Bible says they saw the star again and followed it instead. It doesn't say how far they followed it (Matt. 2:8-11). Couldn't it be possible that it stopped at a home right there in the same big city in which they had visited King Herod?
7. Matthew 2:12 says that the Magi were "warned in a dream not to go back to Herod" so "they returned to their country by another route." Again, that doesn't say that they were in Bethlehem, or another town - just that they didn't pass back by the palace and go see the king.

So, there are my thoughts, and why I think that Jesus could have possibly been in Jerusalem when the Magi visited. Now - what does it matter? Good question! Honestly, I don't think it does! It was fun to consider, but does it change anything about the gospel message? Does it change how we live our lives for Christ? Does it affect anyone's ability to have salvation or get to eternal life with God in heaven? No, it doesn't!

Because this blog is about "striving for God's glory," I feel led to bring this around to something that can do just that. I happen to live in Texas. I'm in central Texas now, but I grew up closer to the coast. Last week, Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas and devastated many towns down there. The one most people around the nation (and beyond) are hearing about is Houston. I'm sure there are many people who were (and are) asking, "Where was Jesus?" Where is He right now, as the flood waters are still high in some areas and people are faced with cleaning up all the mess left behind? Some people are probably saying that there is no Jesus because the hurricane came and destroyed so much. That happens, too.

So, where was Jesus? He was there the whole time! He is there now, and He will be there in the future. He is "the Alpha and the Omega...who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8). God says through the prophet Jeremiah "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." (Jer. 29:14). Matthew 7:7-8 remind us to "seek and you will find...he who seeks finds..."

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 says "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."

Deuteronomy 31:6 says "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:9 repeats this: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Jesus is also present in His people, in those who love Him and have chosen to live their lives in obedience to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" There are many Jesus-lovers and Jesus-followers helping the hurricane victims. Yes, there are others who do not follow Jesus who are volunteering and helping others. What about them? "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached" (Phil. 1:18). We are all created in God's image (Gen. 1:27) and so we all have some of God in us. He breathed His very breath in us (Gen. 2:7)! "We are all the work of [His] hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Even those who deny God can still be used by Him to show who He is and His character (Romans 9:20-23).

For those struggling to believe:

In John 14:17, Jesus says, "The world cannot accept him [the Holy Spirit], because it neither sees him nor knows him." 1 Corinthians 1:18 says "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

There is the saying that "seeing is believing" and many times people say, "I'll believe it when I see it." In the Christian faith, this works in the opposite direction. Believing is seeing. You have to believe it to see it. That's what faith is - believing that it is or will be without being able to see it. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb. 11:1). "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7).

If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior and given your life to serving Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you, then you have yet to see the true miracles He has in store for you. He can give you peace in the midst of your storms and even a sense of joy or praise. That doesn't make sense from an earthly perspective, but I can tell you from experience that it is real. No, it doesn't mean you're going to throw a party because you are having tough times. If you believe, you will understand. If you believe and accept that Jesus is God's son, that He suffered and died on the cross for all the wrong things you have ever done and ever will do (because being a Christian does not make you perfect), and that He arose from the grave and is now seated with God in heaven awaiting the time when you can be with Him - if you believe all this and want to live your life in gratitude of this, then confess that you sin and that you believe, and ask Him into your life. Then, will you see!


So, what do we do in tough situations, such as Hurricane Harvey? Jesus tells us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). James (Jesus' brother) tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

Where was Jesus? He was, and is, and always will be right with us. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8). God says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5). Is He in your heart and life? Have you asked Him to be? He is ready and waiting. "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).