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    LESSON XXXII. Place of Christ’s Birth

    Questions to Lesson 32*Of what were the elections mentioned in former lessons signs? What must a person claiming to be Christ he able to do? For what purpose were the four gospels written? What was one important proof of this truth? What were all things foretold respecting the first advent? What evidence do we notice next? How long had this been foretold? Where did the Jews say Christ should be born? What did some object against believing on Jesus? What did they say?

    We have seen that God pointed out beforehand, a number of persons, at different times, to be the forefathers of Christ. All these elections, being published in the sacred Scriptures, were so many signs of the true Messiah, when he should appear. A person claiming to be the Christ must be able to trace his genealogy back, in this very line, to Abraham. Many sons of Abraham are not sons of Isaac; many of Isaac are not of Jacob; many of Jacob are not of Judah; many of Judah are not of David. So we see that, in those portions of the New Testament commonly called the gospels, which were “written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” (John 20:31,) one important evidence of this great truth, was to trace his genealogy back, through David, to Abraham. Matthew 1; Luke 3:23.BIC 74.1

    But there are other evidences, drawn from the prophecies written before his birth, that Jesus is the Christ. In fact, everything foretold of him, respecting his first advent, were signs of that advent; and, when fulfilled, they were so many evidences that he in whom they were fulfilled was the Christ.BIC 74.2

    The next evidence we will notice is the place of Christ’s birth. This was foretold by the prophet Micah hundreds of years beforehand. Micah 5:2. But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.BIC 75.1

    The chief priests and the scribes, in the days of Christ, understood this; for when Herod demanded of them where Christ should be born, they replied, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet. They then quoted the above passage from Micah. Matthew 2:3-6.BIC 75.2

    Though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he did not remain there long; but was carried into Egypt, and afterwards returned and lived in Nazareth a city of Galilee. On one occasion, Jesus spoke in such a manner that many of the people were convinced that he was the Christ. Others objected that he did not come from the right place. They said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scriptures said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was? John 7:40-42. They knew of what family, and out of what town Christ should come; and when they had opportunity to learn that Jesus came of that very family, and was born in that very town, and having themselves heard him speak as never man spake, ought they not to have believed?BIC 75.3

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