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The Galilee Gallery and other· NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS You OUGHT To Know BETTER
To better understand Jesus and the early world in which He lived, it is important to know those around Him.
THE SHEPHERDS (Luke 11: 15)
In the time of Jesus, shepherds carried around a bad reputation for dishonesty and little respect for the Tomb.
It is interesting to note that it was com-I mon practice for sheep to
be put under cover from November to March, except around Bethlehem where
they were outside year round. This would explain the Biblical account "keeping watch over their flock by night."
Of one thing there is little doubt, it must have been a monumental experience for those simple men on the side of a hill. Angels from on high proclaiming a heavenly birth. It is little wonder the shepherds fled in wonderment to see for themselves what they had been told.
Like the Wisemen, once they paid homage to the Christ child, they are written out of the story. And while there is no biblical comment to the fact, one would imagine that they certainly were unable to. keep their experience a secret.
THE WISEMEN (Matthew 11:1)
Only in Matthew do you find the wisemen mentioned, and even here, though we think the number three, no specific number is named. If logic is served, three gifts can make the claim there were three wisemen. However, the number is not significant.
Dig deep in non-Biblical sources and a cornucopia of information comes pouring out They were of a sect of Medes who were students of astrology. From the seventh century on there seems general agreement that their names were Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar.
There has been much speculation about what the star was but Matthew wrote that the star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." Why would these men follow such a star? However, why would they not since they were knowledgeable about a divine Redeemer to be born in Palestine?
From where did they come? Since it is written only that they came from east of Jerusalem, most scholars would answer, Persia. In those days it was the center of occult learning. One thing is for ~it was a difficult journey of close to 1000 miles that led them across the Syrian desert through the passes of Moab into Jericho where the Dead Sea and the River Jordan meet, on to Jerusalem and finally to Bethlehem.
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