In the writings of the Jews, there is a story of the prophet Elijah. He was a big burly man from the country. He was not a highly educated or sophisticated priest. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Elijah was a Prophet of the Lord. In these writings, two specific articles of clothing are spoken of, Elijah’s camel hair prayer shawl and his leather girdle. When Elisha had taken Elijah’s place, these two pieces were given to him by God. After Elisha’s death, the priest brought the camel hair prayer shawl and the leather girdle into the temple to ask God who was the next prophet. The Lord told them to place the prayer shawl and girdle at the Altar of Incense until He would show them the next prophet. In the economy of Israel, a man could be a priest and a prophet at the same time.  On the other hand, a prophet didn’t necessarily have to be a priest. Just before Jesus was born, Mary’s cousin husband, Zacharias was performing his duties as a priest. He was burning incense before the Lord, in the Temple. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to him in the Holy of Holies, and said to him that Elizabeth, his wife, would have a boy. He, John, would be a Prophet of the Most High God. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair and a leather girdle about his loins: and his meat was locust and wild honey.” Matt.3:1-4. Now you know why Jesus said this of John the Baptist, “But I say unto you, that Elias(Elijah) is come already, and they knew him not.” Luke 17:12. John came before Jesus preaching repentance for sins, preparing the coming of Jesus in his ministry. Mark 1:1-4; Luke 3:1-6; John 1:23; Mal.3:1; Isa.40:3-5. ff

Joseph, Mary and Jesus were living in Egypt. God told Joseph to stay there until He told him to return. Joseph was a skilled carpenter and they had the gifts given to them by the wise men. An angel appeared in a dream to Joseph. He told Joseph Herod was dead and to return to Israel. Joseph and Mary and Jesus came back. Herod’s son was ruling in Jerusalem. They decided to go back to Nazareth, to fulfill a scripture that says that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. When Jesus was bar mitzvah, he was old enough to go to the feast in Jerusalem. It was the feast of Passover. When it was over, Mary and Joseph gathered with the caravan to go home. They thought Jesus was with the boys playing. The caravan left and journeyed a day’s distance. They looked for Jesus and couldn’t find Him. If you were charged with the most important mission in the world by God Himself and lost Jesus, what would you do? They returned to Jerusalem and looked for Jesus for 3 days. They found Him in the temple talking to the doctors of the law, asking questions. They walked up to Jesus and Mary asked Him, why have you done this to us? Jesus said, don’t you know I must be about my Father’s work. Jesus was missing for 3 days at the feast of Passover. He returned home with Mary and Joseph and grew in grace and stature, in favor with God and man.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Jesus was about 2 years old. The wise men came from Persia following a heavenly star. The star they saw was the alignment of 5 planets. They came into Israel and went to king Herod to find out about the child they called king of Israel. Herod pretended to be interested. But he found out where Jesus was and sent the wise men on their way. He told them to come back and tell him where exactly this king was. The wise men went to Bethlehem and found Jesus. They gave him gifts of gold, for a king, frankincense, to burn to a God, and myrrh, to embalm a person. The wise men were warned by God not to go back to Herod. They went home another way. God warned Joseph to go to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Joseph and Mary left at night to go to Egypt. They stayed there until Herod was dead. In the meantime, Herod sent his army into Bethlehem and killed all the children up to 2 years old. To fulfill the scripture that says for out of Egypt I called my son. Matt.2, Luke 2, Hosea 11.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Everyone knows the Christmas story. But the birth of Jesus was on this wise. The angel Gabriel had spoken to Zacharias, Mary and Joseph. Joseph took Mary as his wife. She was pregnant with Jesus. Mary was about 8 months pregnant when Ceasar announced a taxed on the world. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to be taxed. Joseph was of the house and lineage of King David. They traveled with a caravan. Mary rode a donkey for 90 miles. When they arrived in Bethlehem, so had the rest of family. There was no rooms available. Mary was having contractions. Joseph needed to find something quickly. Someone offered his stable. Thank God it was springtime. Winter in Israel is the rainy season. So, among the animals, the savior of the world was born. His crib was a feeding trough with hay as a mattress. Mary and Joseph were entrusted with mission more important than anything in this world. And they did with grace. Joseph and Mary stayed in Bethlehem for about two years. Until the wise men, kings in their own right, came to visit the King of kings.

Crain Blanchard

Www.joseph1637.com

God created Adam and Eve. He gave them the garden of Eden. God gave them one commandment. They disobeyed and lost the garden. But God gave Adam a promise, covenant, the God would send a savior. Man had completely rebelled against God. So, God chose Noah. He saved Noah and his family by the ark though the flood. God promised a savior and gave laws on how to act. Again, man rebelled against God. God chose Abraham. He promised Abraham a savior. Man rebelled again. God chose Moses. God promised a savior and gave laws. Then God chose David, made him king of Israel and promised a savior. The last covenant God gave to man is through Jesus. This covenant has 2 commandments.

PS. Today is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Europe by the Allies, American, English, French and the rest of the free world, to free the world of nazism.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

There weren’t prophets in the land of Israel for 400 years. It’s everything in God’s time. Everyone in Israel was looking for the messiah. God told them it was time. But only 3 people knew who He was. The next prophet in Israel was John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin. Then Jesus. The bible says that Israel killed all their prophets. It is because that people don’t want to hear the truth. It hurts to listen and watch your sin be revealed. People will cry out in pain because of their sins. So everyone was listening and wanting for the messiah to appear. Only those who trust God, will follow and believe. God used signs and wonders to reveal Jesus. The shepherds and the wise men saw the truth and believed. So, everyone was looking for a messiah. And God sent His son.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

God had sent the ark angel Gabriel to tell Zacharias that he was going to be a father. Zacharias didn’t believe and God took his voice until John the Baptist was born. Gabriel had other task to do. He appeared to Mary, mother of Jesus, and told her she would become pregnant. And His name would be Jesus. He would save His people from sin. Then Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant. Mary believed and went to be with Elizabeth. I’m sure that Mary told Joseph. And he had a hard time believing. Joseph was a righteous man and believed God. When Mary returned to Nazareth, she was 3 months pregnant and Joseph had to make a decision. Was he going to take Mary as his wife or not? While he thought on this, the ark angel Gabriel appeared to him in a dream. Gabriel told Joseph that this was of God and to take Mary as his wife. The bible says that he awoke and took Mary as his wife. And didn’t know her until Jesus was born. Matt.1 Luke 1.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

In the coming blogs, I am going to write about the 4 gospels in chronological order. It is a study of the life of Jesus. There hadn’t been a prophet in Israel for 400 years. God was preparing Israel for the coming of Jesus. When the time had arrived, God sent Gabriel to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. Zacharias was high priest and in the holy of holies and preforming his duties burning incense before God. Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and began to speak to him about coming events. Zacharias was afraid and didn’t believe Gabriel. God struck him mute. Gabriel said he wouldn’t speak until his son John was born. Zacharias and Elizabeth were older and passed child bearing age. But God was going to bring to pass His word. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb. Gabriel’s work was finished. He would speak to a virgin in Nazareth also. Matthew 1, Luke 1.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

After Nehemiah, many things happened to the Israelites. First, God didn’t speak to them for 400 years. Then Alexander the great conquered Israel and the rest of the Middle East. Then in 167BC, Mattathias Maccabee lead the Jews in a revolt against the Greek rulers and won. This is when the pharisees began. A 100 years later, the Romans came and conquered the Middle East. The Romans put Herod the great as governor of the province. By the time Jesus was born, Israel was an occupied country. The Romans allowed the Israelites to practice their religion and to govern themselves. The Ark of the covenant wasn’t in the temple. God resided above the Ark. So there was no presence of God in Israel. This was God’s plan to reveal Jesus. The word of God was given to man to reveal the knowledge of God and Himself to mankind. As one reads the bible, the picture of Jesus Christ becomes very clear. 1 Peter 1:13 “wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ” KJV.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

In the Jewish religion, heritage is the upmost importance. The 1st chapter of Matthew is listed the lineage of Jesus. One, it is to prove that He is Jewish and two, it’s to see His family. The linage comes from the father, but being Jewish comes from His mother. In Jesus’s family, there is a king, 2 prostitutes, and Moabitess. Moab, brother to Israel, was cursed by God and no wives could be taken from them. Read the book of Ruth. God isn’t willing that any should perish, but all should come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Apostle Paul said it himself, I am the chiefest of sinners. God made a covenant with Abraham. God was fulfilling He promise and sent His son to redeem man. And the birth of Jesus was on this wise.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com