By Robert Serreyn
Question? Were the three wise men and the shepherds present together at the same time as all the nativity scenes represent?
Answer: No
The wise men and the shepherds each visited Christ at lest two years apart of each other.
Enter the Shepherds:
(Luke 2:4-16) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) (5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.(6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.(8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.(9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.(12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.(13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,(14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.(15) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.(16) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Take NOTICE at the end of V12 the shepherds found Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes then in V16 lying in a manger.
The greek word for babe is BREPHOS which means INFANT.
The Shepherds SAW Christ as an INFANT…
Enter the Wise Men:
(Mat 2:1-11) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
(3) When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.(4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. (5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, (6) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (7) Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. (9) When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (11) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Take NOTICE the Wise Men FOUND Christ as an YOUNG CHILD.
The greek word for YOUNG CHILD is PAIDION which means half grown.
this is a DIFFERENT greek word than that is used for BABE showing the the difference in age of Christ between the two visits.
To Further PROVE that Christ was at lest two years old King Herod ISSUED a command that ALL children two years old and younger be killed
(Mat 2:12-16) And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (13) And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. (14) When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: (15) And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
Now Lets clear up another False View of the nativity scene, ALL of them ALWAYS have three wise men, this VIEW is largely due to the reasoning that the bible mentions three gifts Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.but we really DO NOT know how many wise men there were that visited Christ, the bible just says WISE MEN meaning more than one.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was buried and three days later rose from the dead to pay for your sins.
A. Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
B. Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
C. BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell & the lake of fire); but the GIFT of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH