Jesus has lived in several different places, including heaven, Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth, and Capernaum. Before His incarnation, Jesus was with the Father in heaven. John says, "He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2). Before He was crucified, Jesus asked God to bring Him back to the same place: "And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed" (John 17:5). After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples before ascending back to heaven (Acts 1:3–11). First Peter 3:22 and Hebrews 10:12–13, among other verses, affirm that Jesus is currently in heaven.
When Jesus came to earth, He was born in Bethlehem, located in the region of Judea. Luke 2 tells us that Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem for the census, but they lived in Nazareth. So, while Jesus was born in Bethlehem, we do not know how long He lived there. We do know that the magi came to visit young Jesus while the family was still in Bethlehem, though not necessarily in the place where He was born. On their way, the wise men asked King Herod, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). Herod inquired of the chief priests and scribes, who told him that Bethlehem was where the Messiah was to be born. Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem, asking that they return and tell him the location of the newborn king. But God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod. King Herod saw Jesus as a threat and, based on the time the magi told him the star had appeared to them, ordered that all boys two years old and younger within the geographic region of Bethlehem be killed (see Matthew 2).
Before Herod's plan was fully enforced, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him of the forthcoming evil. The angel instructed Joseph to bring Mary and Jesus to Egypt, which is what he did, and they remained in Egypt until Herod's death (Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23). Based on historical records, Herod's death was in 4 BC, so Jesus was probably still quite young when it happened.
When they moved back to Israel, they went back to Joseph and Mary's original hometown of Nazareth, located in Galilee (Matthew 2:22–23; Luke 2:39). Nazareth is the location that is most commonly referred to as Jesus' hometown, because it is where He spent the majority of His growing up years. He is frequently referenced throughout the New Testament as "Jesus of Nazareth" (Matthew 26:71; Mark 1:24; 10:47; Luke 4:34; 18:37; 24:19; John 1:45; 18:5–7; 19:19; Acts 2:22; 3:6; 26:9).
During His ministry years, Jesus moved His home base from Nazareth to Capernaum, which was about one day's walk from Nazareth, located along the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:13). Though Jesus did ministry in other cities, including Jerusalem, He is not recorded as having a home base in any other towns. In fact, it is probable that Jesus did not even have a permanent home of His own, but rather resided with others on a temporary basis (see Luke 10:38). He and His disciples likely camped many times as well. Luke 9:57–58 recounts this story: "As they were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'"
After the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven where He remains seated at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:1). He has fulfilled His mission of providing forgiveness and redemption for the sins of the world. He has gone to prepare a place for those who have put their faith in Him that we may one day join Him in eternity (John 14:1–4). He has not left us alone, but has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:15–21; 16:7–15).
Jesus will return to earth again, and He will reign in His millennial kingdom (Revelation 19—22). Ultimately those who have put their faith in Jesus will live with Him for eternity in the new heavens and new earth. "No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:3–5; see also Revelation 21).
Copyright 2011-2024 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
