Passages: Matthew 2:13-18; Matthew 2:19-23 & Luke 2:39; Luke 2:40-52; Matthew 3:1-12 & Mark 1:1-8 & Luke 3:1-18; Matthew 3:13-17 & Mark 1:9-11 & Luke 3:21-22

Warned in a dream that Herod means to kill the child, Joseph flees with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, and only returns to Nazareth after Herod's death, still wary enough of Herod's son to settle in Galilee rather than Judea. Luke passes over most of Jesus's childhood in a single line — he grew, and waxed strong in spirit — before pausing at age twelve, when Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem without his parents' knowledge, and is found three days later in the temple, sitting among the teachers, astonishing them with his understanding. Some eighteen years pass in that same pause, until a wilderness preacher named John — Zacharias and Elisabeth's son, grown now, clothed in camel's hair — begins baptizing crowds by the Jordan and calling them to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus himself comes to be baptized, and though John tries to prevent him, sensing it should be the other way around, Jesus insists — and as he comes up out of the water, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We are in a complete Four-Gospel Harmony. Today's episode covers: Matthew 2:13-18; Matthew 2:19-23 & Luke 2:39; Luke 2:40-52; Matthew 3:1-12 & Mark 1:1-8 & Luke 3:1-18; Matthew 3:13-17 & Mark 1:9-11 & Luke 3:21-22 (Flight into Egypt; Return to Nazareth; Jesus Living at Nazareth; John Begins His Ministry; Baptism of Jesus).