Virtually all the information about the life and work of Jesus the Messiah must be drawn from the four Gospels. The facts given in classical literature (mainly Roman) are limited to brief references to his historical existence, some approximate dates, and his crucifixion. However, as in many Biblical narratives, historical and geographical data in the text itself aid greatly in authenticating the record, which has supplied inspiration without measure for nearly two millennia.
Attention has already been given in this series to the importance of John the Baptist. Only Luke's Gospel relates the events immediately preceding John's birth. And only Luke tells of Mary's visit to Elisabeth after she had received the angelic promise of the birth of Jesus. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee," Mary was told, "and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (1:35). At the same time she learned that her aged kinswoman was to have a child. "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth" (verses 39, 40). After remaining about three months, she returned to Nazareth.
Luke mentions what is called in the King James Version a taxation, (actually an imperial enrollment or census) as occurring at the time of Jesus' birth. This census taking seems to have been carried out in 6 or perhaps 5 B.C. To comply with it, Joseph and Mary, his betrothed, set out from Nazareth in Galilee toward Bethlehem, some five miles south of Jerusalem.
