Part 1

In Chapter three, Norm embarks on an adventure to Bethlehem.  While meeting a group of Muslims he starts to question the differences about Jesus’ birth and childhood.  They all have distinctive areas in which Mary and Joseph lived and which angels visited which parents (77-79).  When Norm arrives in Bethlehem he is taken back by the large buildings covering the ancient church (88).  He is also surprised that the birth place of Jesus is turned into an attraction for tourists.  Later on that day, Norm meets two professors and two students who start discussing the differences in the gospels.  It is then that they compare and contrast Matthew to the Old Testament and find similarities (94).

Part 2

In Matthew’s Gospel he portrays Jesus as another Moses.  In the Old Testament the pharaoh slaughtered the Israelite infants because he feared Moses, just like Herod killed all the infants in Bethlehem because he feared Jesus.    Also, the father of Jesus and Moses were told by angels to move to protect their families. (94)  To me it seems that when Matthew was writing his gospel he knew about Moses and almost tried to connect him and Jesus.  This is another example of making Jesus look good.  He already had the Christians won over, but here Matthew compares him to a previous hero of Israel.  I believe this was done to influence the followers of Moses to become followers of Jesus.




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