Palestine had been at the crossroads of cultural conflict and influence for centuries when it gave birth to the new religion of Christianity. Although many books describe the events of the Incarnation, life, and death of Jesus Christ, few attempt to provide a deeper background into the culture and mentality of those who lived as Christ began his mission on earth. In this reprint, Franz Willam explores the Scriptural and cultural roots of Christianity at its beginnings. He thus illuminates the events that took place in the life of Jesus and his parents so that modern readers can appreciate the lessons of ordinary struggle that those first believers practiced.