Was Jesus Christ Homeless?
Was Jesus Christ truly homeless, or did he have a home and means to communicate in the ancient world?
He spent a lot of time in areas such as the Gaza Strip, engaging in activities like drag racing before it became overly crowded with trespassers. It is certain that at times, Jesus felt homeless, as depicted in Luke 9:57-58, where a person inquired about following Jesus, to which he replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' (NIV).
Itinerant Preacher and Homelessness
Jesus was an itinerant preacher, traveling from town to town with his disciples. When they were fortunate enough to stay with people who had large enough homes for at least 13 guests, they would sleep in these places. However, when they were between lodgings, they would sleep under the stars. While Jesus was not actually homeless, he had a home in Nazareth, and his disciples also had homes. Furthermore, Jesus would send his disciples ahead to prepare for his arrival, ensuring they were ready for the night.
The Absence of Modern Mail Systems in Jesus' Time
The concept of mail as something that individuals could receive did not exist in Jesus' time. Instead, the Cursus publicus was a service that delivered messages on behalf of the Imperial government throughout the Roman Empire. The idea of an individual Roman citizen receiving mail was on the verge of becoming a reality, but Jesus certainly did not have citizenship. The first citizens to join the early Christian movement, such as Paul and Silas, did so after Jesus' birth.
In the Gospels, it is mentioned that Jesus left his parents' house and became voluntarily homeless at the start of his public ministry. Both Matthew 8 and Luke 9 record statements to this effect. In the ancient world, being a nomadic teacher did not carry the same stigma of failure as it does in Western societies today. It is likely that he stayed at the homes of his disciples' parents, who being younger and unmarried, would not likely have their own homes.