Matthew Chapter 2 - A Visit from the Wise Men

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1-2.

The visit from the wise men from the east (probably Babylon) was a picture of the Gentile world looking, waiting, and expecting a light to come from God that would show them the way to salvation. This was prophesied by Isaiah in chapters 42, 49 & 60 -- God marked Jesus' birth in the stars, and the wise men followed what they saw all the way to Jerusalem. I believe they were looking for the Messiah, God's anointed King of the Jews, who fulfilled Daniel's prophecies.

Sadly, Jerusalem was ignorant, complacent, and less than enthusiastic at the notion of an anointed king being born in their midst. From the very beginning of Jesus' life, we see the religious Jews desiring to kill him, and believing Israel, those with circumcised hearts, receiving Him with great joy. The same is true today.

We also see that King Herod was Satan's instrument to kill and destroy countless innocent babies. Much heartache has come to natural Israel for rejecting their Messiah. But the good news is that they can turn and receive Him at any time. As the Apostle Paul explains in Romans 11, they can be easily grafted back into God's olive tree, which represents Jesus Christ!

This wonderful gift is available to anyone who will receive it by faith!

Merry Christmas! Tis the Season...

My nativity made by a precious British lady

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD [is] thy keeper: the LORD [is] thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121

Isn't this a wonderful Psalm? Look at all the fabulous promises from the Lord embedded in these scriptures--they are chock full of protection, provision, favor, and most importantly, love. Just think, all of this has been made available to us because of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross. He left His place of glory with the heavenly Father and came down to earth in the form of a sinful man even though He never sinned. He was born as a baby and grew up like a normal Jewish boy, growing in favor with God and man. There was nothing spectacular about Him that would make anyone think He was Messiah - even His own parents couldn't imagine why, as a twelve-year-old boy, He would stay behind in Jerusalem after the Passover and debate scripture with the scribes and Pharisees. Prophets prohesized over Him as a baby, the angels heralded His birth, the wise men traveled far to pay Him homage, even King Herod sought to kill Him, but none of them really understood the purpose of His birth. The Bible says Mary pondered many of these things in her heart, but she couldn't discern their meaning, because they were spiritual truths that required revelation from the Holy Spirit.

And yet He was born, so that He could die and set all of us free from the bondage of the Law, sin, and death! Isaiah 9:6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The heavenly Father GAVE Him to us as our savior, our wonderful counselor, our God who brings us into the Father's presence -- the one who brings us shalom peace -- meaning nothing missing or broken in our lives. Yes, His resurrection from the dead is essential and powerful, but His incarnation as the baby Jesus is an important day as well. It shouldn't be overlooked as a day to rejoice! He came and He will come again! 

Merry Christmas! May you have shalom peace during this Christmas Season!