Text for today Matthew 2:13-15
Here again we read of Joseph being visited by an angel in a dream and told to rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. We also see is instant obedience as it seems Joseph left that night as it says Joseph and his family left by night and made their way to Egypt, where they remained until the death of Herod—most likely using the gifts of the Magi to help finance their trip and their living expenses for the time they were there. The family's flight into Egypt followed a common pattern: throughout history, Jews often took refuge in Egypt when there was trouble in Palestine.
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Text for today Matthew 2:11-12
Matthew tells us that they saw Mary and the child “in the house,” (Mathew 2:11) not in a stable as is commonly depicted. It has been a while since the birth and Mary and Joseph had been living normal lives since Jesus’ birth. In previous post we already read about when Jesus was eight days old, they had taken Him to be circumcised, and when He was 40 days old they had taken Him to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him to God and to offer the customary ritual sacrifice for Mary’s cleansing after childbirth. (Luke 2:22–24) In verse 12 we read about the gifts. It is because there are three gifts that the tradition has arisen that there were three men. But there could have been as few as two or as many as a lot. There was gold and frankincense and myrrh. Both frankincense and myrrh are two resinous substances which were more expensive per weight than gold and were gathered from trees grown in, among other places, present-day Yemen. The Jews used frankincense and myrrh in the blend of resins and herbs that they burned on the incense altar in the temple. That was a blend that was so special to God that any Jew using the same recipe and burning it in his home was to be exiled. Perhaps the wise men thought the exoticness of the gifts would please a distant king. And there is indeed significance that incense used in the worship of God in the temple would have been offered by the worshiping wise men. Possibly Mary and Joseph could have used them or sold them in Egypt to cover their living expenses. They had to pay for their sojourn somehow. Here again we see God super naturally warning the wise me not to go see Herod which they obeyed. The wise men, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod …departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:12) Text for today Matthew 2:9-10
Now the famous star comes on stage. It seems that every year people are poring over astronomical data from the time of Jesus’ birth, trying to locate a comet, supernova, or some other celestial event that could correspond to the star. Matthew tells us that the wise men had observed it from their vantage point in the east, and that they deciphered what it meant. But then it seems they didn’t see it again until after they were on their way from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which is little more than an hour’s camel ride away. As the wise men approached Bethlehem, the star reappeared and “came to rest over the place where Jesus was.” We are told in the Gospel of Luke that a very bright light appeared in the sky the night Jesus was born: In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. (Luke 2:8–13) Could it be that a “multitude of the heavenly host” appearing in the night sky lit it up so brightly that the stargazing wise men mistook it for a stunning new celestial body? Luke says that after the heavenly choir had finished singing to the shepherds, they (the angels) rose into the sky. Note that the wise men said they had seen the star rise. Could that have been the brightness that appeared over Joseph and Mary’s dwelling. We’re told that the Magi saw “his star” in the east. What is clear is that the Magi reported some astronomical phenomenon that they had some way of linking with a particular king, the king of the Jews. But they do not say what it was. There is a question about the Greek wording used and how it has been translated. Many translations render the text as “we have seen his star in the east,” while others as “we saw his star when it rose,” or “at its rising.” If we abandon the translation “in the East” for “en te anatole” [the words used in the Greek text], there is no indication that the Magi followed the star to Jerusalem. Rather, having seen the rise of the star which they associate with the King of the Jews, they have come to the capital city of the Jews for more information. The readers of Matthew’s Gospel in the first century wouldn’t have considered it strange that a star arose to proclaim the birth of the new king, as the idea that the births and deaths of great men were heralded by heavenly signs was widely accepted. The story of Magi coming from faraway to pay homage to a king and bring him gifts would not have been a foreign concept for the early readers of this gospel. There are numerous accounts from that period depicting prominent people paying homage and tribute to kings. Text for today Matthew 2:1-8
1 - 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, 2 - 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. 3 - When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 - And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 - And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 - And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 - Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 - And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. Matthew is the only Gospel that mentions these mysterious men that are sometimes called the magi, and he gives only scant details. The first thing Matthew tells us is that they came from the East, which is a broad term. It’s not specifically known where the wise men were from. Throughout history three main locations have been considered as most likely: Persia or Parthia, since the term Magi was originally associated with the Medes and the Persians; Babylon, because the Babylonians and Chaldeans had developed a great interest in astronomy and astrology, and due to a large colony of Jews living there, astrologers could have been aware of Jewish messianic expectations; Arabia or the Syrian desert, because the gifts of gold and frankincense were associated with the desert camel trains coming from Midian, in Arabia. They could have come from as close as Mesopotamia, or from as far away as the lands that today are India or Central Asia.The common assumption is that they were from Persia, which was then part of the Parthian Empire, an enemy of Rome. We do know about two years passed between the time the wise men first saw the star and the time they arrived in Jerusalem. We can deduce this because Herod learned from them when the star had appeared, and then in his effort to kill the “king of the Jews,” ordered the death of all the male infants in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger. We will read about Herod’s massacre in a later post but right now we are trying to determine if it could have taken two years to travel from Persia to Jerusalem. The distance from Tehran to Jerusalem is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km). An Arabian camel carrying a full load can cover a distance of up to 40 miles (65 km) a day. So a camel caravan traveling in a straight line would make the journey in about 25 days. If they had traveled half as far each day or taken a less direct route, it still would have taken only about 50 days. That suggests that they may have come from much farther than Persia. Apparently, they traveled rather slowly, or took a circuitous route, or it took considerable time before they set off on their journey. Most likely all three elements were in play, not to mention the need to cross a hostile border between empires that warred regularly. There's no way we can be sure where the Magi came from. Where they came from, however, isn’t as important as the fact that they came from outside of Israel. Matthew, like Luke, expresses that God is doing a new thing by highlighting the fact that at Jesus’ birth, Gentiles are attracted by the light of God’s Son. While the Gentile Magi had come to pay homage to the newborn “King of the Jews,” Matthew points out that the present Jewish king and the chief priests and scribes were completely unaware that He had been born. Text for today Luke 2:36-38
While Joseph & Mary are still in the Temple, they also have an encounter with an 84-year-old prophetess named Anna, who was widowed after seven years of marriage & who faithfully worshipped with fasting & prayer in the Temple. While her exact words aren’t recorded in Luke’s Gospel, he ties in the concept of a prophecy from the book of Joel: your sons & your daughters shall prophesy. (Joel 2:28.) Luke tells us that both a man & a woman prophesy over Jesus. As is seen throughout Luke’s Gospel & in his book of Acts, he often includes women as key players in the telling of Jesus’ story & the story of the early church. Like many biblical accounts, this story has an interesting conclusion. While Simeon was prophesying regarding the child Jesus, another person was listening nearby. Anna, a prophetess & a descendant of the tribe of Asher, had been coming to the temple every day to worship. This elderly widow, whose husband had passed shortly after their marriage, could always be found in the temple faithfully fasting & praying. In fact, the Bible tells us that she followed this routine daily. Hearing Simeon, she gave thanks to God for the arrival of the Messiah. She then departed, sharing the good news with others who were looking toward the coming of the Messiah. Anna, like Simeon, was a faithful servant of God, which is demonstrated in her commitment to worship & prayer. While the Bible does not tell us that she had an explicit promise from God, she was blessed just the same. Her faithfulness over the years was rewarded by her meeting with the Messiah. She certainly could have been disillusioned by the death of her husband; but instead, she turned her focus to the things of God. Again, we see that hope in God never fails. Simeon & Anna are lasting examples of individuals who embodied heavenly hope. Figuratively & literally, their hope kept them alive. Heavenly hope gives life meaning. With the Word of God as our focus, our lives are full of peace & joy. That is what Simeon & Anna experienced—the peace of knowing that God’s Spirit was leading them & the joy of knowing that God rewards faithfulness. In the next post we will jump over to Matthew to read the story of the Wisemen as we continue our study on Jesus’ Younger Years. Text for today Luke 2:25-35
While in the Temple, Joseph & Mary met Simeon, who we are told was righteous & devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, & …it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ …When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms & blessed God. (Luke 2:25–28.) Simeon’s prayer is the third hymn of praise in the introductory section of Luke’s Gospel. This hymn is known as the Nunc Dimittis (from its opening words in the Latin version). Simeon states that his eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, & for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:30–32.) His statement affirms that God’s salvation is for all peoples, all of humanity. His reference to Jesus as light echoes what Zechariah prophesied in his earlier hymn, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness & in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78–79.) Simeon’s hymn also reflects some passages from the book of Isaiah. (Isaiah 52:9–10; 49:6; 46:13; 42:6; 40:5.) Joseph & Mary marveled, or were astonished, at the words Simeon spoke about their Son. (Luke 2:33.) Simeon follows this with a blessing upon Jesus’ parents & then prophesies: Behold, this child is appointed for the fall & rising of many in Israel, & for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34–35.) Simeon foretells that many in Israel will reject Jesus. The dramatic setting of the prophetic woe on Israel should not be overlooked. The aged Simeon at the end of his life holds in his arms a child that is just beginning his life. Simeon’s eyes have peered into the distance & seen the salvation that this child will bring to the Gentiles & Israel alike; but, true prophet, he also sees the rejection & the catastrophe & his tragic second vision is addressed to the mother of the child, the one to whom the good news about Jesus first came; for as the first to hear the word & accept it, she must encounter in her own soul its challenge & the tragedy of its rejection by many in that Israel whom Jesus was to have helped. Text for today: Luke 2:21-24
Mary & Joseph, faithful to what the angel had commanded, named their newborn Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21.) According to the Jewish customs of their day, Joseph & Mary had their son circumcised eight days after His birth, & after a further 33 days, they made an offering of purification for Mary at the Temple in accordance with the laws of Moses. (Leviticus 12:2–6.) At this time, they also redeemed their son, in accordance with God’s command that the firstborn son should be redeemed. God had commanded the people of Israel to set aside every firstborn male, whether animal or human, as belonging to Him. The animal would be sacrificed, or it could be redeemed, which meant that a lamb would be sacrificed in its place. The Lord commanded that the firstborn sons be redeemed by sacrificing a lamb (Exodus 13:2,12,15). From these actions, we can see that Mary & Joseph were pious Jews who followed God’s commands & who would teach Jesus the ways of faith. Text for today John 1-14
There is no account given of Jesus’ birth in Mark. The birth narratives in the Gospels of Matthew & Luke tell us the story of Jesus’ birth. These accounts also portray deep truths about what God was doing in His plan of salvation. To get the bigger picture concerning the event of God’s Son coming into the world, it helps to look briefly at the Gospel of John which, instead of covering the story of Jesus’ birth, tells us of His eternal existence with God before being born into this world. It also tells that He was the Word of God. In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, & without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, & the life was the light of men ...And the Word became flesh & dwelt among us, & we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace & truth. (John 1:1–4, 14) John’s opening words hark back to the first words of the book of Genesis--In the beginning. (Genesis 1:1). He tells us that before anything was made, there was the Word. The word John used here for the word is the Greek word Logos which is translated into English as Word. The term Logos was first used in the 6th century BC by a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. As such, to a Greek speaker at the time, Logos meant reason, so they would have understood the verses as “in the beginning was the reason or mind of God.” They would understand that before creation the Logos existed with God eternally. Therefore the Logos, the Word, God the Son, was in existence before any created thing—including time, space, or energy—existed. was with God; that the Word was God; that the Word made all things; & that the Word, who was God, became flesh & dwelt on earth. He later tells us that this Word was Jesus. Later in the chapter John also tells us that Jesus, the one & only Son, is Himself God & is the one who made the Father known to us. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18) In telling us this, John states that God the Word, who is not God the Father, became flesh & dwelt with us. The Greek word translated as dwelt refers to abiding or living in a tabernacle or tent. The image given is that God, the Word, dwelt on earth in a similar manner as when God’s presence dwelt with the Hebrew people in the desert after their deliverance from Egypt. At that time, God’s presence dwelt in the tabernacle or tent. His Word had now come to dwell—or encamp—with humanity. He is also telling us that the Word, who became human flesh, preexisted with the Father before the world was created. From this revelation comes the doctrine of the incarnation, which in brief means that God the Son (who is the Word/Logos) was born into this world to redeem humanity. So ends the recount of Jesus’s birth. The wise men don’t show up until two years later which we will read about in the next part “Jesus’ Younger Years”. At that time, we will also return to the Gospel John to let you know what John the Baptizer was doing. Text for today Luke 2:15-20
In an earlier post we are told shepherds in first-century Palestine were considered the lowest of the low. So from man’s limited perspective, God was sending a band of outcasts to be the greeting party for His Son & to spread the good news of salvation to all who would listen. By today’s standards, that might equate to an angelic choir appearing to a group of garbage dump scroungers. Yet God looks at the heart. It doesn’t matter to Him what someone’s occupation is or how they’re dressed. The Bible says the shepherds ran to see the babe, so they didn’t have time to take a bath or change to a nice set of clothes, which they most likely didn’t have anyway. They ran as they were, straight from the hilltop into the presence of their Savior. We can imagine them excitedly recounting their experience to Mary & Joseph & being welcomed by them with love & acceptance. Why would God choose the shepherds? Why would He offer this priceless privilege to these who were so unworthy in man’s eyes? Perhaps because He knew they would believe with pure & simple faith. They could be counted on to run to the side of God’s newborn Son with sheer enthusiasm. Not only were the shepherds honored by God, but they were also given the privileged task of spreading the good news to others. In telling others of the Savior’s birth, the shepherds became the first Christian missionaries. Jesus has asked us to share what we have received with others. That is His commission to us. He asks us to sow the seed in others’ lives, or to water it, or to reap the results, depending on the person. He asks us as His followers to show His love & tell others about Him, to introduce Him to those who haven’t yet met Him. He will guide you as to what method to use, depending on those He’s leading you to, as each person is different & has different needs. But all people need Him. They need His love, peace, & salvation. We each have the means to bring Him & His love into the lives of others. Text for today
We are told that suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. I want to bring those Words praising God to your attention. It is important to remember praise is a big part of worshiping the Lord but we will talk about this in another post later as in this one we will talk about peace and it is longer than some of the rest. Older English translations, such as the King James Version, translate the last phrase as & on earth peace, good will toward men. Documents found in the Judaean desert between 1945–56 (generally known as the Dead Sea Scrolls) have rendered more accurate translations that translate this as on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! In the first century the expression “people with whom he is pleased” was a technical phrase for the elect of God, where the people of God are those who have received the gracious acts of God’s mercy. The angel announced the birth of the Savior, but that wasn’t the end. Luke goes on to tell us: Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God & saying, “Glory to God in the highest, & on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” This connection between the Savior & peace is seen in the Old Testament prophecies as well; for example, in the book of Isaiah where we are told: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given; & the government shall be upon his shoulder, & his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.” In both the Old & New Testaments, the Messiah—the Savior—has a connection to peace. Yet as we look at the world today, or at almost any time in history, peace is often the last thing we see. Wars & civil strife are endemic to humanity. Sadly, lasting peace throughout the earth hasn’t happened, & it certainly doesn’t exist today. So why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace? Why did the angels, when praising God at Jesus’ birth, speak of peace? The word used most often for peace in the Old Testament is shalom. While the word shalom is sometimes used in Scripture to define peace as the absence of war, it has other meanings as well. The root meaning of shalom refers to being whole or sound. It speaks of completeness, soundness, safety, health & prosperity, contentment, tranquility, harmony, peace of mind, the absence of anxiety & stress. It also refers to friendship between individuals, as well as peace & friendship between individuals & God. The Greek word most often used in the New Testament for peace is sometimes used to mean a state of national tranquility & the exemption from the havoc of war. However, it is used more often to express security, safety, prosperity, harmony, & good will between individuals. It also refers to the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ. While the world will one day know peace in the sense of an absence of war after Jesus’ second coming, the peace so often spoken of in God’s Word refers to the overall wholeness of individuals, both physically & spiritually. Scripture repeatedly states that such wholeness, tranquility, & shalom comes through having a right relationship with God, a relationship which is made possible through the Savior, whom the angels announced to the shepherds that night over two millennia ago. Humanity has ever been in need of reconciliation with God. Because of our sin, we are separated from Him & unable to bridge the gap. The apostle Paul likened it to our being enemies of God. Jesus’ life, death, & resurrection brought reconciliation between God & man. Through faith in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we are able to be at peace with God. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” Through the Prince of Peace, harmony & relationship can be restored between God & all those who embrace Jesus as their Savior. Salvation results in righteousness before God as our sins are forgiven, & the righteousness of salvation brings us peace & joy. We can then possess the fullness of shalom: completeness, soundness, safety, contentment, tranquility, harmony, & peace of mind, which is the source of inner peace in the midst of the storms & challenges of life that we all face throughout our lives. It is this righteousness, through our salvation gained by Jesus’ sacrifice that brings peace with God, which in turn is the foundation for true peace within ourselves. Jesus, the Lord of peace, brings us peace that exceeds anything we can understand. He has given His peace to us, & as we keep our mind on Him, as we trust in Him, He gives us perfect peace, or as it says in the original Hebrew, shalom shalom. Repeating a word was the Hebrew way of expressing a higher degree; in this case, not just peace but perfect peace. We find peace in the Savior, peace when we love God’s Word, peace when our ways please the Lord, peace through the presence of the Holy Spirit, peace in faith, & peace when Christ rules in our hearts. The angels praising God on the night of Jesus’ birth were heralding the peace that God was making available through the birth of the Savior. The peace with God that comes through salvation, the inner peace that comes from our connection with God, the peace we have from knowing that God loves us & has made a way for us to be with Him forever. This is the same peace He has commissioned us to take to others through sharing the message of God’s love. It’s the peace we bring when we share the message of reconciliation with God, the message of salvation, the message of eternal peace. May we all do what we can to bring God’s peace into the lives of those who don’t know true peace, the peace only God can give. May we all share the message of the greatest gift of all, the Prince of Peace. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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