Matthew 2:1-6
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
For Millenniums even Moses wanted Jesus Messiah to arrive. Jesus, of course, knew this and said,"Blessed are your eyes that see and believe. More blessed are those who do not see and believe." We find in Isaiah 7, Isaiah told us the stability of Jesus' mother and Joseph - needs are met. Mary tells us they were cared for and still not part of the privileged. Joseph tells us in Matthew 2, at the end of the Chapter, he was considering living in Jerusalem itself.
House of High Priest, considered palatial
Temple Sign - warn of death to foreigners
Signs of the time. Herod is following the Law. His coin is not an image to worship. Herod is not following the Law - the Word of God, because Herod is not Davidic. And Herod is making the life of the Temple very, very cush for following Herod and Roman rule.
This would continue to wind down. Within a few years, Herod Philip II would feel the climate relax enough to put his image on a coin: which was their celebrity 'magazine' at the time. Image was now 'king'.
The signs are adding up. For Millenniums the Children of Israel had wanted Jesus to be Messiah and arrive. And now - God decides - where He and Jesus will arrive.
The Children of Israel were worried about a non-davidic king - the Messiah is now going to arrive. Boundaries are crossed.
Jesus is arriving born to a virgin who is unmarried. Boundaries are crossed.
Mary's Christmas Praise: Mary's Song, The Magnificat describes being the child of Heli, son of David through Nathan, not the kings - is made to feel unworthy and insignificant. So much so Heli is never recorded standing with his daughter. Boundaries are being crossed.
Jesus is going to arrive in the House of David. When Mary leaves her family to travel to a priest who would clearly understand. Boundaries are being crossed.
And the Son of God. King of Kings. Light of the World. Is placed in a barn with animals. In a trough with grass. Boundaries are being crossed.
James, the brother of Christ, in a unique place to understand would speak to why God would try such a lack of fruitful season for God.
James 1:20
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
The Story of God's Son is one completely of Faith and Hope.
Reaching to the ground level.
Bringing the Heavenly Host to what is impossible.
Hope for those not feeling grand or prosperous. Not feeling like life is their oyster.
And being God, Himself, we find the Jesus crowd encompasses women, formerly blind men, government tax men, The Herod Palace's Stewart's Wife, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
1 Corinthians 1
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Would Jesus ever address this disparity? How one man born illegitimate, in poverty, in shame - put to death as a criminal - would Triumph.
Jesus could, would and did. Matthew, the government tax man would record the Words of God's Son:
Matthew 22
29b know the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
God of the Living.
The Word of God. See Matthew 2 about Bethlehem.
The Power of God.
John 1 tells us our place here:
John 1 for us today.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Abba,
We who believe are most blessed. In the middle of Herod determined to put this down. In the middle of family upset. In the middle of being unmarried. In the middle of being put in a barn. God was still at work. As He is today.
Let us be blessed knowing our faith. The faith of the world praying to You. The comfort in knowing the faithful pray and You hear and cover their prayer. Prayers for peace. Prayers for loved ones. Prayers for needs met. Prayer for health. Prayers for warm hearts. Prayers for Love. Prayers for goodness.
We join with the believers of the world, praying Jesus upon our cares. Jesus upon our loved ones. Jesus upon prayers for health. Jesus upon prayers people God has given us. Jesus for our needs. Jesus upon our faith this is His Plan and we are met by God.
And in the name of Goodness, Jesus the Lord God, we rest knowing God holds our cares for ourselves, our culture, nation and the world. God is Good. Our prayers asked in Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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