Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
“So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.” {Luke 23:4} Pilate decided to give in to their demand, as a riot was beginning. “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” {Matthew […]
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Herod the Great has died and his son Herod Antipas has become tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea. John the Baptist has come from the wilderness and been teaching. Eventually he is arrested and imprisoned. “Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. “ {Mark 6:21} […]
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King Herod was a cruel and mean man, slaughtering many, included all the male children under the age of two. “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life […]
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Herod is waiting for the Magi to return and tell him where to find the Messiah. “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from […]
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1. On the first day of Christmas an Angel appears to Mary with the most unexpected news of all {Luke 1:26-38} 2. On the second day of Christmas Mary travels to visit Elizabeth and the babe within her leapt {Luke 1:39-45} 3. On the third day of Christmas an angel gives Joseph a vision to keep Mary as his own {Mathew […]
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King Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to find the Messiah. He makes them promise to return to him and let him know where to find the child, as he wants to worship the child. While the Magi may believe this the Lord God knows better and outsmarts him. “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph […]
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The Magi are waiting to meet Herod, while he consuls the chief priest and teachers regarding the prophecy of the Messiah. “ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.” {Matthew 2:7} Herod called for the Magi, but instead of meeting them in his court in front of everyone, he meets […]
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Last week, we took a look at Herod calling the chief priest and teachers to tell him what the scriptures said about the birth of the Messiah. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written.” {Matthew 2:5} Bethlehem is 6.2 miles from Jerusalem and is where King David came from and referred to as the […]
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We’ve had an eyewitness to Christmas the last few years as we look at the Christmas story from the perspectives of Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and the Wise Men. This year we wrap up the series with a look from a completely different view point, that of the king. Herod the Great was king of Judea, part of […]
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Last time, we discussed how Satan entered Judas and he left to hand Jesus over to the high priest. Jesus and the disciples have gone to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is praying. He ask the disciples to stay away and pray, but they fall asleep. Jesus approaches his inner circle {Peter, James and John} and ask why they […]
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The Wise Men have worshiped at the feet of the Christ child or baby Jesus. They then bestow three gifts to him of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they leave, they probably planned to head back to Jerusalem and inform King Herod of the child’s location as he requested. “We do not find that the wise men promised to come […]
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After a long journey, the wise men have finally arrived at their destination. Can you imagine the commotion as they ride up and tie their camels to the hitching posts? “We may well imagine their expectations were raised to find this royal babe, though slighted by the nation, yet honourably attended at home; and what a disappointment it was to […]
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The Wise Men have met with King Herod and been sent on their way to Bethlehem, where prophecy foretold of the Christ child’s birth. The journey to Bethlehem was only six or seven miles from where they were. It was not a long journey for them. “ A road led south to Bethlehem, which was about six miles from Jerusalem, so […]
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Last time, we discussed the Wise Men’s query about the newborn. King Herod receives word of their arrival and is nervous. Matthew Henry says, “Herod was now an old man, and had reigned thirty-five years; this king was but newly born, and not likely to enterprise any thing considerable for many years; yet Herod is jealous of him. “ “Herod then […]
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Last time, we talked about the Wise Men journey to find the newborn, King of the Jews. They did not question, but believed. They expect to find everyone worshipping this child, but arrive to discover no one knows where the child is. Scripture tells us that the word of their arrival quickly reached Herod and he was terrified. He was […]
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Last time, we took a look at who the wise men were. Matthew does not tell us how many wise men there were or their names. However, Armenian tradition identifies the “Magi of Bethlehem” as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar {Caspar} of India. The Western Christian Church has accepted this tradition and regards these three men as saints. The wise men have […]
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In the past years, we have studied the eyewitness to Christmas from the viewpoint of the Virgin Mary, Elizabeth and Zacharias, Joseph, and the angels. This year, we are going to journey with the Wise Men or Magi to visit the Christ Child. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars […]
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Time has passed and Jesus is probably a young toddler by this point. The Wise Men come to visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus, but with them arrives a threat from King Herod. Herod is afraid that this “king” will take his place and more importantly his throne and kingdom. When they left, an angel appeared to Joseph. Once again, the […]
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Last week, we spent with the shepherds who had first one angel and then a host of angels appear to them. The shepherds then made their way to Bethlehem to see the child they were told about. The child was now a little over a week old and the time had come to circumcise him. The Law, since the time […]
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Last week, we joined the shepherds who were frightened when an angel appeared to them. But, the angel brought good news that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem and he could be found wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. So, let’s join the shepherds again. Last week, an angel appeared. Meaning one angel. But, that angel is […]
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