No, this is NOT the story about Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus and all that... Get with the program, people! Christmas is the Birthday of our Lord. That is what the Christ in Christmas is.
Whether Christ was born on the 25th of December or not, really is not the issue. There are debates about whether we should celebrate Christmas and certainly, putting up a Christmas tree is a great debate. Especially if you figure that there are Buddhists and Hindus who decorate trees and worship the tree as a god. But, if a Christian puts up a Christmas tree, it is NOT to worship the tree. Right? I mean, every believer should realize that. Christians do NOT worship inanimate objects. (things made with men's hands)
And, that includes cars, computers, houses, clothing, etc. Ok, we're straight on that, now.
The story of Christmas is a story told to children but one that amazes adults. It's about a moving star, angels that appear to shepherds, and, of course the virgin birth.
Impossible! A virgin giving birth. Yes, in our natural state and in this life, a virgin birth is utterly impossible. That is why it is called a "miracle". It is supernatural.
The birth of Jesus Christ was supernatural. He was a Superman! I believe He was the ONLY real super man recorded in the history of the world. He had super powers. He was a Super Power. He IS a Super Power. He can do things beyond our wildest expectations and that's really not only the half of it!
Jesus was 50% human only. He had no earthly father!
Let's continue reading because, I'm not the one making this up. It's all in the book. This is what we celebrate on Christmas.
Matthew 2
13 And when they (the three wisemen) were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
DESTROY him? Why? He's a little baby and already, Jesus is a fugitive!
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed in Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Sounds like Herod had huge anger management issues. I guess he went down in history as the world's worst baby-killer.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Matthew 2
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.
Now, this just blows me away, really. These guys show up from far away and they want to go to do what? To worship WHO? A BABY! Can you imagine? I have a lot of questions about this. First of all: How do they know that this king is King of the Jews? How do they know that that's HIS star? And, if they are not Jews, why would they want to worship him? And why would they care about a king that is born to the Jewish nation? Too many questions...
I have a gut feeling that these three wise men were very wise indeed. They were led of God. They had the humility to fall down at the feet of a baby by faith that He was going to be a great King some day. And they put their faith into action by giving the best gifts they could offer.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
I can understand Herod being troubled, but shouldn't the Jews in Jerusalem been happy about it?
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 Judae: 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.
So, the chief priests and scribes knew their scriptures. They knew where the Messiah would be born. Why didn't they go and look for Jesus, too? They could have followed the star, couldn't they?
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.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
A moving star! How about that?
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Those guys were jumping up and down! They were excited!
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
They were really hearing from God. They were led of Him, warned of Him and obeyed. Who WERE these guys? I mean, I know they were star-studiers or astrologers or wisemen who came from the East, but, WHO were they to be so in tune with God at a time like this?
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.
Now, this just blows me away, really. These guys show up from far away and they want to go to do what? To worship WHO? A BABY! Can you imagine? I have a lot of questions about this. First of all: How do they know that this king is King of the Jews? How do they know that that's HIS star? And, if they are not Jews, why would they want to worship him? And why would they care about a king that is born to the Jewish nation? Too many questions...
I have a gut feeling that these three wise men were very wise indeed. They were led of God. They had the humility to fall down at the feet of a baby by faith that He was going to be a great King some day. And they put their faith into action by giving the best gifts they could offer.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
I can understand Herod being troubled, but shouldn't the Jews in Jerusalem been happy about it?
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 Judae: 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.
So, the chief priests and scribes knew their scriptures. They knew where the Messiah would be born. Why didn't they go and look for Jesus, too? They could have followed the star, couldn't they?
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.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
A moving star! How about that?
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Those guys were jumping up and down! They were excited!
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
They were really hearing from God. They were led of Him, warned of Him and obeyed. Who WERE these guys? I mean, I know they were star-studiers or astrologers or wisemen who came from the East, but, WHO were they to be so in tune with God at a time like this?
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