The shepherds must have shared this amazing news, and changed the lives of many people in Bethlehem. Nothing like that had ever happened before. Nothing like that has ever happened since! Some would believe it, some would not! Just like today! Thankfully, today, that Christmas truth is believed by millions.
"Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be about my Father's business?" Some versions translate this last phrase as "in My Father's house", but I was challenged by the former translation. I ask myself if I am "about my Father's business".
Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Luke 2 is a long chapter beginning with the birth of Jesus and ending with Him as a teenager! But it says very little about Jesus' childhood.
A son will be given to us. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and peace will have unlimited growth. Mary would have been aware of many of these things said about the child she was bearing. What a responsibility!
Through Abraham every family on earth will be blessed. Day 6 of this study looked briefly at the genealogy of Jesus and how Matthew begins, not with Adam but Abraham. God made it clear to Abraham that he would be blessed to be a blessing to others.
Can you imagine the conversation when these three kings were preparing to return home. One of them would say quietly "I had a strange dream…" and as he recounted his dream the other two would be astounded, and keep saying "well I saw the same thing!" "I heard that too!"
When they entered the house … The Wise men left Herod and continued to follow the star to their destination; a house! The residence of the Holy Family was no longer a stable, in fact the Bible never mentions a stable, just that the baby was laid in a manger.
Then Herod secretly called the wise men … he said, "…report to me so that I may go and worship him too." He was lying, and had no intention of worshipping any future king. His fear of being dethroned caused him to murder hundreds of young boys.
The prophet wrote about this: Much of what is happening in the world today has been foretold in the Bible. And certainly much has been written about the end times. Do you think we are there? Do you read the Bible for it's historical interest, it's spiritual content…
When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. Throughout history, we can see that many a king has not been happy at the thought of another born to take his place. Especially one who was not his own flesh and blood!
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