King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 8 notes
1Now 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,
2Saying, 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.
To be able to tell the signs of the Christ being born, indeed they were wise men.
Same for Simeon and Anna.
With such wisdom one is able to position oneself strategically.
Of all kings born, why did the wise men come to King 👑 Jesus alone?
There was something they had seen.
And they, as a matter of urgency, needed to secure their peace and show their allegiance to the new king 👑.
They saw something; likely they saw this King of the Jews was going to rule the whole world with a rod of iron.
And being wise men, they secured their slot 🎰 of peace with him.
Note they came to worship 🛐 him. Does that not point to the fact that they saw his kingdom to be everlasting?
A God-man 👨🏿 had been born. They knew it.
Indeed they were wise men.
Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV
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, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Yes, indeed these politicians would be troubled.
They know what it is like for a new king 👑 to come and overthrow another.
They needed to preserve their lot.
This also shows how much faith Joseph and Mary had, and the weight of responsibility on them.
Knowing they carried the one to overthrow the thrones.
Many a time we underestimate the weight 🏋️ of responsibility that was carried by Mary and Joseph in accepting to carry Jesus the Christ.
There was a sitting and reigning king 👑.
Herod by name, and he was no generous king.
He was not ready to lose his throne and his entire lineage to another.
You can see the degree of his wickedness and what Mary and Joseph were coming against by his willingness to kill innocent children just to get to Jesus.
No wonder the Bible says often that Mary kept all these things in her heart ♥.
And Jesus did not disappoint, he was a
Herod was troubled? And all Jerusalem with her.
I mean the ruling class and all who had interest and benefited one way from the throne or another.
This must have been quite a number of people, just as we see today.
A lot of people benefit from affiliating with the ruling class, and politicians for that matter.
The birth of a new king meant a lot politically, and in their time it does not take a lifetime to rule.
There were kings who ruled by the time they were eight years or 12, as we see in the book of Kings.
Herod indeed had cause to be worried, and all Jerusalem with him.
4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And 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.
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8And 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.
9When 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.
Was the star a moving star 🌟 or something?
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11And 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.
I wonder how they, the parents, felt about all these strange visits and sayings.
They immediately knew he was no ordinary child 🧒.
The Lord was confirming their faith.
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth 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.
Joseph, being head, was the one God spoke to as head.
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15And 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.
16Then 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.
17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18In 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.
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20Saying, 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.
21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But 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:
23And 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.