Matthew 2:1-9

God's grace is sufficient for all of your needs. That is something we learned a year ago this week, and its something we are learning again. Our darling Avery is a One year old! That is simply hard to believe but its true. Our Lord is awesome and able to fully supply all of our needs. As we celebrate Avery's birth today, we will start out by remembering our Lord Jesus' birth. Enjoy the Word.

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Matthew 2:1-9

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.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 
‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
  Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
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Matthew takes us into a little more background and gives us events surrounding Jesus in Bethlehem sometime after the events spoken of in the first couple chapters of Luke’s Gospel. Here again we see a very Jewish perspective pointing back to the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. This chapter probably takes place about a year after Jesus was born and at this time Mary and Joseph have settled into a house. Remember Bethlehem is where Joseph’s family is from, and is also the same town of Ruth and Boaz, and King David.

King Herod was a Roman appointed over the throne in Israel. He was not a Jew, but from Edom, therefore not very much liked taking the place as ruler. When the wise men come into town proclaiming a coming King, Herod is disturbed. The whole city was in an uproar so we can see it was more then just a few wise men, but most likely a whole caravan. 

The Wise men of the east have their historical roots pointing as far back as Daniel in the Persian Empire. They were a group which spent their time interpreting dreams and visions among other things. The star they saw which lead them to Israel was something we believe Daniel prophesied, though there is no Biblical record of the star. We do know these men were waiting for something that would lead them to the Messiah. Micah 5:2 reveals the location from where the Messiah would come. One who is has been from everlasting, the pre-existent One. The One who has always been and will always be!