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 (About Christ’s Mass – session 2 / Pg. #1)

— Today we look at why the world doesn’t want to celebrate their Savior’s birth.

A study from Matthew 2:1-15 (ERV) Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.  (2)  They asked people, “Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.”  (3)  When King Herod heard about this, it upset him as well as everyone else in Jerusalem.  (4)  Herod called a meeting of all the leading Jewish priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah would be born.  (5)  They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea, just as the prophet wrote:  (6)  ‘Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are important among the rulers of Judah. Yes, a ruler will come from you, and that ruler will lead Israel, my people.'”  (7)  Then Herod had a private meeting with the wise men from the east. He learned from them the exact time they first saw the star.  (8)  Then he sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, come tell me. Then I can go worship him too.”

The Bible calls these foreign deity seekers “wise men”: Bible dictionary – Hebrew word ‘magos’; a Magian, that is, Oriental scientist; by implication a magician: – sorcerer, wise man.

(I invite you to mark all the answers you see as correct and to discuss those noted as such.)

Q1. (Discuss) Why would God speak of them with this term that relates to seekers of wisdom?

Q2.  (Discuss) Should true academics include seeking a knowledge of a creator?

Q3. (Discuss) And why don’t all academics have a desire to see if there is a Creator God?

 

Perhaps the answer to Q3. is hidden in the response of king Herod…

(Vs.3)  When King Herod heard about this, it upset him as well as everyone else in Jerusalem.

— To understand the motive of king Herod, we jump ahead to…

Matthew 2:12-15 (ERV) But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country a different way.  (13)  After the wise men left, an angel from the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up! Take the child with his mother and escape to Egypt. Herod wants to kill the child and will soon start looking for him. Stay in Egypt until I tell you to come back.”  (14)  So Joseph got ready and left for Egypt with the child and the mother. They left during the night.  (15)  Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This gave full meaning to what the Lord said through the prophet: “I called my son to come out of Egypt.”

Q4. What can we discern as we read further into the plan of Herod?

O – He was glad to hear that God cared about the nation of Israel.

O – He really didn’t believe in an all knowing and all powerful God.

O – He was determined to hold onto the powers that Rome had given him.

Q5. (Discuss) Do any of these answers apply to academics who choose to deny God today?

Q6. (Discuss) Can man’s plans stop God’s will from being carried out? (see Vs.12 & 13)…

 

Let’s obey and celebrate! (About Christ’s Mass – session 2 / Pg. #1)

Back to Matthew 2:9-11 (ERV) (9)  After the wise men heard the king, they left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east, and they followed it. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was.  (10)  They were very happy and excited to see the star.  (11)  The wise men came to the house where the child was with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened the boxes of gifts they had brought for him. They gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

There is so much wisdom to be gleaned as we look into how God prepares the way when Joseph and Mary faithfully follow Him.

Q7. The wise men joyfully follow the star… Why?

O – They were glad to get away from Herod’s cooking and hospitality.

O – They were glad that God was still leading them on.

O – They really wanted to find this King that prophecy had given such power and glory.

O – They were saddle-sore and just wanted to get this over with and go home.

 

Q8. What did they do when these wealthy scholars found a baby born to humble parents, and living in ordinary housing in a poor country village?

O – They looked for another baby born to more noble parentage.

O – They bowed down and worshipped him.

 

Q9.  (Discuss) What does this tell us of the true wisdom these men possessed?

Q10. (Discuss) What do you think was God’s purpose in having them bring these gifts to the baby Jesus?

 

Gold – is a precious metal that has been used for currency throughout human history. – A fitting gift to show respect to royalty.

Frankincense – is a resin which is often made into an expensive incense made from trees in India and Arabia. – It has a role to play in the incense burned by Jewish priests.

Myrrh – is a costly perfume made from rare thorn bushes in Arabia and Ethiopia that is used as an anointing oil and embalming fluid. – A rather strange gift for a new-born baby.

 

Q11. (Discuss) Do you think God had a plan to provide for the needs of this little struggling family as He called them to flee to a foreign land? (Did they put the gold in a college fund? Etc.)

Q12. (Discuss) How can this Christmas account help us to stay in a celebratory frame of mind in these times of world confusion and danger?

– In church on Sunday we heard that Peace can be found when you know who is your strength and fortress.

– Complete these song lyrics… The joy of the Lord __  ___  ____________!

– God’s Word (the Bible) repeatedly shows us how He provides for our needs, just as He did for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

– The whole account of the birth of Jesus should encourage us to be glad that God loves and provides for us… And be sure my friends, HE ALWAYS WILL!  … Merry Christmas! – (KK)