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Day 19, Seeking Jesus

Matthew 2:1-2
1  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,
2  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

 The Gospel of Matthew is unique in its presentation of Jesus.  In chapter 1, Matthew opens by pointing out how Jesus is directly linked back to the Messianic line as the promise of God's redemption is made through Abraham and David.  There are a lot of names in this section, most of which are unfamiliar.  I'll simple use the opening verse and the final 2 verses of this section to make this point clear:

 Matthew 1:1
1  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham... 
Matthew 1:16-17
16  and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.  17  So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. 

 Then in a simple way, Matthew describes how Joseph discovers his role in God's redemptive plan.  An angel of the Lord comes to him to tell him that the child Mary has conceived is from God, and he will name his Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins...adding the postscript that this is the fulfillment of the O.T. prophecy of Immanuel - God with us.

 While Luke gives extensive accounts of the actual birth, Matthew does not.  There is a reason for that.  As Matthew ends the birth account in chapter 1, he gives his newborn baby the name Jesus.  Then chapter 2 opens with the words above and the visit of these "wise men" from the east who travel to Jerusalem (the capitol of Israel) because of this supernaturally placed "star" in the heavenlies.  It is very different from Luke's accounts, and there is a purpose for it.

Matthew wants us to know that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.  Not only is God with us though, he is also in the world...he's invaded it.  He's come to tell the world that he has come and he is not only the Messiah, but the King.  These "Wise Men" are not Jews, but Gentiles.  They come from Persia, or modern Iran.  Probably religious astrologers, they searched the skies for signs of God...and God put the star there so that they might seek out and find the King of the earth.

Isaiah 60:1-3
1  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
3  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.


Isaiah 60:6
6  A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.




They saw the star, and moved by God they sought out the baby King - WHY?  To worship Him.  It should be clear, if we want to seek the King, and we should, it would be in our Worship of Him.

Peace

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