Since this is the beginning of the year, here are some thoughts from the end of last year...
Many people know that the last thing recorded in the Bible that Jesus said before He died was, “It is finished.” Do you know what was the first thing he said that was recorded? And no, it was not, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” It was, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” He finished the work that He was do to on earth. Of course that is not where the story ends, since He did rise again the third day according to the Scriptures and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Yes, the story is still unfolding...
Christmas traditions....
First of all, Mary and Joseph were married, not just engaged, when Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost. Here is the passage from Matthew...
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
“Joseph her husband” is a pretty clear statement.
“Put here away” is also clear for those who have read other portions of the Bible, like...
Matthew 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Matthew 19:7 “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?”
Mark 10:4 “And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.”
“...before they came together...”
Yes, Mary was a virgin as prophesied. A miracle!
There is no mention of three kings. Yes, three gifts, but not three kings. And why do people think that magi is a better/simpler term than “wise men?” Isn’t an argument for newer versions of the Bible to get rid of archaic language that modern men cannot understand. I don’t know, I think wise men is much clearer than magi. I also think it is simply wise men who seek Jesus, not necessarily magi (magicians, astronomers, scientists, etc...)
The Star...
It was a star. Not a comet, not a meteor, not an overlapping of celestial bodies. And there is no mention that the star led the wise men to Jerusalem. Here is something interesting though. The wise men came from the east...
“Saying, 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.”
Where was the star when the wise men saw it? Could it have been in the east, as the wise men may have said? What is the significance of that? Revelation 22:16 reads...
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
Where would you expect a “bright and morning star to appear?” In the east where the sun rises. Back to the comment about the star not leading them to Jerusalem...
“When 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.”
The star led the wise men from Jerusalem to the Bethlehem. Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. The star went before them, or led them to where the young child was. The star stopped over where the young child was. This was not a normal star, or supernova, or conjunction. It was a miraculous star. And it did not stop over the manger...
“And when they were come into the house...”
This was a time later, not the night that Christ was born...
Miracles
Have they ceased? I witnessed a miracle recently. 25 gallon sized bags of popcorn returned $500! How is that for a return on investment? But wait I can explain it...
The people buying the popcorn were just generous because it was going to a good cause. Right, and the feeding of the five thousand or four thousand... There were probably many in the crowd that had some food and just put some in rather than taking it out. The crossing of the Red Sea on dry land, shallow water crossing on reeds...
God is still at work... Watch and Pray
Happy New Year!
Many people know that the last thing recorded in the Bible that Jesus said before He died was, “It is finished.” Do you know what was the first thing he said that was recorded? And no, it was not, “Gentlemen, start your engines!” It was, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” He finished the work that He was do to on earth. Of course that is not where the story ends, since He did rise again the third day according to the Scriptures and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Yes, the story is still unfolding...
Christmas traditions....
First of all, Mary and Joseph were married, not just engaged, when Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost. Here is the passage from Matthew...
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
“Joseph her husband” is a pretty clear statement.
“Put here away” is also clear for those who have read other portions of the Bible, like...
Matthew 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Matthew 19:7 “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?”
Mark 10:4 “And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.”
“...before they came together...”
Yes, Mary was a virgin as prophesied. A miracle!
There is no mention of three kings. Yes, three gifts, but not three kings. And why do people think that magi is a better/simpler term than “wise men?” Isn’t an argument for newer versions of the Bible to get rid of archaic language that modern men cannot understand. I don’t know, I think wise men is much clearer than magi. I also think it is simply wise men who seek Jesus, not necessarily magi (magicians, astronomers, scientists, etc...)
The Star...
It was a star. Not a comet, not a meteor, not an overlapping of celestial bodies. And there is no mention that the star led the wise men to Jerusalem. Here is something interesting though. The wise men came from the east...
“Saying, 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.”
Where was the star when the wise men saw it? Could it have been in the east, as the wise men may have said? What is the significance of that? Revelation 22:16 reads...
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
Where would you expect a “bright and morning star to appear?” In the east where the sun rises. Back to the comment about the star not leading them to Jerusalem...
“When 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.”
The star led the wise men from Jerusalem to the Bethlehem. Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. The star went before them, or led them to where the young child was. The star stopped over where the young child was. This was not a normal star, or supernova, or conjunction. It was a miraculous star. And it did not stop over the manger...
“And when they were come into the house...”
This was a time later, not the night that Christ was born...
Miracles
Have they ceased? I witnessed a miracle recently. 25 gallon sized bags of popcorn returned $500! How is that for a return on investment? But wait I can explain it...
The people buying the popcorn were just generous because it was going to a good cause. Right, and the feeding of the five thousand or four thousand... There were probably many in the crowd that had some food and just put some in rather than taking it out. The crossing of the Red Sea on dry land, shallow water crossing on reeds...
God is still at work... Watch and Pray
Happy New Year!
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