The Magi / Wise men were the first non Jewish people to come to worship Christ. Souls from another nation were guided to Christ by God. He did it with a star. Albert Einstein said, "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." The star was probably a Supernatural Light sent by God to point them to the exact place. A Supernatural Star after a Supernatural Announcement of a Supernatural Birth. If they had followed the star instead of going to Jerusalem Herod would not have known about it and the slaughter of the baby boys would not have taken place. Heaven was rejoicing and hell was reeling at the Birth of Jesus.
The Wise men came from where the human race began, from what is called the cradle of civilization.
This is where Abraham was from, where the Jews were taken into captivity, where the prophet Daniel had lived and prophesied and served in government. These men came to worship Christ the newborn king. Somewhere in between 40 days and 2 years of age they arrived.
They could have heard about the coming of Jesus through the Jewish people there in captivity or they could have studied the prophecy of Daniel which pinpoints the time of the Anointed One. It was probably both.
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.
Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
Luke 2:29-32 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
The nation of Israel needed a Messiah. The whole World needed a Savior.
The Political situation of first century Israel.
Luke 2.1/ Matthew 2.2 Caesar Augustus/ Herod
The Spiritual condition of First Century Israel
2 Corinthians 3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
Romans 11:25-26 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,“The Deliverer will come from Zion,He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
Jesus came as the Messiah to be the Savior of the world. Today a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ, the LORD.
So Jesus was born. He grew up in Nazareth. Jospeh was a carpenter there. He went about doing good, teaching and performing miracles. He died and rose again. Just before He ascended back into heaven He gave the His Disciples a commission, the Great Commission...
1. The Great Commission Sent the Disciples of Jesus Into All The World. Matthew 28.18-20
It was prophesied by the Angel of the LORD that appeared to the shepherds... A Savior... Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Around 6am EST this morning... Two suspects have been held for questioning. Air France Flight 463 enroute to Paris made an emergency landing in Mombasa after the device was found in the plane's bathroom. Suspicious Device on Flight Confirmed as Bomb by Kenyan Authorities. 473 people were on board. Certainly the peace the world gives but Jesus Himself said that. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John records at the end of the first century the account of Jesus coming and mission: John 1:11-14 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Acts is a record of it being fulfilled.
Acts 1.8 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Friend of Sinners and this...
Hope they can say both of these things about us!
This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 49:6
Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
The Great Commission stil sends people today... Haiti... where ever the LORD leads... India...
Our mission giving here goes to over 100 world areas where the Church of the Nazarene is.
Operation Christmas Shoe Box into world areas which are the most difficult. Prayers we send up to heaven on behalf of those suffering persecution for their faith.
God sent His Son to the Savior because
2. Everyone Needs Christ
Some people don't find out til its too late.
Some turn Him away like the inn.
Some put him off like Felix. Acts 24:25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
John 1:11-13 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Look at the people who became followers of Jesus, those who Jesus transformed: Tax Collectors- Matthew and Zaccheus, zealot- Simon... he touched those in the military- centurions, women whose lives were a mess- Mary Magdalene and the women at the well and men who were highly respected like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethia. He came for all the people.
Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
What is foretold by the prophets is a visible kingdom, with the Messiah reigning on the throne of David, over a reunited Israel and the Gentile Nations in a world empire.
The kingdom was rejected by the Jews and the King crucified. But He rose again and reigns from on high. One day His Kingdom will fully come to this earth. We wait for that day. Today the offer to entrance to the kingdom is for all the people of the earth.
Begin thinking of people you know who need Him. Begin to pray. Think of the brokenhearted people.
Invite them to the February Event, Friday, February 12th.
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