Matthew Chapter 2

Alright, day two!! Here we go....may all the praise, honor, and glory go to God!

We are still dealing with the birth of Jesus in Matthew chapter 2. In the first 12 verses "Wise Men from the East" have made an incredible journey following a star that was prophesied as a sign of the birth of the "King of the Jews". Again I will point to the movie, "The Nativity Story" as a visual reference for this journey. It is easy for us to overlook what an amazing journey this must have been. These "Magi" didn't just hop in a bus or a plane and jet over to the Holy Land. This was probably a 9 month journey across barren lands on the back of a camel!! This "King" wasn't even their king either!!

We aren't told why they chose to undertake such a journey. It isn't stated whether or not this journey was prompted by God and I don't know if they really knew who they were going to see......what are your thoughts? We are told later in verse 12 that they were told by God not to return to Herod but nowhere is it stated that God told them to undertake this incredibly difficult and expensive journey. Whatever the case may be......they made the journey and when the star stopped over the place where Jesus was it says that they were filled with joy! They bowed down and worshiped Jesus and gave great gifts to Him. Why did these strangers from a far away land (who were probably another religion) show such awe and respect to Jesus? I think God was telling us that Jesus was (and is) going to reach into the hearts and minds of people from every tongue and every nation. People from all over the world may not be quite sure who Jesus is but THEY WILL bow to Him.

If these strangers could make such a hard journey just to worship Jesus then why can't we? Why is it so hard to surrender to Christ all that is His anyway?

Sorry.........got off on a bunny trail. Before moving on let me point out Matthew is again telling us in verse 6 how Jesus is fulfilling more prophecies from the Old Testament. In Micah 5:2 a "shepherd for Israel" is to come out of Bethlehem.

In the remainder of chapter 2 things get brutal. Herod is so threatened by this prophesied "King" that he has all the newborn male babies killed (this fulfills an OT prophecy). Herod thinks that he can supplant the Will of God......but God has already warned Joseph to get out of Dodge while he still can. Joseph and his family flee to Egypt......this fulfills another prophecy from Hosea 11 where God says, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

Eventually Joseph moves his family to Nazareth under a prompting from the LORD which fulfills yet another prophecy about Jesus being called "a Nazarene". In just the first two chapters alone Matthew is clearly telling his readers that Jesus is the Christ; the Anointed One, The Messiah, and that He is the One that is going to fulfill all the prophecies concerning the Messiah's coming.

I hope I gave you something to think about. Have a great day and God bless.