Praying God’s Word

4. Worship the True King

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 4  (Matthew 2:1-6)

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea at the time of King Herod. That’s when Magi from the east showed up in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and we have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was upset (and all Jerusalem with him).  He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Jewish people, and he questioned them about where the Messiah was to be born.   They said, “In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;  for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.‘”  (Matthew 2:1-6)

Bethlehem was just a short distance south of Jerusalem,

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3.  Misgivings, Grace and Name-giving

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 3  (Matthew 1:18-25)

Jesus’ birth took place like this.  His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.  Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Joseph, being righteous, did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he planned to put her aside quietly.

While he was thinking it out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Marry as your wife. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus–‘God saves’–because he will save his people from their sins.”  This would bring to fulfillment the prophet’s message given by the Lord:

Watch–a virgin will become pregnant and bear a son;
 They will call his name Immanuel (it means in Hebrew “God is with us”).

Joseph woke up from his sleep and did just as the Lord’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary.  But he did not know her intimately until she had the son.  He named the baby Jesus.  (Matthew 1:18-25)

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2. Fourteen Generations

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 2 (Matthew 1:6b-17)

Altogether there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, and fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.  (Matthew 1:17)

Why the emphasis on 14?  David’s Hebrew name adds up to 14, so the royal nature of Jesus’ ancestors through and through climaxes with Jesus who was called Christ, a messianic and royal title for the King of the Jews.

From David to Solomon and through the kings of Judah, the first set of 14  (more…)

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1. Jesus Christ, son of Abraham, son of David

“The book of origin of Jesus Christ, Abraham’s son, David’s son” (Matthew 1:1)

Matthew starts by giving us the family tree.  There is a purpose to this.  Each name has a story behind it.  We won’t go into each story, but trust me–there are some really good ones!

Abraham left his home near Ur and traveled from southern Iraq to northern Iraq, through Syria and eventually to the Palestinian town of Hebron where he is buried today along with Isaac and Jacob.  Abraham’s story is about faith–bold faith–and being willing to take a journey with God. (more…)

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