You have taken the path of hardship and courage. Your mission will end one day. Then, you will see the brightness of the future for the man who lives by truth and righteousness.”
–Lloyd E. Foley (Spirit of Lone Warrior)
“The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.”
“The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.”
–Isaiah 42:13 (NKJV)
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There has been some argument in recent years that the Magi were not at the birth of Christ and that He was probably close to two years old when they came. Partly right, maybe. He was called a “Child” but that does not mean He was not still a baby. Definitely, according to Matthew 2:11, He was in a house. It does not change the story, or the wonder of it all along with the “Star.” Most likely a small house became available shortly after the birth of Jesus and Joseph moved his family to more accommodating housing. But look at who the Magi sought,
“…Behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’… And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
–Matthew 2:1-2, 11 (NKJV)
Age, it is not mentioned. He could have been older, possibly a toddler, or still a baby crawling around. Whichever, He was under two years of age, due to Herod’s declaration to slaughter the infant males of Bethlehem and its districts.
The wise men must have recognized that He was to be a king. They didn’t take back their gifts, they presented them before the Lord. They were slightly mistaken, however, for He was far more than the “King of the Jews.” Who they saw, baby or young child, was the King of Glory. We must never forget and get caught up in the oohing and awing about the cuddly, cute baby that this baby was God Incarnate! He was more than a mere Child, He was God lying in the manger or crawling through the house. I like what Alistair Begg wrote on this,
“At Christmas, many of us feel tremendously cozy as we think about the familiar Nativity story. Filled with all kinds of sentimentalism, it is entirely possible for us to completely disengage from the whole panorama of God’s purpose: to allow familiarity with the scene to blind us to the awe-inspiring truth that as we look at the baby in a Bethlehem manger, we are looking in on the Servant of God. This Servant, Jesus, had a mission…”
Read Isaiah 42:1-9 and contemplate the message of the Christ–the Child–coming as the supreme Servant, but also as a King. I will call especially to your attention a couple of verses, “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42″8-9, NKJV)
As the song declares, every time Mary kissed the Baby’s face she was kissing the face of God. WOW! The Magi partially right, recognized a king, but it goes much deeper. David cried, “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:8-10, NKJV)
So this Christmas season in adoring the Nativity and all that goes with it never forget that this Child is the King of glory. He was more than a mere child, yet He came into this world as a child. He allowed Himself to become man so that He could fulfill His mission and redeem mankind. Who is this King of glory? John tell us that He is the, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16, NKJV)
————————————
There has been some argument in recent years that the Magi were not at the birth of Christ and that He was probably close to two years old when they came. Partly right, maybe. He was called a “Child” but that does not mean He was not still a baby. Definitely, according to Matthew 2:11, He was in a house. It does not change the story, or the wonder of it all along with the “Star.” Most likely a small house became available shortly after the birth of Jesus and Joseph moved his family to more accommodating housing. But look at who the Magi sought,
“…Behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’… And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
–Matthew 2:1-2, 11 (NKJV)
Age, it is not mentioned. He could have been older, possibly a toddler, or still a baby crawling around. Whichever, He was under two years of age, due to Herod’s declaration to slaughter the infant males of Bethlehem and its districts.
The wise men must have recognized that He was to be a king. They didn’t take back their gifts, they presented them before the Lord. They were slightly mistaken, however, for He was far more than the “King of the Jews.” Who they saw, baby or young child, was the King of Glory. We must never forget and get caught up in the oohing and awing about the cuddly, cute baby that this baby was God Incarnate! He was more than a mere Child, He was God lying in the manger or crawling through the house. I like what Alistair Begg wrote on this,
“At Christmas, many of us feel tremendously cozy as we think about the familiar Nativity story. Filled with all kinds of sentimentalism, it is entirely possible for us to completely disengage from the whole panorama of God’s purpose: to allow familiarity with the scene to blind us to the awe-inspiring truth that as we look at the baby in a Bethlehem manger, we are looking in on the Servant of God. This Servant, Jesus, had a mission…”
Read Isaiah 42:1-9 and contemplate the message of the Christ–the Child–coming as the supreme Servant, but also as a King. I will call especially to your attention a couple of verses, “I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42″8-9, NKJV)
As the song declares, every time Mary kissed the Baby’s face she was kissing the face of God. WOW! The Magi partially right, recognized a king, but it goes much deeper. David cried, “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:8-10, NKJV)
So this Christmas season in adoring the Nativity and all that goes with it never forget that this Child is the King of glory. He was more than a mere child, yet He came into this world as a child. He allowed Himself to become man so that He could fulfill His mission and redeem mankind. Who is this King of glory? John tell us that He is the, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16, NKJV)