Weeks had passed, maybe months, no one knows the exact time frame. Mary had given birth just and was probably starting the natural healing process after labor. She and Joseph were adjusting to life with their newborn baby boy. She may have been up for visitors and company and maybe not, like any new mom. The thing is Mary, was not the mama of an ordinary baby. Her baby boy pride and joy, “Jeshua” (Hebrew) was the answer to prophetic prayers. She knew people would want to see and worship her child just like the Shepherds did that night the angels led them to the stable. Little did she know how far people would travel…
Read Matthew 2:1-3
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
The same star, the one that shown that night for the shepherds and led them to the stable and the manger…had led them to Jerusalem. According to a Harvard article http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1991QJRAS..32..389H “It is proposed that a remarkable sequence of three astronomical events stimulated the journey of the Magi: the triple conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 7 BC; the massing of the three planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in 6 BC; and finally the appearance in 5 BC of the `star of Bethlehem'”. Just as it did last week and made it the brightest star in the sky in a very long time. God is in control of all the planets and stars and tells them where to move and hangs them all in perfect balance in the beautiful sapphire night sky. He aligns natural phenomenons just like He created them, He makes miracles and prophecy a reality. Some scholars even say, and you will find if you do some digging in Hebrew and Greek word studies that the word “aster” meaning star…or heavenly bodies or celestial bodies are sometimes mentioned in reference to angels. How could a star move and guide them from the far East to the west as a directional beacon? In my humble opinion, that “star” was in fact an angel. (Story for another time, I have in fact seen an angelic comet like figure in the sky before). The same heavenly messengers for the shepherds were now guiding and signaling another group of strangers…the 3 kings. He came for the lowly working class shepherds and the wealthy ancient kings of a far off land. He came for all people, and all people were going to come see Him. Except there was one person who wasn’t exactly excited or thrilled at the infant king’s arrival…
His name was Herod, and once he heard the birth announcement he knew his power could be challenged. He felt threatened that another king could steal his throne, even though he was only a baby. Seriously, a grown man feeling threatened by a newborn baby. He tried to manipulate the situation by using the traveling kings as “spies” unbeknownst to them. They were to find out where this king was and tell him where so that he could go “worship” him too. His plan was to find the sweet family and kill their newborn baby boy. An angel however intervened and warned the wise men not to report back to Herod but go home another way. That being said, you can imagine Herod was not happy.
Read Matthew 2:3-6
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Read Matthew 2:7-12
“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Sadly, he took drastic measures to have every male newborn and child under the age 2 killed to wipe out this potential king from existing. How heartbreaking for every mother and father of an innocent boy. The same angel warned Joseph in a dream to take his family far away to Egypt. Jesus and his parents Mary and Joseph had to take refuge in a far off land to be safe, at least until Jesus was over 2 years old and King Herod had died. Scripture states this prophecy will be fulfilled in Hosea 11:1 referenced in Matthew 2:13-15 “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.2.13-15.ESV
Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
Hosea 11:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/hos.11.1.ESV)
Read Matthew 2:16-23
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.“
Matthew 2:16-23 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.2.16-23.ESV
Hold onto that thought and let’s unpack and unwrap these “baby shower gifts” they brought to Mary and Joseph, I mean I would think about it maybe some diapers or blankets? But they showered Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Gold: wealth and riches, valuable as currency. This symbolized his royalty and sovereignty. Kings always has gold. Mary and Joseph could probably use whatever currency and valuables that were given to them.
Frankincense: a fragrant and expensive perfume, burned as incense during worship at the temple sometimes. He was meant to be worshipped, the Son of God.
Myrrh: a fragrant spice often used as medicinal purposes and a burial spice for embalming. He is the healer. He would one day die for all of us. His death was victory.
Back to the family and their extended stay in Egypt…shortly thereafter they returned to their hometown Nazareth, where Jesus grew up and learned in synagogue. Little did they know that one day, He would be the greatest Rabbi that they would ever know and love. The Messiah himself. He grew up and became a young boy, then a teenager learning his father Joseph’s skill of carpentry and also learning how to fish until the day He taught others how to be fishers of men. He was 30 years old (how old I am now) when he stepped into his role and really showed who he was. Personally, I think it’s a great age and time in life when you really start to know and figure out who you are. The ministry of the Messiah and MiracleWorker. Jesus, little Jeshua of Nazareth was now known as Jesus Christ “the anointed one”.
Just as the wise men listened and followed, wise men and women still seek Him today. True wisdom comes from His word, not wealth wealthy nobility and titles. The shepherds listened. Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah followed their tasks faithfully as parents to raise up men to what God called them to be. We too, me and you can do the same if we seek Him and listen when He calls us.
In Christ hope, joy, grace and wisdom,
Heather H. Carnley
Hope For Her Heart 