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ort¡¡of¡¡the¡¡angels'¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡rabbis¡¡had¡¡treated¡¡it¡¡as¡¡unworthy¡¡of¡¡their¡¡notice¡£¡¡They¡¡themselves¡¡might¡¡have¡¡found¡¡Jesus£»¡¡and¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡to¡¡His¡¡birthplace£»¡¡but¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡came¡¡to¡¡call¡¡their¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Messiah¡£¡¡¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡He¡¡that¡¡is¡¡born¡¡King¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jews£¿¡¨¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡we¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡His¡¡star¡¡in¡¡the¡¡East£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡come¡¡to¡¡worship¡¡Him¡£¡¨
Now¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡envy¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡against¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡reports¡¡brought¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡were¡¡credited£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡place¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡¡in¡¡a¡¡most¡¡unenviable¡¡position£»¡¡disproving¡¡their¡¡claim¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡exponents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡These¡¡learned¡¡teachers¡¡would¡¡not¡¡stoop¡¡to¡¡be¡¡instructed¡¡by¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡termed¡¡heathen¡£¡¡It¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be£»¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡God¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡them¡¡by£»¡¡to¡¡communicate
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡63
with¡¡ignorant¡¡shepherds¡¡or¡¡uncircumcised¡¡Gentiles¡£¡¡They¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡show¡¡their¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡reports¡¡that¡¡were¡¡exciting¡¡King¡¡Herod¡¡and¡¡all¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not¡¡even¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem¡¡to¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡these¡¡things¡¡were¡¡so¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡led¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡regard¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fanatical¡¡excitement¡£¡¡Here¡¡began¡¡the¡¡rejection¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡by¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡point¡¡their¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡stubbornness¡¡grew¡¡into¡¡a¡¡settled¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡While¡¡God¡¡was¡¡opening¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Gentiles£»¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡leaders¡¡were¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡themselves¡£
The¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡departed¡¡alone¡¡from¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡The¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡night¡¡were¡¡falling¡¡as¡¡they¡¡left¡¡the¡¡gates£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡their¡¡great¡¡joy¡¡they¡¡again¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡star£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡received¡¡no¡¡such¡¡intimation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lowly¡¡estate¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡was¡¡given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡£¡¡After¡¡the¡¡long¡¡journey¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡disappointed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡indifference¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡leaders£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡left¡¡Jerusalem¡¡less¡¡confident¡¡than¡¡when¡¡they¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡At¡¡Bethlehem¡¡they¡¡found¡¡no¡¡royal¡¡guard¡¡stationed¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡the¡¡newborn¡¡King¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡honored¡¡men¡¡were¡¡in¡¡attendance¡£¡¡Jesus¡¡was¡¡cradled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡manger¡£¡¡His¡¡parents£»¡¡uneducated¡¡peasants£»¡¡were¡¡His¡¡only¡¡guardians¡£¡¡Could¡¡this¡¡be¡¡He¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡was¡¡written£»¡¡that¡¡He¡¡should¡¡¡¨raise¡¡up¡¡the¡¡tribes¡¡of¡¡Jacob£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨restore¡¡the¡¡preserved¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¨¡¡that¡¡He¡¡should¡¡be¡¡¡¨a¡¡light¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Gentiles£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡for¡¡¡¨salvation¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¨£¿¡¡Isa¡£¡¡49£º6¡£
¡¨When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡young¡¡child¡¡with¡¡Mary¡¡His¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡worshiped¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Beneath¡¡the¡¡lowly¡¡guise¡¡of¡¡Jesus£»¡¡they¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡Divinity¡£¡¡They¡¡gave¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡their¡¡Saviour£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡their¡¡gifts£»¡¨gold£»¡¡and¡¡frankincense£»¡¡and¡¡myrrh¡£¡¨¡¡What¡¡a¡¡faith¡¡was¡¡theirs£¡
64
It¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡said¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the¡¡East£»¡¡as¡¡afterward¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡centurion£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡found¡¡so¡¡great¡¡faith£»¡¡no£»¡¡not¡¡in¡¡Israel¡£¡¨¡¡Matt¡£¡¡8£º10¡£
The¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡had¡¡not¡¡penetrated¡¡Herod's¡¡design¡¡toward¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡was¡¡accomplished£»¡¡they¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡acquaint¡¡him¡¡with¡¡their¡¡success¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡they¡¡received¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡message¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡no¡¡further¡¡communication¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Avoiding¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡they¡¡set¡¡out¡¡for¡¡their¡¡own¡¡country¡¡by¡¡another¡¡route¡£
In¡¡like¡¡manner¡¡Joseph¡¡received¡¡warning¡¡to¡¡flee¡¡into¡¡Egypt¡¡with¡¡Mary¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡angel¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡thou¡¡there¡¡until¡¡I¡¡bring¡¡thee¡¡word£º¡¡for¡¡Herod¡¡will¡¡seek¡¡the¡¡young¡¡child¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Joseph¡¡obeyed¡¡without¡¡delay£»¡¡setting¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡by¡¡night¡¡for¡¡greater¡¡security¡£
Through¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men£»¡¡God¡¡had¡¡called¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡nation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡His¡¡Son¡£¡¡Their¡¡inquiries¡¡in¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡interest¡¡excited£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡jealousy¡¡of¡¡Herod£»¡¡which¡¡compelled¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis£»¡¡directed¡¡minds¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prophecies¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡Messiah£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡event¡¡that¡¡had¡¡just¡¡taken¡¡place¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡65
Satan¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡on¡¡shutting¡¡out¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡light¡¡from¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡used¡¡his¡¡utmost¡¡cunning¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡But¡¡He¡¡who¡¡never¡¡slumbers¡¡nor¡¡sleeps¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡over¡¡His¡¡beloved¡¡Son¡£¡¡He¡¡who¡¡had¡¡rained¡¡manna¡¡from¡¡heaven¡¡for¡¡Israel¡¡and¡¡had¡¡fed¡¡Elijah¡¡in¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡famine¡¡provided¡¡in¡¡a¡¡heathen¡¡land¡¡a¡¡refuge¡¡for¡¡Mary¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡And¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gifts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡from¡¡a¡¡heathen¡¡country£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡supplied¡¡the¡¡means¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡into¡¡Egypt¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sojourn¡¡in¡¡a¡¡land¡¡of¡¡strangers¡£
The¡¡magi¡¡had¡¡been¡¡among¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡welcome¡¡the¡¡Redeemer¡£¡¡Their¡¡gift¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡that¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡at¡¡His¡¡feet¡£¡¡And¡¡through¡¡that¡¡gift£»¡¡what¡¡privilege¡¡of¡¡ministry¡¡was¡¡theirs£¡¡¡The¡¡offering¡¡from¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡that¡¡loves£»¡¡God¡¡delights¡¡to¡¡honor£»¡¡giving¡¡it¡¡highest¡¡efficiency¡¡in¡¡service¡¡for¡¡Him¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡have¡¡given¡¡our¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡Jesus£»¡¡we¡¡also¡¡shall¡¡bring¡¡our¡¡gifts¡¡to¡¡Him¡£¡¡Our¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡silver£»¡¡our¡¡most¡¡precious¡¡earthly¡¡possessions£»¡¡our¡¡highest¡¡mental¡¡and¡¡spiritual¡¡endowments£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡freely¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡who¡¡loved¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡Himself¡¡for¡¡us¡£
Herod¡¡in¡¡Jerusalem¡¡impatiently¡¡awaited¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡£¡¡As¡¡time¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear£»¡¡his¡¡suspicions¡¡were¡¡roused¡£¡¡The¡¡unwillingness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rabbis¡¡to¡¡point¡¡out¡¡the¡¡Messiah's¡¡birthplace¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡indicate¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡penetrated¡¡his¡¡design£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡had¡¡purposely¡¡avoided¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡maddened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡£¡¡Craft¡¡had¡¡failed£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡left¡¡the¡¡resort¡¡to¡¡force¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡make¡¡an¡¡example¡¡of¡¡this¡¡child¡king¡£¡¡Those¡¡haughty¡¡Jews¡¡should¡¡see¡¡what¡¡they¡¡might¡¡expect¡¡in¡¡their¡¡attempts¡¡to¡¡place¡¡a¡¡monarch¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throne¡£
Soldiers¡¡were¡¡at¡¡once¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem£»¡¡with¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡¡all¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡two¡¡years¡¡and¡¡under¡£¡¡The¡¡quiet¡¡homes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡David¡¡witnessed¡¡those¡¡scenes¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡that£»¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡before£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prophet¡£¡¡¡¨In¡¡Ramah¡¡was¡¡there¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡heard£»¡¡lamentation£»¡¡and¡¡weeping£»¡¡and¡¡great¡¡mourning£»¡¡Rachel¡¡weeping¡¡for¡¡her¡¡children£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡comforted£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡£¡¨
This¡¡calamity¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡upon¡¡themselves¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡faithfulness¡¡and¡¡humility¡¡before¡¡God£»¡¡He¡¡would¡¡in¡¡a¡¡signal¡¡manner¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡wrath¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡harmless¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡had¡¡separated¡¡themselves¡¡from¡¡God¡¡by¡¡their¡¡sins£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡rejected¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡their¡¡only¡¡shield¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡¡with¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡conform¡¡to¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡searched¡¡for¡¡prophecies¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡interpreted¡¡to¡¡exalt¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡show¡¡how¡¡God¡¡despised¡¡all¡¡other¡¡nations¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡their¡¡proud¡¡boast¡¡that¡¡the
66
Messiah¡¡was¡¡to¡¡come¡¡as¡¡a¡¡king£»¡¡conquering¡¡His¡¡enemies£»¡¡and¡¡treading¡¡down¡¡the¡¡heathen¡¡in¡¡His¡¡wrath¡£¡¡Thus¡¡they¡¡had¡¡excited¡¡the¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡their¡¡rulers¡£¡¡Through¡¡their¡¡misrepresentation¡¡of¡¡Christ's¡¡mission£»¡¡Satan¡¡had¡¡purposed¡¡to¡¡compass¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour£»¡¡but¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡it¡¡returned¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡own¡¡heads¡£
This¡¡act¡¡of¡¡cruelty¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡that¡¡darkened¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Herod¡£¡¡Soon¡¡after¡¡the¡¡slaughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡innocents£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡himself¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡yield¡¡to¡¡that¡¡doom¡¡which¡¡none¡¡can¡¡turn¡¡aside¡£¡¡He¡¡died¡¡a¡¡fearful¡¡death¡£
Joseph£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡still¡¡in¡¡Egypt£»¡¡was¡¡now¡¡bidden¡¡by¡¡an¡¡angel¡¡of¡¡God¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Israel¡£¡¡Regarding¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡the¡¡heir¡¡of¡¡David's¡¡throne£»¡¡Joseph¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his¡¡home¡¡in¡¡Bethlehem£»¡¡but¡¡learning¡¡that¡¡Archelaus¡¡reigned¡¡in¡¡Judea¡¡in¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡stead£»¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡the¡¡father's¡¡designs¡¡against¡¡Christ¡¡might¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡son¡£¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡Herod£»¡¡Archelaus¡¡most¡¡resembled¡¡him¡¡in¡¡character¡£¡¡Already¡¡his¡¡succession¡¡to¡¡the¡¡government¡¡had¡¡been¡¡marked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡tumult¡¡in¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slaughter¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡Jews¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡guards¡£
Again¡¡Joseph¡¡was¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡safety¡£¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡Nazareth£»¡¡his¡¡former¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡here¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡Jesus¡¡dwelt£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡fulfilled¡¡which¡¡was¡¡spoken¡¡by¡¡the¡¡prophets£»¡¡He¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡called¡¡a¡¡Nazarene¡£¡¨¡¡Galilee¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡control¡¡of¡¡a¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Herod£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡had¡¡a¡¡much¡¡larger¡¡admixture¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡inhabitants¡¡than¡¡Judea¡£
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Thus¡¡there¡¡was¡¡less¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡matters¡¡relating¡¡especially¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Jews£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡claims¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡would¡¡be¡¡less¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡excite¡¡the¡¡jealousy¡¡of¡¡those¡¡in¡¡power¡£
Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Saviour's¡¡reception¡¡when¡¡He¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡There¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡no¡¡place¡¡of¡¡rest¡¡or¡¡safety¡¡for¡¡the¡¡infant¡¡Redeemer¡£¡¡God¡¡could¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡His¡¡beloved¡¡Son¡¡with¡¡men£»¡¡even¡¡while¡¡carrying¡¡forward¡¡His¡¡work¡¡for¡¡their¡¡salvation¡£¡¡He¡¡commissioned¡¡angels¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡Jesus¡¡and¡¡protect¡¡Him¡¡till¡¡He¡¡should¡¡accomplish¡¡His¡¡mission¡¡on¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡die¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡He¡¡came¡¡to¡¡save¡£
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The¡¡childhood¡¡and¡¡youth¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡were¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡mountain¡¡village¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡place¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡that¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡honored¡¡by¡¡His¡¡presence¡£¡¡The¡¡palaces¡¡of¡¡kings¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡privileged¡¡in¡¡receiving¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡guest¡£¡¡But¡¡He¡¡passed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡homes¡¡of¡¡wealth£»¡¡the¡¡courts¡¡of¡¡royalty£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡renowned¡¡seats¡¡of¡¡learning£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡His¡¡home¡¡in¡¡obscure¡¡and¡¡despised¡¡Nazareth¡£
Wonderful¡¡in¡¡its¡¡significance¡¡is¡¡the¡¡brief¡¡record¡¡of¡¡His¡¡early¡¡life£º¡¡¡¨The¡¡child¡¡grew£»¡¡and¡¡waxed¡¡strong¡¡in¡¡spirit£»¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡wisdom£º¡¡and¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡God¡¡was¡¡upon¡¡Him¡£