The Christmas Story: Bible Series 2010: Visitors Arrive From Eastern Lands

Visitors Arrive from Eastern Lands

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, not in a hospital or a home, but in what is termed as a manger (in a barn, on hay) after innkeeper, after innkeeper rejected Mary and Joseph. They pleaded for a room but was repeatedly told that there just was "no room." However, one innkeeper did give them something so that Mary can have a warm place for the King of Kings.

Jesus Christ was born during the time of King Herod and after His birth, Magi came to visit King Herod and asked: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written. (Note: The Chief Priests by the way were known as the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were the Saducees.)

"But 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 be the shepherd of my people Israel." Micah 5:2.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so I too may go and worship him." After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, the saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, Life Application Study Bible, NIV.)

(Footnote: So what a beautiful thing that has happened. Jesus Christ was born in a manger on a bedding of hay. There was a star, an angel and shepherds that announced his birth. There were three kings from the east known as Magi who came to worship him and bring him beautiful gifts. But, there was one man, a mean man, Herod, who did not really want to worship the King of Kings, but to have him put to death. So, the plot thickens and things begin to get somewhat strange and mysterious for Joseph and Mary and their baby, Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews. I have always loved the Story of Christmas, especially this part, as I grew up Jewish. I still did not read into the New Testament because I did not believe that it was for me to do so. But, since before my conversion to Christianity, I certainly began to read it and began to see that there was so much more to the picture of Judeo-Christian beliefs and what it meant to be a Complete Jew.)

On Monday, you will see the next post in this bible series about the Escape to Egypt for Joseph, Mary and their baby Jesus.