INTRODUCTION!
Due to the fact that most Christians do not read their Bibles, and even when they do, they sort of skim over the words, not really meditating on what God's Word is saying, there are few believers who recognize, for example, that Jesus was not in a manger when the wise men arrived. He was no longer a babe, and was likely about a year old when they arrived. Nor do they realize that there were not necessarily three of them; there could have been two, or even twenty-two, as the Scripture does not give the number. The "three" comes from the three gifts, and people assume each one brought one of the three gifts. Look again at the Word, and note these facts about Jesus, the Son of God, and the Son of Mary, a woman who declared Him to be her Savior!
YET TO BE BORN AND NEWBORN CHILDREN ARE KNOWN AS BABES!
Matthew 1:18-23 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused (engaged) to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband (to be), being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily (break the engagement privately). But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary (as) thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet (Isaiah 7:14), saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 1:39-47 - And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me (and who am I), that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Luke 2:11-16 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Notes: When a woman is pregnant, she is said to be "with child" (see Luke 2:5). Both Elisabeth and Mary were pregnant, and the Word of God describes the children as "babes." Elisabeth spoke the truth as she was "filled with the Holy Ghost." Even in her womb, to Mary, Jesus was called "my Lord." And Mary recognize her need of a "Savior." Soon after Mary gave birth to Jesus, He was still being called a "babe."
BY THE TIME THE WISE MEN CAME, JESUS WAS NO LONGER A BABE!
Matthew 2:1-21 - Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel (see Micah 3:2). Then Herod, when he had privily (privately) called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My son (see Hosea 11:1). Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama 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 (see Jeremiah 31:15). But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Notes: The "wise men" and Herod both knew the child was "the King of the Jews," and that He was to be worshipped. The travel time for the wise men must have been about a year, as Herod, not wanting to miss killing the Christ, bracketed the age by killing all male children two years old and younger. Jesus was most likely about one year old; hence He is called a "young child," and not a "babe." In addition, note that the family was living in a house, and not still residing at the place of His birth. Children who were weaned, were no longer called "babes," but were either a "young child," or simply a child. At the age of twelve, a Jewish child becomes a young man or a young woman.
THE WORD OF GOD IS MEANT TO BE CAREFULLY STUDIED!
YOU MIGHT BE AMAZED AS HOW MANY "FACTS"
THERE ARE ABOUT WHICH YOU ARE WRONG!
DO NOT TAKE A PREACHER'S WORD FOR IT;
BE A "BEREAN" AND, HAVING LISTENED TO THE MESSAGE,
COMPARE IT WITH GOD'S MESSAGE (Acts 17:11)!
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