12.05.07: Light4theDay "The King Is Born" (Viet)  (<<) (>>)
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("Pray To Receive Christ")

A little Child, a Shining Star, a stable crude,
the door ajar; but in that place, so crude, forlorn,
THE HOPE OF ALL THE WORLD WAS BORN.


-- Matthew 2:10-11
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 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.



When our children are little, they would awaken before daylight on Christmas Day, their eyes dancing with expectation. They could not wait to get downstairs to the Christmas tree to open the gifts. But before we opened the gifts, we read the Bible and I prayed. What as thrill it was to kneel in prayer together as a family and to thank God for the privilege of celebrating the birthday of His Son, Jesus Christ.

One of the passages that we read was the second chapter of Matthew, where the wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, following a star. They came into the house of Joseph, fell down and worshipped the Christ child. The Bible says, "When they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11).

Jesus Christ was born to be king. His salvation and His Kingdom apply to present-world problems. But His kingship also has future implications. The sovereignty of Jesus Christ extends in an unbroken line throughout the ages. Hidden from view now, He will come again, according to the Scriptures, in God's time, and He will reign in righteousness.

The wise men of old inquired, "Where is He who has been born King?" (Matthew 2:2). Today wise people in these troubled times are also asking, "Where is He who has been born King?" The Bible says of Him: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He was King yesterday, He is King today, He will be King tomorrow.

-- Billy Graham



+ Mathew 2:11 (Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh)
Jesus was probably one or two years old (a child) when the wise men found him. By this time, Mary and Joseph were living in a house. The wise men gave expensive gifts because these were worthy presents for a future king.

Gold: was a gift for a king (Ps 72:15).
Frankincense: a glittering, odorous gum obtained from the bark of certain trees, was a gift for deity (Isa 60:6).
Myrrh: a valued spice and perfume (Ps 45:8), also came from trees and was used in embalming; thus, it was a gift for a person who was going to die (Mk 15:23; Jn 19:39).

These gifts certainly would have provided the financial resources for Joseph and Mary's trip to Egypt and back (2:13-23).
(L.A.B.)



-- Matthew 2:1-15
1 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, 2 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."

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ (Messiah) was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’" (Micah 5:2).

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 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.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (Hosea 11:1).

-- Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.


-- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Though times and leaders change, Jesus Christ does not. Jesus Christ is the same all the time. He served faithfully yesterday (dying on the cross to make atonement for our sins; Heb 2:17-18). He serves faithfully today (interceding for us at the right hand of God; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25). He will remain faithful forever. Because of what He has done in the past and what He does in the present, He is sufficient for any need any believer will ever have. (Heb 1:12.)

Human leaders have much to teach us, and we can learn much from emulating them (Heb. 13:7), but we must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader. Unlike any human leaders, He will never change. Christ has been and will be the same forever. In a changing world we can trust our unchanging Lord.
(L.A.B.)