Encountering Encountering ChristChrist

Jesus Encounters The HungryJesus Encounters The HungryMatthew 2:1-18Matthew 2:1-18

Grace Community Church December 21, 2008Grace Community Church December 21, 2008

Matthew 2:1-2Matthew 2:1-21 1 Now after Jesus was born in Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 2

saying, “Where is he who has saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:3-4Matthew 2:3-43 3 When Herod the king heard this, When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; with him; 4 4 and assembling all the and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. the Christ was to be born.

Matthew 2:5-6Matthew 2:5-65 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: prophet: 6 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”.”shepherd my people Israel.’ ”.”

Matthew 2:7-8Matthew 2:7-87 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. what time the star had appeared. 8 8 And And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and me word, that I too may come and worship him.”worship him.”

3 Responses to Birth of 3 Responses to Birth of JesusJesus

1.1.Hostility of HerodHostility of Herod2.2.Apathy of ReligiousApathy of Religious3.3.Worship of MagiWorship of Magi

HostilityHostilityMatthew 2:16-18Matthew 2:16-1816 16 Then Herod, when he Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ascertained from the wise men. 17 17 Then was Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: Jeremiah: 18 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”comforted, because they are no more.”

ApathyApathyMatthew 2:5-6 Matthew 2:5-6 5 5 They told him, “In They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: by the prophet: 6 6 “ ‘And you, O “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

WorshipWorshipMatthew 2:9-11Matthew 2:9-11 9 9 After listening to After listening to the king, they went on their way. And the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the came to rest over the place where the child was. child was. 10 10 When they saw the star, When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. joy. 11 11 And going into the house they And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. frankincense and myrrh.