"Wise Guys"

"Wise Guys!!!”

- Matt. 2:1a, 12b -

" Now when Jesus was born… they departed into their own country another way”

The story: (Matt. 2: 1 – 12) 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 Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired 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 (route, road).

Our scripture nuggets this time around are an absolute mouthful…so here we go. (Matt. 2:1a) “Now when Jesus was born…” What have I done??? Or I should say: Holy Ghost, what have you done??? What a mouthful, what a world full, what a universe full, of thoughts go through my spirit. What volumes have been and will be written about that part of God’s word. What lives have been changed when countless numbers of humanity have realized those (5) impacting words: “Now when Jesus was born…” The event of events of all time period. The key to everything. The key to life. The Way, the Truth, and the Life…period. But the whole issue is: “How did this miraculous birth affect you”??? All would agree (for the most part) that for sure Jesus was born. So, it’s a fact a truth, Jesus was born. So, back to the issue. Did and does His birth affect you like most…It’s a fact and it’s a truth. Or like me and all the Christians on this spinning globe, was He born in you??? More than fact and truth. More than knowing about and of Him…but knowing Him. Accepting Him as your Savior and Lord. Letting Him direct and guide your very life. We have allowed Jesus through the Holy Ghost to be born in us. It’s the new birth, the “born again” or “born from above” term most of you have heard. We were born of the flesh. And because of sin, we need to be born of the Spirit. This miracle will reunite us back to God. Our relationship with Him will be restored back to its original intent and purpose. To be “In Him” and “Him In Us”. Yes, the spiritual birth!!! (John 3:6) teaches us the sovereignty of God in the new birth and affirms that the new birth is not a cooperative endeavor between God and man: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In our natural birth it is the actions of the flesh that brought about our natural birth into the world. Even here, it was not our actions, but our parents actions that brought about our natural birth. By parallel, the spiritual birth is brought about by the Holy Spirit. Again it is the actions of the Holy Spirit that brings about this spiritual birth and not our actions. The Lord said in (John 6:63), "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." Now if I in my flesh could do something to help bring about the new birth, then there would be a profit in the flesh, but the Lord affirms that there is no profit in the flesh, but that the Holy Spirit does the quickening (new birth). God makes it all happen…amen.