"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, 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."
This lesson relates the story of the eastern wise men who had came to find and worship the newborn Savior.
It is a mystery how these men knew the Messiah had come simply by seeing the eastern star. I suppose they too were prophets of God, although the story doesn't tell us that. This story demonstrates the amazing ways God deals with His people and the diversity of the those involved in relating to us His divine intentions.
Another part of this lesson tells how Herod and the Jewish hierarchy began plotting to kill Jesus as soon as they had heard of His birth.
NOTE: The birth of Jesus established the second part of the Holy Triune. God, "the Father" being the first part, Jesus is "the Son" being the second. After Jesus completed His sacrificial ordeal (His baptism, according to Luke 12:50.), the Holy Ghost, the third part of the Holy Triune, became mankind's liason to the Father.
The serious bible student should study the whole of God's word to learn about who the Holy Triune is, (God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.) and why and how it affects God's overall plan for the redemption of mankind.
From the creation of all things earthly, to the birth of Jesus, God the Father, by using His angels, dealt either one on one with His people, or through the words and leadership of His divinely inspired prophets. Jesus came to be mankind's intercessor between themselves and the Father, God. After Jesus made His supreme sacrifice for the sins of mankind, The Holy Spirit was sent to be a liason between God and man/woman.
I don't mean to confuse today's lesson, but in order to fully understand the New Testament ministry of Jesus and the later coming of the Holy Spirit, one must first understand the "operation of God" from the beginning to the end of eternity.~
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