Lesson 4035

 (Lesson 4035)(02-07-23) Matthew 3:5-6

    “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”

    Today’s quote relates that many of the Jews went to John for water baptism. It behooves us, at this point, to understand why John administered water baptism. 

    Water baptism was, and remains, a traditional ritual of the Jews demanded by the old law. Before entering into any religious space or practice. Every Jew was required, by law, to be bathed by immersion, into “living” water. “Living” water is water that is flowing in a natural stream.  The Jews built hundreds of “Mikvas” around Jerusalem to serve the purpose of ritual bathing, or, batpisms. (A Mikva is a pool of water fed by a natural source or stream.) The essence of the bathing was the fact that it was performed in “living’ water.

    This information is valuable because, as will be exposed in the furtherance of these lessons, water baptism, (immersion) actually has no place in Christianity.

    Remember this, Jewish baptism originally required “living” water. The living water that saves the eternal soul in Christianity is Jesus Christ crucified.

    John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."~

  

Lesson 4034

 (Lesson 4034)(02-06-23) Matthew 3:1-4

    “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”

    Today’s quote introduces John the Baptist. These lessons concerning John’s message, and the things he did, are some of the most important to be found in the New Testament.

    John’s message was “repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’. John did NOT say, ‘the kingdom of heaven is here’.

    John’s mission was to “prepare the way of the Lord”. It is VERY important that we remember these things as we study God’s plan for the eternal salvation of mankind.~

Lesson 4033

 (Lesson 4033)(02-05-23) Matthew 2:19-23

     “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. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

    Today’s quote relates that Joseph, after God had told him Herod was dead, brought Jesus to Galilee. Thereby fulling another prophesy.~ 

Lesson 4032

Lesson (4032)(02-04-23) Matthew 2:16-18

    “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.”

    Today’s quote tells us the Herod, king of the Jews, out of frustration that the Magi had fooled him, and in his desperation to kill Jesus, perpetrated the “Slaughter of the Lambs” by killing all the babies in Bethlehem that were under two years old.~ 

Lesson 4031

 Lesson (4031)(02-03-23) Matthew 2:13-15

    “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 J which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

    In today’s quote, Joseph took Jesus to Egypt, at God’s command, to avoid Herod’s wrath.~

Lesson 4030

Lesson (4030)(02-02-23) Matthew 2:9-12

    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.”

    Today’s quote relates that the Magi found Jesus, worshiped Him and, because of a warning from God, avoided Herod as they returned to the East.~  

Lesson 4029

 Lesson (4029)(02-01-23) Matthew 2:1-8

    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.” 

    In today’s quote, Jesus, our Savior, is born in Bethlehem. And, as the Magi journey to worship Jesus, Herod begins to lay his plot to have Jesus killed.~