Matthew 2 – God bless you all. I’m proud to be your pastor.
What did I learn about Jesus?
- People from other nations knew Jesus as “the king of the Jews.”
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which fulfilled one of the Old Testament prophesies, but then because his parents fled quickly to Egypt and then settled in Nazareth, Jesus also fulfills the prophesies about the Messiah, God’s Son, coming “out of Egypt” and being called “a Nazarene.”
What did I learn about disciple-making?
- Jesus’ parents and the wise men responded immediately when God delivered them a message.
- I need to study the Old Testament so that I can understand all that Jesus fulfilled.
Extended thoughts and observations:
It is traumatic to surrender the control of your life (throne) like Herod did. Some are willing to do awful things to retain control of their lives… which is fruitless in the end.
Jesus was sent to be a “shepherd of his people”. Am I a good shepherd to my people?
Dreams-does God still speak that way? Does he want to speak to me in my dreams?
Why didn’t God warn Joseph about Archelaus when he called them back to Egypt. Did God only give him enough information to do what he needed him to do, realizing that he might otherwise be too afraid to follow where he was told? And after Joseph discovered and WAS afraid…was that why God accommodated him and sent them north? What part does “fear” play in guiding me?