Mysteries of The Bible

THE GREAT FINALE

Remember what Moses wrote, almost 1500 years BC?  Numbers 24:17: “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”--.  Well, at the time of Jesus’ birth, a new star appeared, and who should notice it but the three Magi from the East.  Lets’ read what happened.  Matthew 2:1-3:  “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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.” 

Now, let’s set up our picture here.  According to “The American Peoples Encyclopedia,” Jerusalem had a 2 ½ mile wall around it, which would make the city a mile long through the middle of the city.  Here came the brightly dressed wise men on three camels, coming through town, looking for a newly born King.  But it wasn’t just three wise men and three camels walking through town, it was a whole caravan.  These guys were rich.  They had servants, and the servants had slaves.  And they were carrying treasures for the new King.  They had to have enough camels to carry all the servants, slaves, and all their clothes, food, gifts, tents, blankets, and whatever else they needed.  There had to be a cook, and all the cooking paraphernalia.  There could have been 20-25 camels in their caravan, all looking for water, stopping traffic, spitting and pooping in the street.  They had come across a long hot desert.  The star had stopped.  They had to set up camp.  They were hungry.  They were tired.  What a mess! No wonder all Jerusalem was troubled.  And poor Herod: Here he was the king of the Jews, but these intruders were looking for another, newly born king.  And then there were all those presents, those wonderful treasures of special oils, spices and gold, but none were for him!  And now these so-called uncircumcised strangers, from who-knows-where, were setting up camp in his town.  They were demanding.  They sat high on their camels and said, “where is He, so we can worship Him.?”  But they had not even inquired about him, Herod.  They weren’t interested in even saying hello to Herod the King, much less worshiping him.  So what did Herod do?  Matthew 2:4: “And when he (Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.” 

Whoops!  Look at that.  Even Herod knew the name of the King the wise men were looking for.  Had he, a wicked king, been reading the prophecies?  But lets’ proceed. 

Now, this meeting that Herod had called together was no small meeting.  He had called all the religious leaders, and all the newspapermen, these were the (scribes).  They wrote everything down, you see.  He wanted answers.  And if the religious leaders did not know where the Christ was to be born, the newspapermen would.  Matthew 2:5,6:  “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.” 

Well, can you believe that?  They knew!  And here were the wise men sent by God to proclaim the news down the streets of Jerusalem.  Can’t you just hear God hollering, jumping up and down, waving His arms, “I’m here, I Am Here!