1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when they were come into the house, 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: their treasures, they presented unto him gifts gold and frankincense 5 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: and myrr Matthew two eleven. Father, As you begin to 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: move through my life, I thank you that, like in 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: the story in Matthew, you are sending signs and signals 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: to wise men and women who are called to bring 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: gifts and resources into my life to help establish my purpose. 10 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: I thank you that as they come, there will be 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 1: continued confirmation that your provision and your protection will never 12 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: run out on the journey of my destiny. When others 13 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: seek to destroy me, like Herod, I declare that you 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: will supernaturally give me the indicators of when it's time 15 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: to leave the place or relationships that I'm currently with. 16 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: I declare that no harm will come to me or 17 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: those I love. I declare that safety is all around me. 18 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: I am protected and covered by your love, and I 19 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: am forever grateful to be your child Lord in Jesus name. Amen, 20 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 21 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 22 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: a year dot com. 23 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: The Three Wise Men. In our last story, we witnessed 24 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: the humble birth of our hero Jesus. Mary and Joseph 25 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: traveled to Bethlehem for the census, and Mary began to 26 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: go into There was no room for them anywhere in town, 27 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: so Mary was forced to give birth in a stable. 28 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: Her labor pain brought forth the greatest hero of the 29 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: world will ever know, the only son of Man, the Messiah. 30 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: The Christ Child was visited by shepherds, and a man 31 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: of God named Simeon prophesied that he would be the 32 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: light of the new world. Now we see Jesus being 33 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: honored by wise men and endangered by a king. He 34 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: is adorned with gifts and threatened with death. Inspired by 35 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 2: the Gospel. 36 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: Hello everyone. In our previous episode, we heard how Jesus 37 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 3: was born in Bethlehem, how he was visited by shepherds, 38 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: the first to receive the news of his birth besides 39 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 3: the parents themselves, Mary and Joseph, And how they went 40 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 3: away telling others all that they had seen and experienced 41 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: at the manger, and they worship God. Today we'll hear 42 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: of visitors from who arrived many months after Jesus' birth, 43 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 3: looking for the one they had heard foretold and whose 44 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 3: star they had seen rising in the night sky to 45 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 3: guide them to the King of Kings. Their presence will 46 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 3: incite paranoia and fear in King. Herod and Joseph will 47 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 3: fleet with Mary and Jesus into Egypt. So let's hear 48 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 3: this exciting adventure in God's word. 49 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: The desert sand was cold. Underneath the evening sky, a 50 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 2: caravan of camels walked in formation underneath the eastern stars. 51 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: Riding on the camels were three wise men from the South. 52 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: They were scholars and astronomers that had tracked the stars 53 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 2: closely for any abnormalities. When they discovered that there was 54 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 2: a new, bright star resting over Judea, they wasted no 55 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: time in packing their things and leaving. The wise men 56 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: rode for weeks, traveling by night, in order to follow 57 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: the strange stars. Old scrolls and prophecies spoke of this star. 58 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: The star was a sign, a sign of the new 59 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: King of Israel, a sign of the Messiah. As they 60 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: drew closer to Judea, they began to hear whispers in 61 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 2: the streets, apparently a few lowly shepherds rambled on about 62 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: their encounter with angels and witnessed the new born king 63 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 2: of Israel. The wise men knew they were on the 64 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 2: right track. If it was a king that was born, truly, 65 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: the current king would know of his whereabouts. So the 66 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: men traveled to the palace of Herod. The wise men 67 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 2: were very wealthy, so Herod welcomed them into his courts 68 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: with open arms. How may I serve you, he asked cordially, 69 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: Where is the new born King of the Jews? They asked, 70 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: we have followed his star and have come to worship him. 71 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: King Herod winced at their words. He had heard rumors 72 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 2: from the shepherds about a new born baby. However, Herod 73 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: was the king of the Jews, and he would not 74 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: allow for a child to cause any sort of chaos. 75 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: He hid his silent rage from the wise men and 76 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: called for one of the priests. Where is the messiah 77 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: supposed to be born? Herod asked, that would be Bethlehem, 78 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: my lord, the birthplace of David. He responded, Herod smiled 79 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: and pulled the wise men in close. My friends, this 80 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: is a most joyous occasion. Go to Bethlehem. There you 81 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: should find the child, and when you find him, please 82 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: send word back to me. Herod gave a slithering smile. 83 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: I would love to worship him as well. The wise 84 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: men departed for Bethlehem. Herod watched them leave. As the 85 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: door closed, his smile turned quickly into a scowl. He 86 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: would not let any child messiah or not threaten his power. 87 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: Mary was tending to the baby while Joseph tended to 88 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 2: the fire. They had found themselves a nice home to 89 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: stay in while Mary recovered and nursed the child. The 90 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: air was cool pool outside, but their home was filled 91 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: with warmth and love. Joseph kissed Mary's forehead and then 92 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: bent down to kiss Jesus's nose. The baby cooed, and 93 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: the couple smiled down at him. As the family shared 94 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,559 Speaker 2: a moment of tenderness, they heard a knock at the door. 95 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: Joseph got up to answer and saw the three wise men, 96 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: draped in expensive robes, standing outside. We have come to 97 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: see the King, one of them said, so Joseph let 98 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 2: them inside. They saw him resting in the arms of 99 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 2: his mother and bowed. Mary watched as these men of 100 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: power and knowledge worshiped at the feet of her child. 101 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: Her and Joseph were beginning to realize just how special 102 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 2: this moment was. The men brought in a small chest. 103 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: In it were three gifts, gold, frankincense, and mr Unbeknownst 104 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 2: to the wise men, these gifts would represent the royalty, divinity, 105 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 2: and death of Christ. In these presents were hidden secrets 106 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: to the life and death of God's chosen King. After 107 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: giving the gifts, the men said good bye and returned 108 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 2: to their home. They did not tell Herod where the 109 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: baby was, for the Lord had revealed to them his 110 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: cruel intentions. Meanwhile, Herod stowed in paranoia. The heart of 111 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: the ancient Pharaoh came upon him, and he came up 112 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: with a truly cruel plan. Captain, he yelled. The captain 113 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: of the city guards came to the throne at attention. 114 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: Herod stood up. His eyes were red with rage, and 115 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 2: ancient evil boiled out of his heart. I want the 116 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: head of every boy under the age of two. Spare 117 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: no one. So the guards spread across the nearby cities 118 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: in Judea, ripping babies out of their mother's arms. The 119 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: streets ran red with infant blood, and the Lord wept 120 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: over Herod's cruelty. Joseph awoke in the middle of the 121 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: night from a nightmare. Sweat dripped down his head and back. 122 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: He looked quickly at his wife beside him and a 123 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: child resting in her arms. Joseph was panting. The Lord 124 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: had appeared to him in a dream, telling him to 125 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: flee with his family to Egypt. Joseph got up from 126 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: the bed and looked out the window. Screams could be 127 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 2: heard in the distance. The sound of crying infants and 128 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 2: wailing mothers echoed from miles away. Joseph knew that this 129 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: is what he was called to do. Protect Mary and 130 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: protect the child. He gathered up all their belongings and 131 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: loaded them on to the donkey. Then gently Joseph picked 132 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: up his wife and the infant in his arms. He 133 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: rested them softly on the donkey and then led them 134 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 2: away to Egypt. There they found refuge until Herod met 135 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 2: his bitter end. 136 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 3: This is a very exciting passage of scripture. A caravan 137 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: of men is traveling from the east following a star 138 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 3: that they had seen rising in the night sky. They 139 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 3: knew there was great significance to this sign, this star 140 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 3: in the heavens, that a king had been born in Judea. 141 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: The men from the East were most likely from Babylon, 142 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,359 Speaker 3: and they represent the lasting impact of God's people, specifically 143 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 3: the prophet Daniel. Now the former conquerors were traveling across 144 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: the desert to Judea to pay honor to the promised Messiah. 145 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 3: It is also a reminder that Jesus came not only 146 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 3: for the Jews, but from people all over the world. 147 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 3: As they entered Judea, they sought out the Jewish ruler 148 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 3: to ask about this special child, this king that was 149 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 3: to be born. They did not know that King Herod 150 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 3: was not looking for or interested in another king. In fact, 151 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 3: he was a paranoid ruler who gripped his power with 152 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 3: white knuckles as someone who feared losing it. The wise 153 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: men asked, where is this child, the Messiah, the one 154 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 3: born King of the Jews. Herod asked his priests, who 155 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 3: looked in the scriptures, to show him that the prophecies 156 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 3: told of Bethlehem, the city of David, as the birthplace 157 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 3: of the Messiah. So he sent the wise men there, 158 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: asking them to find the baby, and returned to tell 159 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 3: him where he was so that he too could worship. 160 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 3: Of course, this was never Herod's intention. He wanted to 161 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 3: stop the threat to his power. This was an evil 162 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 3: king who would later murder his own sons, so he 163 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 3: would stop at nothing to protect his throne. The travelers 164 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 3: entered into Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They 165 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 3: bowed before the child and lavish gifts upon him, gifts 166 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 3: of gold, frankincense, and murr. These treasures are deeply symbolic. 167 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 3: The gold spoke to Christ's royalty, the frankencense signaled the 168 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 3: divinity of the child, and the murr foreshadowed the Messiah's death. 169 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 3: Imagine how strangely surreal this visit must have been from 170 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 3: Mary and Joseph. They knew that their child was special, yes, supernatural, 171 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 3: the son of God, but his arrival had not been 172 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 3: marked with grandiosity, but much to the contrary, with humility. 173 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 3: But now these nobles from far far away had come 174 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 3: to bow before their child, hailing him as king. These 175 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 3: mysterious men from Afar departed in awe of what they 176 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 3: had seen, but they didn't return to Herod because God 177 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 3: warned them in a dream. Instead, they took another route home. 178 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 3: When Herod discovered their trickery, he was enraged, so he 179 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 3: ordered the death of all the small children among the 180 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 3: Jewish people, just as the pharaoh had ordered the slaughter 181 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 3: of Hebrew babies and the time of Moses, Herod ordered 182 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 3: his guards to kill every male child under two in 183 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 3: the region. It was a time of great sorrow and 184 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: fear and lamentation, brought about by an evil man's failure 185 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 3: to recognize the new king. He of course, is rejecting 186 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 3: the Savior, the only one that could bring hope to 187 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: him and to the rest of the world. But just 188 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 3: as God had rescued Moses, he stepped in to protect 189 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 3: his only son, warning Joseph in a dream. Joseph knew 190 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 3: he had to get out with his family far from there, So, 191 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 3: in fact, he journeyed to Egypt, where he stayed until 192 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 3: it was safe to return home with Jesus the Messiah. 193 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: This was all in fulfillment to God's word, which, as 194 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 3: we've seen, never fails. In Matthew twoin fifteen we read 195 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 3: how this was prophesied by Hoseiah. This was to fulfill 196 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 3: what the Lord had spoken by the prophet out of Egypt, 197 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: I called my son. When they returned, Jesus was now 198 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 3: a young boy and his will here the next time. 199 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: His wisdom and understanding was already astounding to those who 200 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 3: heard him speak. Dear God, we thank you for your word, 201 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 3: for your hand of protection and provision for Joseph, Mary 202 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 3: and Jesus. We thank you for always bringing about your 203 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 3: perfect plan of salvation. Thank you for sending your son, 204 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 3: the Lord Jesus Christ into our world to be our 205 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 3: savior forever and ever. Amen. Thank you again for listening 206 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,839 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham, 207 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 3: pastor in Dallas, Texas. You could download the pray dot 208 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 3: Com app and make Bible study and prayer a priority 209 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 3: in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share 210 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 3: it with someone else, and if you want more resources, 211 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 3: I would love for you to contact us at Jack 212 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 3: Graham dot org. God bless you and have a great day.