Closer 2 Jesus Purpose

The purpose of this blog is to inform readers of the love message of The Lord Jesus Christ, to cover some Biblical History, and have fun in the process with inspiration on the side.

Bible verses inform, photos inspire, quotes enlighten, and sometimes we add our own ideas and thoughts about a topic. We are not preachers, pastors, or clergy, only people who want to share the Good News of the Gospel and Holy Bible with others.

The video below is from the early 2000's, is blurry from an old school cell phone, but holds the voices of our children. More of a listening instead of a watching video. Our son on stage left and our daughter filming shakily =)

Matthew 2 The Magi

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Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi Closer 2 Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi

1 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

2 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.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet (Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans or rulers of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.)

6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 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.

9 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.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Matthew was the only of the four gospels of Jesus to tell of the Magi or Wise Men or Kings that traveled to visit the newborn Jesus. Although, Mark, Luke, and John offer perspective Matthew does not. Each Gospel or telling of the life of Jesus includes a special something geared toward the individual. Each reader generally having a favorite (if they have to choose), much like one's choice of novels, fiction, or non-fiction books. Each author has a style and each individual has a preference. The telling of the Life of Jesus is such a mighty learning tool that more than these have written of it.

The Magi are also mentioned in verse Matthew 2:16 when Herod realizes the Magi will not be returning and get's extremely angry as if Herod had been slighted to the maximum.

Matthew 2:13-23 accounts a very dark deed that God saved Joseph, Mary, and Jesus through an angels warning in a dream. The history is sad, dark, and despicable. The link is below to read that part.

King James version Matthew 2:1-23

While Matthew does not tell specifics about the Magi, it is thought these men were Balthazar (Babylonian king or scholar), Gaspar or Caspar (Indian king or scholar), and Melchior (Persian king or scholar). There are also teachings that believe one of the Magi was from China.

Where did they come from? Matthew only says from the east and why? To follow the star of the King of the Jews. To see if the prophecy was fulfilled.

The Adoration of the Magi

Just one of the many photos found on Wikipedia under The Adoration of the Magi. This comes from 14th century Flemish miniature found in the National Library of Wales (unknown artist).

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. If you would like a very logical view of learning life lessons through Bible Stories, the video below is a good start. This video shows the Holy Bible having 73,779 hyper-links or back-links or cross-references and just how deep the Bible is.

The Angel, God, and the Flaw

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Parable Without Honor Matthew 13

Parable Without Honor Matthew 13:53-58

It is worth noting before we finish out the last few Parables of Jesus Christ from Matthew 13, the last of these. In your own house, your words may not hold the weight they do elsewhere.

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 

54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 

55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 

56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 

57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Fruit of the Spirit

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Closer 2 Jesus The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 

2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 

4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 

6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 

13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means 

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 

21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The sower is the individual who communicates the Word of God the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The seed is the Word the Gospel.

The soil types are the ones who hear or read, the kinds of individuals that will be on the receiving end of the Word the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Are you the soil on the Path, Rock, Thorns, or on the Good Soil?

Parable of the Weeds

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