“A Sword Shall Pierce The Earth” Part 1
“Magi Follow The Messiah’s Star” Part 2
Priests, elders, scribes, Pharisees and other elitist religious ones and magicians, sorcerers, star-gazers had been looking expectantly for the coming of the Messiah. God’s chosen people might be placed at the top of the list as the eager ones looking, praying and waiting, having studied the oracles entrusted to them (The Book of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) which predict, along with other Bible texts the coming Messiah. They couldn’t pinpoint His time of arrival. Furthermore, they were looking for a political/military leader to free them from oppression of the Romans. And just like God Almighty who knows the end from the beginning had already been operating over time in the background and begun to fulfill His unalterable word. God had already pronounced through Simeon and Anna [a widow for 84 years] was there too (she comes in that instant) having served in the temple for decades praying and fasting night and day. This “sword” [Luke 2:35] which would pierce the soul of Mary (mother of Christ Jesus), is a long, broad sword [romphaia] associated with great injury and pain. When the time comes, the Magi search for the location of Jesus: here He was born and where they could find Him.
These Magi were critical, diligent watchers and researchers of “the stars.” They were “scholars studying astrology and other technical subjects, like medicine, math and sciences. There seemed to be about during that time an alignment of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation of Pices around 6 B.C. This usually happens only once every eight hundred years (May, October and December) near the time of Jesus’ birth.” Point here is the difficulty and precision the Magi had been watching and looking for “The Messiah!” So around 4 B.C., we have sufficient history to investigate what happened around that time in pronouncing the reality that “The Messiah has come.” The Magi (wise men) play a pivotal role in researching His coming.
The Magi were determined to know when and where was this King of the Jews born, when did His birth take place and where was He then at that time. They decided to go where they could receive more guidance. They went to Jerusalem. They asked, “”Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east (they had been in the east) and we have come to worship Him”[Matthew 2:7-8] Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time “the star” had appeared. Mentally distraught Herod had a secret plan to find out where the king of the Jews was and to destroy Him. He was mentally and physically sick. No wonder he had a bad reputation because he was very sick, consumed with fear.
He had killed his own sons and mother-in-law thinking they would take over his position. He was insanely jealous and near his deathbed. Being suspect that this infant king would replace him, he thought it through and decided to kill the infants who were around 2 years old! Clearly, he was a madman! Almighty God was prepared to debunk Herod’s evil plan to destroy the “Messiah.” Of course, by killing all those babies, this assault was only one of many assaults led by “the adversary, the evil one” to destroy God’s plans for His people.
Almighty God had much more work to do. For example, He lives up to His prophesied word that the Gentiles must also come into His kingdom and, of course, His ultimate plan is LOVE and to bring all His precious people into His heavenly abode. Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder-Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter School 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, LA 90043 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) Inquiring Minds Want To Know-All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © [email protected] . www.todaysfreshstart.org 323-293-9826. 4514 Crenshaw BL, LA 90043 reference: Reference: Bible: Matthew chapter 2 [The Chronological Life of Christ Vol.1 Mark Moore] (Hopefully, I have not made errors. Tell me if you think I did.)
