Bethlehem Part 2

 Bethlehem – Part 2 Prophecy

The prophecy of Christ being born in Bethlehem is mentioned in Matthew.

Herod the king gathered all the chief priests and scribes together and demanded of them where Christ should be born. (Matthew 2:3-4).

"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." - Matthew 2:5-6 KJV

Isaiah also prophesied:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." - Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV

Jesus – the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace – came to bring His government, the kingdom of God. He brought it with judgment and with justice when He took the judgment and justice for our sins upon Himself so that we could enter His kingdom.

Jesus explained that to enter into His kingdom there is a spiritual birth, for His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5 KJV

He gave Peter the keys to the kingdom which Peter revealed on the day of Pentecost, when God’s Spirit was first poured out. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

The government “upon his shoulder” is as a yoke. (Gesenius').

Jesus said,

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30 KJV

We take His yoke upon us when we covenant with Jesus by repentance and water baptism. We find His rest when we receive His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is our Governor - Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Frankincense

 Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - Part 2

Frankincense is a white resin burned as fragrant incense. It is first mentioned in the Bible when the LORD told Moses to make a perfume, pure and holy, to put before the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. (Exodus 30:34-38). The frankincense, along with three fragrant spices, was to be only for the LORD. 

It appears that because frankincense was to be only for the LORD, the wise men offering frankincense to the young child Jesus was symbolic that Jesus is the LORD. (John 14:7-10, Colossians 1:15).

Frankincense was also placed on meal offerings to the LORD. The priests, Aaron’s sons, took his handful of the meal offering and would burn the memorial of it upon the altar to the LORD. (Leviticus 2:1-3).

As the remnant of this offering with frankincense was for the high priest Aaron and his sons, the wise men offering frankincense to Jesus points to Jesus being our High Priest.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." - Hebrews 4:14 

Frankincense was also placed on the shewbread, which was placed in the holy place by the altar of incense and the golden menorah. The shewbread was renewed every week and would be eaten by the priests. It is said that the frankincense gives the shewbread a bitter taste.

Here we see the frankincense pointing to the bitterness of suffering of Christ, the Bread of Life that was offered for our sins. (Matthew 16:21, John 6:48).

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." - John 6:51

 

As the priests would eat the shewbread with the bitter frankincense, we are to crucify our sinful nature. 

"Knowing this, that our old man [sinful lifestyle] is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6 

We do this by repenting of our sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, to live a new holy life in Jesus. (Acts 2:38).

Thi is the Day Which the Lord hath made

 

Thank You Jesus

 

Forgiveness of Sins

 

7th

 

Salvation

 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Gh

ost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

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