A Merry and Blessed Christmas To Everyone!

The Birth of Jesus - final verse

Matthew 2:12 (GNT) Then they (the three wise men) returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

The Birth of Jesus - The Wise Men Follow the Star to Bethlehem

Matthew 2:9-11 (GNT) And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East.  When they saw it, how happy they were, what Joy was theirs!   It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was.  They went into the house and when they saw the Child with His mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped Him.  They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to Him.

The Birth of Jesus - Herod's Instructions to the Three Wise Men

Matthew 2:7-8 (GNT) So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: "Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find Him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship Him."

The Birth of Jesus - King Herod Learns of Jesus

Matthew 2:3-6 (GNT) When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem.   He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born?"

"In the town of Bethlehem in Judea," the answered, "For this is what the prophet wrote:
'Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; for from you will come a Leader who will guide My people to Israel'."

The Birth of Jesus - Visitors from the East

Matthew 2:1-2 (GNT) Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king.  Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the Baby born to be the King of the Jews?  We saw His star when it came up in the east, and we have to come worship Him."

The Birth of Jesus - Joseph Named Him Jesus

Matthew 1:24-25 (GNT) So when Joseph woke up, he married Mary, as the angel of the Lord had told him to.  But he had no sexual relations with her before she gave birth to her Son.  And Joseph named Him Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus - He Will Be Called Immanuel (God is with us)

Matthew 1:22-23 (GNT) Now all this happened in order to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, "A virgin will become pregnant and have a Son, and He will be called Immanuel" (which means "God is with us").

The Birth of Jesus - An Angel Visits Joseph In A Dream

Matthew 1:20-21 (GNT) While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived.  She will have a Son, and you will name Him Jesus - because He will save His people from their sins."

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18-19  (GNT) "This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place.  His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a Baby by the Holy Spirit.  Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately.

Jesus Is Sentenced to Death

Luke 23: 13-25 (GNT)

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought this Man to me and said that He was misleading the people. Now, I have examined Him here in your presence, and I have not found Him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse Him of. ¹⁵ Nor did Herod find Him guilty, for he sent Him back to us. There is nothing this Man has done to deserve death. ¹⁶ So I will have Him whipped and let him go.” ^17 [a]
18 The whole crowd cried out, “Kill Him! Set Barabbas free for us!” (¹⁹ Barabbas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
²⁰ Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again. ²¹ But they shouted back, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
²² Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has He committed? I cannot find anything He has done to deserve death! I will have Him whipped and set Him free.”
²³ But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. ²⁴ So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. ²⁵ He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.

Next Week _ scriptures on the birth of Jesus

Since we are nearing Christmas, I thought it best to start posting scriptures that tell about the birth of Jesus to have a good meaningful depiction of Christmas from the time Mary heard from the angel Gabriel until the visit of the Wise Men.  So I'll start that Sunday, December 15.

Jesus before Herod

Luke 23:6-12 (GNT)
⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked, “Is this Man a Galilean?” ⁷ When he learned that Jesus was from the region ruled by Herod, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ Herod was very pleased when he saw Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been wanting to see Him for a long time. He was hoping to see Jesus perform some miracle. ⁹ So Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus made no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the teachers of the Law stepped forward and made strong accusations against Jesus. ¹¹ Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus and treated Him with contempt; then they put a fine robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. ¹² On that very day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this they had been enemies.

Jesus Before Pilate

Luke 22:71-71

Good News Translation (GNT)

⁷¹ And they said, “We don't need any witnesses! We ourselves have heard what He said!”

Luke 23:1-5 (GNT) Jesus before Pilate

23 The whole group rose up and took Jesus before Pilate, ² where they began to accuse Him: “We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that He Himself is the Messiah, a king.”

³ Pilate asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“So you say,” answered Jesus.
⁴ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no reason to condemn this Man.”
⁵ But they insisted even more strongly, “With His teaching He is starting a riot among the people all through Judea. He began in Galilee and now has come here.”

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107:39-43 (GNT) When God's people were defeated and humiliated by cruel oppression and suffering, He showed contempt for their oppressors and made them wander in trackless deserts.  But He rescued the needy from their misery and made their families increase like flocks.  The righteous see this and are glad, but all the wicked are put to silence.

May those who are wise think about these things; may they acknowledge the LORD's Constant Love.

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107:33-38 (GNT)  The LORD made rivers dry up completely and stopped springs from flowing.  He made rich soil become a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those who lived there.  He changed deserts into pools of water and dry land into flowing springs.  He let hungry people settle there, and they built a city to live in.  They sowed the fields and planted grapevines and reaped an abundant harvest.  He blessed His people, and they had many children; He kept their herds of cattle from decreasing.

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107: 23-32 (GNT) Some sailed over the ocean in ships, earning their living on the seas.  They saw what the LORD can do, His wonderful acts on the seas.  He commanded, and a mighty wind began to blow and stirred up the waves.  The ships were lifted high in the air and plunged down into the depths.  In such danger the men lost their courage; they stumbled and staggered like drunks - all their skill was useless.   

Then in their trouble they called to the LORD, and He saved them from their distress. 

He calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.  They were glad because of the calm, and He brought them safe to the port they wanted. 

They must thank the LORD for His Constant Love, for the wonderful things He did for them.

They must proclaim His Greatness in the assembly of the people and praise Him before the council of leaders.

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107:16-22 (GNT) He breaks down doors of bronze and smashes iron bars.  Some were fools, suffering because of their sins and because of their evil; they couldn't stand the sight of food and were close to death.  Then in their trouble they called to the LORD, and He saved them from their distress.  He healed them with His command and saved them from the grave. 

They must thank the LORD for His constant love, for the wonderful things He did for them.  They must thank Him with sacrifices, and with songs of joy must tell all that He has done.

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107:10-15 (GNT) Some were living in gloom and darkness, prisoners suffering in chains, because they had rebelled against the commands of ALMIGHTY GOD and had rejected His instructions.  They were worn out from hard work; they would fall down, and no one would help.  Then in their trouble they called to the LORD, and He saved them from their distress.  He brought them out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains in pieces. 

They must thank the LORD for His constant love, for the wonderful things He did for them.

In Praise of God's Goodness (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107:4-9 (GNT)  Some wandered in the trackless desert and could not find their way to a city to live in. They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope.  Then in their trouble they called to the LORD, and He saved them from their distress.  He led them by a straight road to a city where they could live.  They must thank the LORD for His constant love, for the wonderful things He did for them.  He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

In Praise of God's Goodness

Psalm 107:1-3 (GNT)
"Give thanks to the LORD because He is good; His love is eternal!"  Repeat these words in praise to the LORD, all you whom He has saved.  He has rescued you from your enemies and has brought you back from foreign countries, from east and west, from north and south.