WEBVTT
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This program is made possible by the giving
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of the God called partners of Renner Ministries.
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Get ready for a teaching
that feeds your spirit
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and your mind where the
word is the anchor in
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uncertain times
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and doctrine doesn't bend to culture.
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We keep it simple,
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but dive deep revealing a
truth that strengthens us,
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a love that emboldens,
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and a mission that touches the world.
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Let's join Rick Renner.
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Welcome to today's program.
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We're gonna have a great time today
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because today we're gonna
see who were the Magi
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that showed up with all those
treasures when they came
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to worship Jesus.
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That's why we have Magi
on the screen behind me.
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But we're offering you my new series,
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which is called, Christmas,
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The Rest of the Story: amazing
insights about Christmas
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you've never heard before,
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and it comes with a great study guide.
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And we're offering you my book
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by the same title. Today at the end of the program,
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my announcer's going to tell you how you can get all
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of these, but hey, if you need prayer,
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please reach out to us.
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We're waiting for our
telephone to ring right now
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or for your email to show up in our inbox
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so we can release our faith for Jesus
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to do something spectacular
for you, and he really will.
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But right now, I want you to watch this
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and then I'll be right back.
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Christmas is a timeless tradition,
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but do you really know the true story of
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that 1st Holy Night? In Rick Renner's timeless
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new book, Christmas,
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The Rest of the Story, Rick uncovers the stunning details
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of the Nativity Story you have never heard.
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Like was Joseph really a carpenter?
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Who were the shepherds keeping watch?
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How far did the wise man travel
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and how many actually came?
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Through its detailed, watercolor illustration,
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Christmas, The Rest of the Story, invites families
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to explore the true meaning of Christmas as they interact
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with a story across nearly
300 decorated pages.
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The Christmas story is the most important story ever told.
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It is just miraculous.
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And with this wonderful
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you will learn so much
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and you'll want to share it with others.
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When you call or go online right now to order this book
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you will create a family
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for generations.
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This sweeping portrait of the
Christmas story allows readers
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to reflect on why Jesus came
to earth that Holy Night
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and ultimately the reason for his birth. Great as a gift
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or to enhance your own traditions,
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order this beautiful book today - Christmas, The Rest
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of he Story - for just $45.
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Call now or go to renner.org to order.
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Don't miss this special Christmas offer.
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Welcome back to the program my friend.
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Today we're finally gonna talk about the Magi
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that showed up in the city of Jerusalem,
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and when they appeared,
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it really caused a ruckus in the city.
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And the story begins in Matthew 2:1,
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so let's read it - Now
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when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days
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of Herod the king, behold there came Wise Men from the East
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to Jerusalem.
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I want you to notice that little word, behold,
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because it is a Greek word which carries the idea of shock,
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amazement, bewilderment,
they were literally at a loss
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of words and they were at a loss of words
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because these were Magi - Magi.
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Now, the King James version says, Wise Men.
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That's a really unfortunate translation
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because the Greek says magos.
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It is really the word Magi. Well, who were Magi.
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Well, because of the writings of Herodotus
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who was a Greek historian, we
know they were a special cast
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of sacred leaders for the Medes that
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provided priests for Persia.
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But after the downfall of Assyria
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and Babylon, we know that in
various regions, this group
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of Magi continued all the way
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until the period when Jesus was born.
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And contrary to what religious
traditions tell us about the
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wise men or the Magi, they were not kings.
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There is no record anywhere
that they were kings;
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they were powerful, and they were influential,
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and they were political,
but they weren't kings.
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However, Tertullian wrote,
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they were well-nigh kings in many respects.
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And in fact, listen to this: Magi were an elite, powerful,
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fabulous, wealthy group of high ranking priests
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who were devoted to interpreting dreams
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and who gained an international reputation for being experts
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as studying the constellations, which was regarded
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as a science at that time. A combination of scientists,
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politicians, religious leaders,
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they were staggeringly wealthy,
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and they possess so much might
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and political clout that
if they choose to do so,
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and if they as a group agreed
to do it, they had the ability
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to depose a king with a single
word and with a single word,
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they could install a new king
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of their preference in the
place of the one they deposed.
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And for this reason, they were viewed
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as king makers in the eastern lands.
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And without their endorsement,
it would've been difficult
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for anyone to become or to remain a king.
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And in fact, Magi were so powerful,
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we do not have the equivalent
of Magi in the world today.
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But once there was a
rendezvous between Magi
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and the Emperor Nero. There was a particular emperor
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who wanted to come to Rome to pay homage to Nero.
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And coming with him were Magi.
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Well, Nero was glad that
that king was coming
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to pay homage to him,
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but when he heard that he was
being accompanied by Magi,
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it terrified Nero.
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Nero wondered why are Magi coming.
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He understood Magi could create a lot of problems
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for his reign and for Rome.
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So he rolled out the red carpet,
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he entertained them the
entire time they were there.
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And when the Magi left,
he gave them fabulous,
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fabulous gifts beyond our iMagination
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in terms of value.
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And when they departed, he threw a party in the city of Rome
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because nothing happened
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while the Magi were there. He
understood Magi had the power
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to really create a problem for him.
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That is amazing. Now, Magi are approaching the city
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of Jerusalem,
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and in the same way that
Nero responded to the Magi,
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now Herod knows he needs
to treat them very well.
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And he has never forgotten that
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earlier in the year 39,
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Magi once supported a coup to depose him.
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He knew that. And not only that,
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Magi did not come on 3-little lonely camels
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by themselves.
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They were accompanied by a
massive caravan and an army.
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They had a Magi army.
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I'm gonna be telling you about
that in tomorrow's program.
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But when they showed up,
they were seeking the one
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who had been born king of the Jews.
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Now Herod has another person he's got to take down
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so he can maintain his throne.
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And he must have thought,
why are these Magi here?
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Why have they shown up? What
are these guys doing here?
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He knew they were king makers.
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He knew with a single word
they could depose a king
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and install another king.
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They were so powerful again,
that in our world today,
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we do not have an equivalent for Magi.
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This elite group held the
reins of financial, religious,
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scientific, and political power.
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And no king wanted to to tangle with Magi.
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But the biblical
connection with Magi begins
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with the prophet Daniel.
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God promoted Daniel from one king
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to another king to another king.
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And during the time that Daniel served
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as an official leader, he served Babylonian, Mede
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and Persian kings, including Nebuchadnezzar,
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Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus.
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It's really an example of
how God can use a man even
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to serve ungodly people.
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Think about it - the word of God
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and the presence of God was in
all of those administrations
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because Daniel knew his assignment and he stuck with it.
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But scholars believed that eventually Daniel became the head
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of the Magi.
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And as the head of the Magi, every word
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that Daniel uttered was considered to be sacred.
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And Daniel uttered
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and wrote a lot of about the
future, including the Messiah,
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and he prophesied
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that a day would come when a
great world leader would be
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born in Israel, the king of the Jews.
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He prophesied it,
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and the Magi held on to Daniels prophecies
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for generations even after he died.
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And due to his influence, long
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after Daniel was gone, they believed
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and they were waiting for
the world leader to be born
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that Daniel had prophesied about.
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They were holding onto the belief
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that really one day a world leader would appear.
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But it's very important to note
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that also in the years
leading up to the time
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of Jesus' birth, there was a widespread belief in the entire
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Roman empire that a new
golden age was about to begin.
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And a world leader, unlike
any leader ever born,
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was about to be born.
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An even pagan writers wrote about it.
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There was just a feeling in the spirit realm
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that some significant
leader was about to be born.
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Even pagans knew that a deliverer
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and the greatest world leader
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to ever be born was about to be born.
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And Matthew 2:1,
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tells us the Magi came from the east,
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and the Greek literally
says, from the place
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of the rising of the sun.
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And in ancient history, this could refer to ancient Media,
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Persia, Assyria, or Babylon.
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All of these regions had Magi like the ones
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that we are discussing.
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But a ancient commentators
give various opinions about
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where the Magi came from.
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For example: St.
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Maximus and Theodotus suggests the Magi came from
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Babylon. Clement of Alexandria,
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and Cyril of Alexandria suggests the Magi came from Persia.
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Justin, Tertullian and Epiphanius suggests the Magi came
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from Arabia.
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Each of these locations
would have required
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that the Magi traveled
through the Syrian desert
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to Damascus, then southward
along the Sea of Galilee,
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until finally they reached Jerusalem.
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And from each of these locations,
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it would've meant they
traveled 1000 to 1200 miles.
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And to travel such a distance
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with a massive caravan would have required at least 3
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to 12 months.
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Wow! But these were Magi and they were Magi from the East.
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And in the East, people
understood that you were
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to treat great people greatly.
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They would would've never
shown up empty handed
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so they needed time to prepare gifts.
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Because of time spent preparing
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and fashioning an extensive catalog of fabulous,
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outstanding, magnificent gifts
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for this newly born world leader,
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and combined with the journey itself, we know
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that the Magi arrived in
Jerusalem nearly two full
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years after the birth of Christ,
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which means when the
Magi finally appeared,
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Jesus was no longer a
babe, he was a toddler.
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They were looking for a toddler king.
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Now, another question that arises is
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how many Magi were there?
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And this is a very interesting question
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because the Bible does not tell us how many Magi there were.
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Some early sources suggest that there were 3,
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but this is probably based on conjecture
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because of the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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00:12:20.470 --> 00:12:22.180
And if you've seen this picture
259
00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:24.670
of 3 little lonely kings, each one
260
00:12:24.670 --> 00:12:27.640
of them carrying a small box: one with gold, one
261
00:12:27.640 --> 00:12:29.590
with frankincense, one with myrrh -
262
00:12:29.590 --> 00:12:31.060
first of all, the picture is wrong
263
00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:33.370
because they didn't show up with 3 little gifts.
264
00:12:33.370 --> 00:12:36.970
It was an enormous inventory
of gifts that they came with.
265
00:12:36.970 --> 00:12:40.150
But based on the fact of gold, frankincense
266
00:12:40.150 --> 00:12:41.320
and myrrh, some have said, well,
267
00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:45.280
maybe there was one Magi per gift of these 3 gifts.
268
00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:48.550
But there were other early sources which said there were 12
269
00:12:48.550 --> 00:12:50.560
or more Magi.
270
00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:52.420
Another interesting question is
271
00:12:52.420 --> 00:12:54.760
what were the names of the Magi?
272
00:12:54.760 --> 00:12:56.350
Nobody really knows.
273
00:12:56.350 --> 00:12:59.770
But one early 7th Century document suggests
274
00:12:59.770 --> 00:13:03.220
that the 3 Magi were named Gaspar, Melchior,
275
00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.585
and Balthasar.
276
00:13:04.585 --> 00:13:09.400 line:15%
And early frescoes actually show Casper as the oldest
277
00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:12.130
of the three, possibly about 60 years of age:
278
00:13:12.130 --> 00:13:14.920
European looking with a white beard,
279
00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:16.750
and the one who gave a gift of gold.
280
00:13:16.750 --> 00:13:20.620
Melchior is shown as a middle
aged man of about 40 years
281
00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:22.270
of age, Persian looking,
282
00:13:22.270 --> 00:13:25.420
and the Magi who gave
a gift of frankincense.
283
00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:29.410
Balthasar is shown as a young
man of about 20 years of age,
284
00:13:29.410 --> 00:13:34.060
Ethiopian looking, and the one who gave a gift of myrrh.
285
00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:36.790
And of course, these are very interesting traditions,
286
00:13:36.790 --> 00:13:38.680
but they're impossible to verify.
287
00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:40.690
And the truth is we don't know
288
00:13:40.690 --> 00:13:43.120
how many Magi really showed up.
289
00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:46.360
But how did Magi travel
in the ancient world?
290
00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:48.250
We do know the answer to that.
291
00:13:48.250 --> 00:13:52.060
When I was growing up, we sang
a song called "We Three Kings
292
00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:55.390
of Orient are, bearing gifts
293
00:13:55.390 --> 00:13:56.860
we travel afar."
294
00:13:56.860 --> 00:14:00.730
And in our minds, we could see these 3 lonely Magi
295
00:14:00.730 --> 00:14:05.020
traveling on 3 lonely camels across the desert on the
296
00:14:05.020 --> 00:14:07.345
way to Israel to find the Christ child.
297
00:14:07.345 --> 00:14:10.630
But my friends, these were powerful individuals.
298
00:14:10.630 --> 00:14:14.140
And for 3 Magi to travel alone would be as ridiculous
299
00:14:14.140 --> 00:14:16.060
as imagining that the president
300
00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:19.210
of a great nation would ride a bicycle across the
301
00:14:19.210 --> 00:14:20.620
country by himself.
302
00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:22.870
It just was not going to happen.
303
00:14:22.870 --> 00:14:26.650
These were powerful individuals and they needed protection
304
00:14:26.650 --> 00:14:28.030
because they were powerful.
305
00:14:28.030 --> 00:14:31.180
Not only that, they were
bringing a vast inventory
306
00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:34.480
of treasures that need to be protected.
307
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:39.130
and to make the long, long
journey to the Christ child,
308
00:14:39.130 --> 00:14:42.760
it would've required tents,
a workforce to assemble them,
309
00:14:42.760 --> 00:14:44.560
to disassemble them as they traveled.
310
00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:47.080
And while en route to Jerusalem,
311
00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.420
their caravan would've
passed through cities
312
00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:51.560
and villages that could have included
313
00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:53.360
who were not too friendly.
314
00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:56.750
And Magi rarely traveled from home at all.
315
00:14:56.750 --> 00:15:01.640
But when they did, they usually traveled in large caravans
316
00:15:01.640 --> 00:15:05.210
with servants, with bodyguards, and with an army.
317
00:15:05.210 --> 00:15:08.210
I'm gonna tell you more
about their army tomorrow,
318
00:15:08.210 --> 00:15:09.830
but listen to this.
319
00:15:11.090 --> 00:15:12.650
If there were three Magi,
320
00:15:12.650 --> 00:15:15.380
then there would've been several hundred servants, soldiers
321
00:15:15.380 --> 00:15:17.390
and bodyguards to accompany them
322
00:15:17.390 --> 00:15:20.570
and the cargo that was
filled with treasures.
323
00:15:20.570 --> 00:15:24.080
If there were 12 Magi, there
could have been a thousand
324
00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.060
or more servants and soldiers
325
00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:29.210
and highly trained bodyguards
to protect the Magi
326
00:15:29.210 --> 00:15:31.640
and to assure the safety of the vast
327
00:15:31.640 --> 00:15:35.030
and colossal treasures that Magi were known to give as gifts
328
00:15:35.030 --> 00:15:38.990
to nobles, to politicians,
and to foreign kings.
329
00:15:38.990 --> 00:15:42.620
Magi traveled in massive
and luxurious caravans,
330
00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:45.320
and they were often transported in sumptuous
331
00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.530
coaches carried on long poles by servants,
332
00:15:48.530 --> 00:15:52.700
and the coaches were draped with lavishly, richly decorated,
333
00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:56.180
luxurious materials that draped the sides of the coaches
334
00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:59.570
to protect them from the weather, wind or sun.
335
00:15:59.570 --> 00:16:02.120
Magi were regal, impressive,
336
00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:04.310
the upper crust in the Eastern lands,
337
00:16:04.310 --> 00:16:06.650
and they were treated lavishly.
338
00:16:06.650 --> 00:16:09.680
And while traveling long distances,
339
00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:11.990
they may have dressed less formally.
340
00:16:11.990 --> 00:16:14.570
But before entering the city of Jerusalem
341
00:16:14.570 --> 00:16:16.820
where star struck people would've filled the
342
00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:18.500
streets to see them,
343
00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:21.740
the Magi would've exchanged
their traveling clothes into
344
00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:26.000
presentation, clothes made of
exotic materials, indicative
345
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.610
of Eastern lands with intricate weaves,
346
00:16:28.610 --> 00:16:31.340
and that were adorned with
jewels that were intended
347
00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:35.060
to exhibit their power and their wealth.
348
00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:38.480
That's just a little insight about Magi.
349
00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.150
But when they entered
the city of Jerusalem,
350
00:16:41.150 --> 00:16:44.510
they said something that
was simply shocking.
351
00:16:44.510 --> 00:16:49.130
They entered the city of Jerusalem saying, where is he born
352
00:16:49.130 --> 00:16:50.990
King of the Jews.
353
00:16:50.990 --> 00:16:53.270
And when you read this in the Greek text,
354
00:16:53.270 --> 00:16:55.280
it means they were saying and saying,
355
00:16:55.280 --> 00:16:57.860
and saying; they were asking and asking
356
00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:00.110
and asking, where is he born
357
00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:02.000
King of the Jews?
358
00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.240
So as they rode through
the streets of Jerusalem
359
00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.760
with people filling the
streets all around them,
360
00:17:07.760 --> 00:17:09.470
they could be heard saying to the crowd,
361
00:17:09.470 --> 00:17:10.910
can anybody please direct us to
362
00:17:10.910 --> 00:17:12.890
where the new king has been born?
363
00:17:12.890 --> 00:17:16.160
Does anybody know where
the new king has been born?
364
00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:19.280
They were all hearing them say, where is he born
365
00:17:19.280 --> 00:17:21.380
King of the Jews?
366
00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:23.990
And in Matthew 2:2, it says,
367
00:17:23.990 --> 00:17:27.650
for we have seen his star in the east.
368
00:17:27.650 --> 00:17:30.950
Well, Magi were experts at
studying the constellations.
369
00:17:30.950 --> 00:17:33.800
And because of Daniel's prophecies
370
00:17:33.800 --> 00:17:36.350
that a world leader would be born in the future,
371
00:17:36.350 --> 00:17:39.290
they believed that when this particular sign appeared in the
372
00:17:39.290 --> 00:17:42.440
heavens, it was the sign
they had been waiting for
373
00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:47.180
that announced that this
world leader had been born.
374
00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:50.790
The star has been talked about in songs
375
00:17:50.790 --> 00:17:52.590
and stories for 2000 years.
376
00:17:52.590 --> 00:17:55.530
But the German scientist, mathematician,
377
00:17:55.530 --> 00:17:58.980
and natural philosopher Kepler proposed
378
00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:01.440
that the Magi actually saw an alignment
379
00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:03.060
of Jupiter and Saturn.
380
00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:06.660
And such an alignment
did occur in seven BC
381
00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:10.200
that would've produced a
powerful sign in the sky.
382
00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:13.170
Well, what is really interesting is there was also an
383
00:18:13.170 --> 00:18:15.900
alignment of Jupiter and the Moon
384
00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:19.230
and Saturn aligned in the constellation of Aries
385
00:18:19.230 --> 00:18:22.440
while Venus and Mars were
neighboring constellations,
386
00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.330
which was recorded about that time,
387
00:18:24.330 --> 00:18:27.630
which would have created a dazzling
388
00:18:27.630 --> 00:18:30.060
and magnificent sight in the heavens.
389
00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:33.090
And Jupiter's display
was of great significance
390
00:18:33.090 --> 00:18:35.880
because Jupiter was
associated with royalty.
391
00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.520
And this alignment would've been perceived
392
00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:43.320
as an announcement of the
long anticipated world leader.
393
00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:46.050
Some have suggested that
the star was a comet,
394
00:18:46.050 --> 00:18:48.840
but there's no record
of a comet at that time.
395
00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:52.080
Some have suggested the Magi saw a stella nova,
396
00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:54.210
which is a star which increases
397
00:18:54.210 --> 00:18:57.210
and decreases in magnitude over time.
398
00:18:57.210 --> 00:19:00.420
Some have just suggested
that they saw a supernova,
399
00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:02.460
but they could have never
seen a supernova, not even
400
00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:04.380
with the assistance of a telescope.
401
00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:07.110
And to be honest, all of these really fail
402
00:19:07.110 --> 00:19:09.570
because Matthew 2:9 says,
403
00:19:09.570 --> 00:19:11.070
the star went before them.
404
00:19:11.070 --> 00:19:12.720
It led them, it guided them.
405
00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.990
A star naturally would
not do that until it came
406
00:19:15.990 --> 00:19:18.930
and stood over the place
where the young child was.
407
00:19:18.930 --> 00:19:22.770
So it seems only a
miraculous answer can tell us
408
00:19:22.770 --> 00:19:24.000
what was the star.
409
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.790
We don't know what it was,
but it was a divine sign.
410
00:19:26.790 --> 00:19:29.250
And they knew it was a divine sign
411
00:19:29.250 --> 00:19:33.630
that announced the great world
leader had finally been born.
412
00:19:33.630 --> 00:19:35.250
And when they came into Jerusalem,
413
00:19:35.250 --> 00:19:36.390
they said, Where is he born -
414
00:19:36.390 --> 00:19:39.120
King of the Jews? The word king
415
00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:41.040
in Greek is capitalized,
416
00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:44.550
which lets us know they were
looking for the greatest king
417
00:19:44.550 --> 00:19:46.710
to ever be born.
418
00:19:46.710 --> 00:19:48.330
And the Bible says
419
00:19:48.330 --> 00:19:52.620
that they announced they had
seen his star in the east,
420
00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:56.610
and the word seen is a Greek
word, which literally means
421
00:19:56.610 --> 00:19:58.170
to delightfully view.
422
00:19:58.170 --> 00:20:00.330
They were thrilled when they saw the star,
423
00:20:00.330 --> 00:20:02.555
they knew it was the announcement.
424
00:20:02.555 --> 00:20:05.605
It means to scrutinizingly look at,
425
00:20:05.605 --> 00:20:08.310
to behold with the intent to examine.
426
00:20:08.310 --> 00:20:10.170
It means they studied it
427
00:20:10.170 --> 00:20:13.830
before they made a final conclusion.
428
00:20:13.830 --> 00:20:15.570
These were Magi
429
00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:16.950
and they were experts
430
00:20:16.950 --> 00:20:19.740
as studying the constellations overhead.
431
00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:22.740
So they didn't immediately
quickly move when they saw it,
432
00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:24.990
they studied it, they examined it.
433
00:20:24.990 --> 00:20:27.660
And when they came to
their final conclusion,
434
00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.460
they delightfully viewed it.
435
00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:31.050
They knew what it meant.
436
00:20:31.050 --> 00:20:34.680
The world leader that Daniel
had prophesied about had
437
00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.600
finally been born.
438
00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:40.500
So immediately they begin
the task of gathering gifts,
439
00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:44.850
which they would carry to
give to this newborn king.
440
00:20:44.850 --> 00:20:49.210
But Herod was thrown into a tailspin
441
00:20:49.210 --> 00:20:51.400
by the arrival of the Magi
442
00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.470
and the announcement that the king
443
00:20:53.470 --> 00:20:56.800
of the Jews had been born.
444
00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:59.860
And that is why we read in Matthew 2:3 -
445
00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:03.580
And when Herod the King heard these things,
446
00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:08.580
he was troubled and all of Jerusalem with him.
447
00:21:08.650 --> 00:21:13.600
Oh, he was just in a state of panic.
448
00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:17.170
Another king has been born - another Messiah.
449
00:21:17.170 --> 00:21:20.080
Remember - his entire reign,
450
00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:22.570
he manipulated, he fought, he killed.
451
00:21:22.570 --> 00:21:25.360
He did everything he could
to hold onto the reigns
452
00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:27.040
of his power and his throne.
453
00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:31.690
And now another king has
supposedly been born another
454
00:21:31.690 --> 00:21:32.950
so-called Messiah.
455
00:21:32.950 --> 00:21:36.460
And this time it's Magi announcing it.
456
00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:39.850
It's not just rumors on the street, it's Magi, who
457
00:21:39.850 --> 00:21:42.460
with one word can depose a king
458
00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:45.880
and install a new King: Magi, who were considered
459
00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.590
to be the greatest spiritual leaders
460
00:21:47.590 --> 00:21:48.670
in the world at that time.
461
00:21:48.670 --> 00:21:51.070
We don't even have an equivalent to Magi.
462
00:21:51.070 --> 00:21:54.760
And now they show up, not
three little lonely kings.
463
00:21:54.760 --> 00:21:55.930
We don't know how many there were,
464
00:21:55.930 --> 00:21:57.670
perhaps there were several of them.
465
00:21:57.670 --> 00:22:00.790
Many of them, they come
with bodyguards, servants,
466
00:22:00.790 --> 00:22:04.990
and entire army and treasures
and treasures and treasures.
467
00:22:04.990 --> 00:22:09.990
And now Herod has to figure out what to do with these Magi.
468
00:22:10.510 --> 00:22:13.720
So what was Herod going
to do with the arrival
469
00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:16.090
of these Eastern Magi?
470
00:22:16.090 --> 00:22:19.990
Oh, that's what we're going
to see in the next program.
471
00:22:19.990 --> 00:22:21.190
And you're simply going
472
00:22:21.190 --> 00:22:24.550
to be stunned when I tell
you tomorrow what kind
473
00:22:24.550 --> 00:22:28.390
of army these Magi were traveling with.
474
00:22:28.390 --> 00:22:30.010
And when you understand that,
475
00:22:30.010 --> 00:22:32.860
you'll understand another
reason why Herod was
476
00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:35.080
so afraid when they showed up.
477
00:22:35.080 --> 00:22:36.670
He never forgot
478
00:22:36.670 --> 00:22:41.170
that earlier moment in the year 39 when Magi already tried
479
00:22:41.170 --> 00:22:42.760
once to depose him.
480
00:22:42.760 --> 00:22:44.680
And here they are again, coming
481
00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:46.960
with the biggest army of all.
482
00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.140
But all of that is what we're gonna cover tomorrow.
483
00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:52.690
But I'll be back in just a moment and I wanna pray for you.
484
00:23:00.370 --> 00:23:03.250
This is Rick Renner, and somebody has asked the question
485
00:23:03.250 --> 00:23:06.610
Who were the Magi and where did they come from?
486
00:23:06.610 --> 00:23:09.370
Well, let's go to Matthew 2:1,
487
00:23:09.370 --> 00:23:12.730
where the Bible says - Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
488
00:23:12.730 --> 00:23:15.820
of Judea, in the days of
Herod the king, behold,
489
00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:20.820
there came Wise Men from the east to Jerusalem.
490
00:23:20.890 --> 00:23:24.160
Those words, wise men, in Greek are Magi
491
00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.460
and Magi were powerful,
powerful individuals.
492
00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:29.650
They were politicians. They were wealthy.
493
00:23:29.650 --> 00:23:32.920
In fact, they were called king makers. With one word
494
00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:35.230
they could install a king; with one word,
495
00:23:35.230 --> 00:23:37.090
they could depose a king.
496
00:23:37.090 --> 00:23:39.880
And the Bible says they
came from the east,
497
00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.890
and the Greek actually
says, from the place
498
00:23:41.890 --> 00:23:43.930
of the rising of the sun.
499
00:23:43.930 --> 00:23:46.820
We don't know particularly
where they were from,
500
00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:48.950
but they came far from the east
501
00:23:48.950 --> 00:23:50.720
and there weren't just three.
502
00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.780
There were many of them traveling together in a caravan.
503
00:23:53.780 --> 00:23:58.610
And they came asking - Where is he that is born king of
504
00:23:58.610 --> 00:23:59.720
the Jews?
505
00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.850
Do you really know the story of Christmas?
506
00:24:01.850 --> 00:24:04.070
Is there more to the story about the birth
507
00:24:04.070 --> 00:24:06.410
of our savior than what
you've been told in this
508
00:24:06.410 --> 00:24:07.430
series, Christmas -
509
00:24:07.430 --> 00:24:10.430
The Rest of the Story, Rick Renner dives deep into the parts
510
00:24:10.430 --> 00:24:13.160
of the Christmas story that
most people have never heard.
511
00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:16.220
Rick says, I've studied
this story for decades,
512
00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:19.370
and I found fabulous treasures
no one ever shared with me.
513
00:24:19.370 --> 00:24:22.190
In this series, we explore the Bible, history,
514
00:24:22.190 --> 00:24:23.450
historical writings,
515
00:24:23.450 --> 00:24:26.900
and so much more, so we can really understand all the events
516
00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:29.420
that took place surrounding
the birth of Jesus.
517
00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:32.690
Rick answers questions like - Why did God choose Mary?
518
00:24:32.690 --> 00:24:34.580
Was Joseph really a carpenter?
519
00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:37.550
Why was Herod so troubled by Jesus' birth?
520
00:24:37.550 --> 00:24:38.930
Who were the Magi
521
00:24:38.930 --> 00:24:41.600
and what was the estimated value of their gifts?
522
00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:45.080
This 15 park documentary type
series is available in digital
523
00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:48.500
or physical format, starting at just $24.
524
00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:51.170
And we are excited to also
offer you Rick's stunning new
525
00:24:51.170 --> 00:24:53.570
book, Christmas, The Rest of the Story.
526
00:24:53.570 --> 00:24:55.430
It's a book you'll want
to share with friends
527
00:24:55.430 --> 00:24:57.410
and family of this time of the year.
528
00:24:57.410 --> 00:25:01.340
This hardcover 300 page fully illustrated book is a keepsake
529
00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:04.760
that friends and family will pass on to future generations.
530
00:25:04.760 --> 00:25:07.790
Don't miss this special offer, the series - Christmas,
531
00:25:07.790 --> 00:25:09.020
The Rest of the Story,
532
00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:12.230
and the beautiful book Christmas, The Rest of the Story.
533
00:25:12.230 --> 00:25:13.730
Call the number on your screen now
534
00:25:13.730 --> 00:25:15.500
or go to renner.org to order.
535
00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:17.000
Call or go online now out
536
00:25:18.530 --> 00:25:23.210
This week, you can order all
Renner products for 25% off.
537
00:25:23.210 --> 00:25:24.920
Take advantage of our cyber sale
538
00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:27.590
and stock up on powerful
teaching resources
539
00:25:27.590 --> 00:25:28.910
this holiday season.
540
00:25:28.910 --> 00:25:32.150
It's the perfect time to invest in your spiritual growth
541
00:25:32.150 --> 00:25:33.620
or bless someone you love.
542
00:25:35.990 --> 00:25:38.090
Well, how have you
enjoyed today's program?
543
00:25:38.090 --> 00:25:40.220
Did you learn something new?
544
00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:42.080
I always pray that you'll get something
545
00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:43.250
new from the word of God.
546
00:25:43.250 --> 00:25:47.510
And today we answer the
question, who were the Magi?
547
00:25:47.510 --> 00:25:50.450
Tomorrow, the entire
program is gonna be devoted
548
00:25:50.450 --> 00:25:53.360
to the question, why
was Herod so troubled?
549
00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:55.970
Don't miss tomorrow's program,
550
00:25:55.970 --> 00:25:57.740
but I'm offering you the brand new series,
551
00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.790
which is called, Christmas -
552
00:25:58.790 --> 00:26:02.210
The Rest of the Story, amazing
insights about Christmas.
553
00:26:02.210 --> 00:26:03.470
You've never heard my friends.
554
00:26:03.470 --> 00:26:06.350
I really want you to fall
in love with every detail
555
00:26:06.350 --> 00:26:07.850
of this amazing story.
556
00:26:07.850 --> 00:26:09.345
That's why I'm teaching it.
557
00:26:09.345 --> 00:26:12.440
And we offer this series
with a study guide,
558
00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:14.480
and we're also offering
you my brand new book
559
00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.770
that I really want you to order.
560
00:26:15.770 --> 00:26:17.300
Please order it. Order a couple
561
00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:19.610
because you're gonna wanna
share it with somebody else -
562
00:26:19.610 --> 00:26:22.010
Christmas, The Rest of the Story.
563
00:26:22.010 --> 00:26:24.320
It is just beautifully illustrated
564
00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:28.640
and filled with
information, vivid details,
565
00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:32.010
revelation, when you read this
book, you're gonna say, ay,
566
00:26:32.010 --> 00:26:33.980
ay, why did I not know that?
567
00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:36.380
How come no one's ever told me that?
568
00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.880
It is truly a story
569
00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:42.830
that only God himself could
have written and arranged?
570
00:26:42.830 --> 00:26:44.880
It is just amazing.
571
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.560
So I want you to order this,
572
00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.840
and you can order all these
things by going online
573
00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:50.520
or by giving us a call.
574
00:26:50.520 --> 00:26:52.380
And please remember to reach out to us
575
00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:55.260
with your prayer needs because
we're here to pray for you.
576
00:26:55.260 --> 00:26:57.150
We are your prayer partner,
577
00:26:57.150 --> 00:26:58.500
and if you'll reach out to us,
578
00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:01.260
we will really release our faith for Jesus
579
00:27:01.260 --> 00:27:05.730
to do something magnificent in your life.
580
00:27:05.730 --> 00:27:08.220
But I wanna prayer for you,
please put your hand on
581
00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.360
your heart as I pray.
582
00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:12.060
Father, I thank you for the word of God.
583
00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:14.160
Oh Lord, it is so wonderful.
584
00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.770
Thank you for the treasures
hidden in every single
585
00:27:16.770 --> 00:27:18.120
page of the Bible.
586
00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:20.640
And Lord, we ask that
you would open our eyes,
587
00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:23.970
that we could see wondrous
things in the Word of God.
588
00:27:23.970 --> 00:27:25.590
Be with us every day this week
589
00:27:25.590 --> 00:27:28.800
as we study in Jesus' name - Amen.
590
00:27:30.060 --> 00:27:32.130
I'll see you tomorrow. It's gonna be good.
591
00:27:32.130 --> 00:27:35.520
But remember Ecclesiastes 8:4, "Where the word
592
00:27:35.520 --> 00:27:37.920
of a king is there's power."
593
00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:40.170
If you've never received
Jesus as your Savior
594
00:27:40.170 --> 00:27:44.550
and Lord, now is the time for
you to experience a new life
595
00:27:44.550 --> 00:27:46.710
Jesus has to give you.
596
00:27:46.710 --> 00:27:50.790
Pray this prayer with me right now - Lord,
597
00:27:50.790 --> 00:27:54.840
I repent of my sin and receive you and my savior
598
00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:57.780
and Lord. Wash away my sin
599
00:27:57.780 --> 00:28:00.780
and make me completely new.
600
00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:04.590
I thank you that my sin is removed
601
00:28:04.590 --> 00:28:09.590
and Satan no longer has any
right to lay claim on me.
602
00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:14.130
I faithfully promise that
I will serve you as my Lord
603
00:28:14.130 --> 00:28:15.810
for the rest of my life -
604
00:28:16.650 --> 00:28:17.650
Amen.
605
00:28:18.570 --> 00:28:21.201
Thank you for joining Rick Renner today.
606
00:28:21.201 --> 00:28:24.657
For more information about Renner Ministries and product
607
00:28:24.657 --> 00:28:27.522
resources, visit renner.org.