What if the gifts of the Magi held clues to a divine plan? This exploration delves into the symbolism of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, revealing their prophetic significance and God’s guidance in protecting Jesus. Follow the Magi’s journey, from their celestial quest to King Herod’s court, where fear casts a shadow over Bethlehem. The story affirms Christ’s universal kingdom and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. Beyond the manger, we reflect on Jesus as a beacon of hope, bringing light, peace, and salvation.
What if the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were more than just tokens of reverence, but clues to a divine plan? Join us as we unravel the intricate tapestry of prophecy and protection woven around the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the Magi. Journey with these wise men from the East as they follow a celestial guide to a newborn king, only to find themselves in the treacherous court of King Herod. Their visit sets off a chain of events with profound implications, as we explore the symbolic significance of their gifts and the ominous shadow cast by Herod's fear. Through this narrative, we witness God's guidance safeguarding Jesus and affirm the fulfillment of ancient prophecies that point to the universal reach of Christ’s kingdom.
From Bethlehem's humble beginnings, we transition to the powerful legacy of Jesus, whose teachings and healing touch continue to resonate through time. As the story unfolds beyond the manger, we reflect on Jesus's role as a beacon of hope and salvation, affirming Him as the light that pierces through darkness, bringing peace and the promise of eternal life. This episode is an invitation to reflect deeply on the enduring impact of the Savior's birth, urging us to carry the truth of His message within us. Thank you for joining our exploration of The Christmas Story with In the Field Audio Bible. Until we meet again, may the Lord bless and keep you, inspiring hope and renewal in your heart.
Thank you for joining us in this episode of In the Field Audio Bible, where we explore the richness of God’s Word, one chapter at a time. We hope today’s reading brought insight, comfort, or inspiration to your journey of faith.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions! Feel free to send us a text to let us know how In the Field Audio Bible is impacting your faith journey. Until next time, may God’s Word guide and bless you.
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Welcome to In the Field Audio Bible, where we Listen to the Bible One Chapter at a Time.
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I'm Christie, your host, and tonight, on this holy Christmas Eve, we arrive at the grand conclusion of The Christmas story.
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Over the past few episodes, we've journeyed through moments of divine wonder and heavenly orchestration, from the eternal Word becoming flesh in the Gospel of John 1, verses 1-14.
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To Mary's humble and faithful yes in the Gospel of Luke 1, verses 26-56.
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Joseph's quiet yet courageous obedience in the Gospel of Matthew 1, verses 18-25.
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And the glorious yet humble nativity in the Gospel of Luke 2 verses 1-40.
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Every moment has brought us here to the Gospel of Matthew 2 verses 1-18.
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If you have missed any of these foundational episodes, I encourage you to visit our website at inthefieldaudiobiblecom, where you can catch up on past episodes and explore additional reflections.
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You'll also find our exclusive free ebook, The First Witnesses, Angels and Shepherds in the Birth of Christ, a resource to deepen your understanding of this extraordinary story.
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Now we turn to Matthew's Gospel, a passage filled with mystery, revelation and God's faithful protection.
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The scene begins with travelers from the east, wise men or magi, known as scholars of the heavens.
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They were not Israelites.
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Yet they knew the signs.
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A star had appeared brighter than any they had seen before, and they understood it as a divine proclamation.
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A king had been born, a ruler unlike any other.
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These magi embarked on a long and arduous journey, leaving behind their homes and comfort, seeking not a throne but a child.
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Their purpose to worship him.
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When they reached Jerusalem, their question shook the city to its core.
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King Herod, paranoid and threatened, gathered his priests and scribes.
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The prophecy was clear the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
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King Herod, cloaking his fear with false piety, sent the Magi ahead.
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Go and search for the child, he said, and when you find him, report back to me so that I too may go and worship him.
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But King Herod's heart was far from worship.
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The Magi, guided again by the star, continued their journey until it stopped over the place where the child was.
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And when they saw him, this child king, they fell to their knees in worship.
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They brought gifts, each carrying deep significance.
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Gold fit for a king, honoring Jesus as the sovereign ruler of all.
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Frankincense, a fragrant incense acknowledging his divinity and his role as the mediator between heaven and earth.
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Myrrh, a burial spice foreshadowing his sacrifice and death, the price he would pay to redeem the world.
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The wise men understood that this child was not merely a king for Israel, but the Savior for all people.
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Their worship testified that God's promise of salvation had arrived, extending beyond borders, nations and time.
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But this wasn't the end.
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That very night, God intervened, warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
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The Magi obeyed, choosing a different road home, a road that protected the child and his family from harm.
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Meanwhile, Joseph too received a divine warning.
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An angel appeared saying "Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, for Herod is seeking to destroy him.
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In the dark of night, joseph rose and led his family to safety.
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And when Herod realized the wise men would not return, his rage erupted into an unspeakable act, a massacre of innocent children, a sorrowful fulfillment of prophecy.
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Yet even in this tragedy, god's plan prevailed.
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The Savior was safe, the light of the world had come come, and no darkness would overcome him.
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Matthew tells this story with a profound purpose.
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Writing to a Jewish audience, he weaves the threads of prophecy to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel.
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But Matthew also reveals something more the universal reach of Christ's kingdom, the wise men, gentiles from distant lands, are among the first to recognize and worship Jesus.
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Their journey reminds us that this king came not for one people alone, but for all, jew and Gentile alike.
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From the very beginning, his birth proclaimed good news of great joy for all people.
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As we reflect on the wise men's courage to seek, their devotion to worship and their obedience to protect, may we be inspired to do the same to seek Jesus with our whole hearts, to offer him the gifts of our worship and trust, and to follow wherever God leads, even when the path requires faith.
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This is the beauty of the Christmas story.
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It is a story that transcends time, a story that speaks to every generation and a story that invites us all to bow before the King of Kings.
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So settle in as we journey through this final chapter of the Christmas story, a story of a Savior's arrival, a story of light and a story of hope.
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The Gospel of Matthew 2, verses 1-18.
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Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea.
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This happened while Herod was King of Judea.
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After Jesus' birth, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.
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They asked when is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews?
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We saw his star when it rose.
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Now we have come to worship him.
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When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset.
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Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too.
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So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people.
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He also called the teachers of the law.
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He asked them where the Messiah was going to be born In Bethlehem, in Judea.
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They replied this is what the prophet has written.
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He said but you, bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah.
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A ruler will come out of you.
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He will rule my people, Israel, like a shepherd.
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Then Herod secretly called for the wise men.
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He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared.
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He sent them to Bethlehem.
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He said him.
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He said go and search carefully for the child.
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As soon as you find him, report it to me, then I can go and worship him too.
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After the wise men had listened to the king, they went on their way.
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The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them.
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It finally stopped over the place where the child was.
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When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.
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The wise men went to the house.
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There they saw the child with his mother Mary.
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They bowed down and worshipped him.
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Then they opened their treasures.
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They gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
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So they returned to their country on a different road.
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When the wise men had left, Joseph had a dream.
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In the dream, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph.
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Get up.
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The angel said "Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.
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Stay there until I tell you to come back.
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Herod is going to search for the child.
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He wants to kill him.
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So Joseph got up During the night.
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He left for Egypt with the child and his mother Mary.
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They stayed there until King Herod died.
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So the words the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true.
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He had said "I brought my son out of Egypt.
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Herod realized that the wise men had tricked him, so he became very angry.
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He gave orders about Bethlehem and the area around it.
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He ordered all the boys two years old and under to be killed.
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This agreed with the time when the wise men had seen the star.
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In this way, the words Jeremiah, the prophet, spoke, came true.
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He had said a voice is heard in Ramah.
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It's the sound of crying in deep sadness.
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Rachel is crying over her children, she refuses to be comforted because they are gone.
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As we close this final chapter of The Christmas Story with In the Field Audio Bible, I want to thank you for walking with me through these profound moments straight from the pages of Scripture.
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Together, we've traveled across the Gospels and stood in awe of the miraculous events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.
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We began our journey in the opening verses of the Gospel of John 1, verses 1- 14, where the Apostle John revealed a truth so wondrous it stirs the soul the Word became flesh.
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God stepped into our world, his light piercing the darkness, his life bringing hope to all who believe.
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Light piercing the darkness, his life, bringing hope to all who believe.
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In this moment we see that Christmas is not just a birth but the beginning of God's dwelling among us.
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Emmanuel, God with us.
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We move to the Gospel of Luke 1, verses 26- 56, where an angel named Gabriel visited a humble young woman named Mary.
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He listened as Mary received her calling with a heart of faith and sang a song that still echoes through the ages, a song proclaiming God's mercy, his justice and His steadfast love for His people.
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Then, through the eyes of Joseph, in the Gospel of Matthew 1, verses 18- 25, we watched a man of quiet strength wrestle with uncertainty, only to step forward in obedience.
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He embraced the role God gave him protecting the child and the promise that a virgin would give birth to the Savior called Emmanuel.
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Our journey then took us to the Gospel of Luke 2, verses 1- 40, where we entered the stillness of Bethlehem and heard the angels declare "Unto you is born this day a Savior, christ the Lord.
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The shepherds rejoiced, simeon praised God and Anna gave thanks, all confirming that Jesus came for everyone, the lowly, the expectant and the faithful alike.
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And now we have arrived at the Gospel of Matthew 2, verses 1-18, where wise men followed a star to find the newborn king.
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Their journey of faith brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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But alongside their worship, we also saw the shadow of opposition King Herod's fear and danger lurking on the horizon.
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Yet even as a child, jesus was the king who could not be foiled, for God's plans always prevail.
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But, dear friends, the Christmas story does not end in the manger or in the humble town of Bethlehem.
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It is only the beginning of the greatest story ever told.
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Jesus grew to be the teacher who would reveal the Father's heart, the healer who touched the broken, and the Savior who laid down His life on a cross and by His resurrection he broke the chains of sin and death, offering us eternal life and peace with God.
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So as we reflect on this journey together, may we carry its truth with us.
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Jesus is the light of the world.
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He is our hope when life feels dark, our peace when the world feels restless, and the promise of new life, now and forever.
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Thank you for listening to The Christmas story with In the Field Audio Bible.
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Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you.
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May His love surround you and may His peace settle deep within your heart this Christmas season.
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