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ort of the angels' visit to the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem； but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice。 They themselves might have found Jesus； and might have been ready to lead the magi to His birthplace； but instead of this； the wise men came to call their attention to the birth of the Messiah。 〃Where is He that is born King of the Jews？〃 they said； 〃for we have seen His star in the East； and are come to worship Him。〃
Now pride and envy closed the door against the light。 If the reports brought by the shepherds and the wise men were credited； they would place the priests and rabbis in a most unenviable position； disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God。 These learned teachers would not stoop to be instructed by those whom they termed heathen。 It could not be； they said； that God had passed them by； to communicate
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with ignorant shepherds or uncircumcised Gentiles。 They determined to show their contempt for the reports that were exciting King Herod and all Jerusalem。 They would not even go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so。 And they led the people to regard the interest in Jesus as a fanatical excitement。 Here began the rejection of Christ by the priests and rabbis。 From this point their pride and stubbornness grew into a settled hatred of the Saviour。 While God was opening the door to the Gentiles； the Jewish leaders were closing the door to themselves。
The wise men departed alone from Jerusalem。 The shadows of night were falling as they left the gates； but to their great joy they again saw the star； and were directed to Bethlehem。 They had received no such intimation of the lowly estate of Jesus as was given to the shepherds。 After the long journey they had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders； and had left Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city。 At Bethlehem they found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King。 None of the world's honored men were in attendance。 Jesus was cradled in a manger。 His parents； uneducated peasants； were His only guardians。 Could this be He of whom it was written； that He should 〃raise up the tribes of Jacob；〃 and 〃restore the preserved of Israel；〃 that He should be 〃a light to the Gentiles；〃 and for 〃salvation unto the end of the earth〃？ Isa。 49：6。
〃When they were come into the house； they saw the young child with Mary His mother； and fell down； and worshiped Him。〃 Beneath the lowly guise of Jesus； they recognized the presence of Divinity。 They gave their hearts to Him as their Saviour； and then poured out their gifts；〃gold； and frankincense； and myrrh。〃 What a faith was theirs！
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It might have been said of the wise men from the East； as afterward of the Roman centurion； 〃I have not found so great faith； no； not in Israel。〃 Matt。 8：10。
The wise men had not penetrated Herod's design toward Jesus。 When the object of their journey was accomplished； they prepared to return to Jerusalem； intending to acquaint him with their success。 But in a dream they received a divine message to hold no further communication with him。 Avoiding Jerusalem； they set out for their own country by another route。
In like manner Joseph received warning to flee into Egypt with Mary and the child。 And the angel said； 〃Be thou there until I bring thee word： for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him。〃 Joseph obeyed without delay； setting out on the journey by night for greater security。
Through the wise men； God had called the attention of the Jewish nation to the birth of His Son。 Their inquiries in Jerusalem； the popular interest excited； and even the jealousy of Herod； which compelled the attention of the priests and rabbis； directed minds to the prophecies concerning the Messiah； and to the great event that had just taken place。
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Satan was bent on shutting out the divine light from the world； and he used his utmost cunning to destroy the Saviour。 But He who never slumbers nor sleeps was watching over His beloved Son。 He who had rained manna from heaven for Israel and had fed Elijah in the time of famine provided in a heathen land a refuge for Mary and the child Jesus。 And through the gifts of the magi from a heathen country； the Lord supplied the means for the journey into Egypt and the sojourn in a land of strangers。
The magi had been among the first to welcome the Redeemer。 Their gift was the first that was laid at His feet。 And through that gift； what privilege of ministry was theirs！ The offering from the heart that loves； God delights to honor； giving it highest efficiency in service for Him。 If we have given our hearts to Jesus； we also shall bring our gifts to Him。 Our gold and silver； our most precious earthly possessions； our highest mental and spiritual endowments； will be freely devoted to Him who loved us； and gave Himself for us。
Herod in Jerusalem impatiently awaited the return of the wise men。 As time passed； and they did not appear； his suspicions were roused。 The unwillingness of the rabbis to point out the Messiah's birthplace seemed to indicate that they had penetrated his design； and that the magi had purposely avoided him。 He was maddened at the thought。 Craft had failed； but there was left the resort to force。 He would make an example of this child…king。 Those haughty Jews should see what they might expect in their attempts to place a monarch on the throne。
Soldiers were at once sent to Bethlehem； with orders to put to death all the children of two years and under。 The quiet homes of the city of David witnessed those scenes of horror that； six hundred years before； had been opened to the prophet。 〃In Ramah was there a voice heard； lamentation； and weeping； and great mourning； Rachel weeping for her children； and would not be comforted； because they are not。〃
This calamity the Jews had brought upon themselves。 If they had been walking in faithfulness and humility before God； He would in a signal manner have made the wrath of the king harmless to them。 But they had separated themselves from God by their sins； and had rejected the Holy Spirit； which was their only shield。 They had not studied the Scriptures with a desire to conform to the will of God。 They had searched for prophecies which could be interpreted to exalt themselves； and to show how God despised all other nations。 It was their proud boast that the
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Messiah was to come as a king； conquering His enemies； and treading down the heathen in His wrath。 Thus they had excited the hatred of their rulers。 Through their misrepresentation of Christ's mission； Satan had purposed to compass the destruction of the Saviour； but instead of this； it returned upon their own heads。
This act of cruelty was one of the last that darkened the reign of Herod。 Soon after the slaughter of the innocents； he was himself compelled to yield to that doom which none can turn aside。 He died a fearful death。
Joseph； who was still in Egypt； was now bidden by an angel of God to return to the land of Israel。 Regarding Jesus as the heir of David's throne； Joseph desired to make his home in Bethlehem； but learning that Archelaus reigned in Judea in his father's stead； he feared that the father's designs against Christ might be carried out by the son。 Of all the sons of Herod； Archelaus most resembled him in character。 Already his succession to the government had been marked by a tumult in Jerusalem； and the slaughter of thousands of Jews by the Roman guards。
Again Joseph was directed to a place of safety。 He returned to Nazareth； his former home； and here for nearly thirty years Jesus dwelt； 〃that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets； He shall be called a Nazarene。〃 Galilee was under the control of a son of Herod； but it had a much larger admixture of foreign inhabitants than Judea。
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Thus there was less interest in matters relating especially to the Jews； and the claims of Jesus would be less likely to excite the jealousy of those in power。
Such was the Saviour's reception when He came to the earth。 There seemed to be no place of rest or safety for the infant Redeemer。 God could not trust His beloved Son with men； even while carrying forward His work for their salvation。 He commissioned angels to attend Jesus and protect Him till He should accomplish His mission on earth； and die by the hands of those whom He came to save。
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Chapter 7
As a Child
The childhood and youth of Jesus were spent in a little mountain village。 There was no place on earth that would not have been honored by His presence。 The palaces of kings would have been privileged in receiving Him as a guest。 But He passed by the homes of wealth； the courts of royalty； and the renowned seats of learning； to make His home in obscure and despised Nazareth。
Wonderful in its significance is the brief record of His early life： 〃The child grew； and waxed strong in spirit； filled with wisdom： and the grace of God was upon Him。