NextGenKent

When John the Baptizer came onto the scene the Gospel writers stated he was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, Prepare the way of The Lord. How did John do this? By "leveling the playing field." The Jews' days were numbered and the time for the Temple to be no more was close at hand. Everything was about to change. The entire way of processing information from those who saw themselves 'above others' was going to be brought down--both in the spiritual and in the physical. John was preaching a "level gospel", The scribes, Pharisees and religious lawyers were going to be brought "down". The world as they knew it was about to flee! Jesus' life, death, and resurrection would cause everything to change, Nothing would ever be the same. It would be like not having a sun or a moon--or an authority who knew what to do. The 'constant things' would shift. And those who were poor and ignorant of the laws and righteousness would no...

As I was reading the beginning of Matthew again I was struck by the contrast between the magi and the "people's chief priests and teachers of the law" (religious lawyers). Here are a couple of differences: 1. The Magi knew prophecy and followed the prophetic "star" of "the King of the Jews" 2. The Magi came from the East = far away to worship 3. The Magi to worship the King in Jerusalem or at least ask the leaders there where he was 4. The Magi went on to Bethlehem and completed their mission 1. The religious lawyers knew what was written in the prophets 2. The religious lawyers remained there in Jerusalem and did not go to Bethlehem 3. The religious lawyers must have seen the star but did not translate current events spiritually/prophetically 4. The religious lawyers stayed in Jerusalem and completed their mission What would have happened if: 1. The religious lawyers did more than just read the Scriptures to know it but to follow it? 2...