The Outsiders See Him | Vantage Point Week 2 | Pastor Kerry Cromwell

Galatians 3:28: In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female…(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Matthew 2 MSG: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Matthew 2:1-2 MSG: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

• • • The Magi are pagans, astrologers, foreigners—yet they see what Jerusalem misses.(MULTILINE)

• • • God speaks in their language(MULTILINE)

• • • The Jew and Greek division collapses at the cradle.(MULTILINE)

Galatians 3:28: In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Matthew 2:3-8 MSG: When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

• • • Religious Leaders know the prophecy, but don’t make the journey.(MULTILINE)

• • • Outsiders welcomed what insiders resisted.(MULTILINE)

• • • Information without pursuit never leads to transformation.(MULTILINE)

Matthew 2:11 MSG: They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

• • • Costly gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.(MULTILINE)

• • • Worship expands the heart.(MULTILINE)

• • • Their gifts reveal who He is—King, God, Sacrifice.(MULTILINE)