Astrology was a sin in the old testament, but regardless, God knows this is how to reach the wise men from Arabia. God is using the star of Bethlehem to reach out to these gentiles even before Jesus is born!

The wandering star is the Holy Spirit, similar to the glory cloud in the wilderness in Exodus, resting on the tabernacle. At Jesus' birth, the glory cloud has left the temple, is leading to and now rests upon Jesus. Paralleling Exodus, Jesus is the way for God's people out of Egypt and into the promised land. In Exodus, all who followed the glory cloud will gather at the tabernacle; all who follow the Holy Spirit will gather to the Son!

In this passage there are two deceptions:

- Herod pretending to give respects to Jesus, but his true intent was to kill him

- The magi taking an alternate route home to avoid/deceive Herod

In the Old Testament when Pharaoh wanted to kill newborn babies, the Egyptian midwives deceived Pharaoh to protect the babies. In the New testament when Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus, the magi deceived Herod to protect Jesus.

If we faithfully follow Jesus, we have to accept that the Herods of our lives will hate and oppose us. 

Fear is a horrible god; people can lose their minds over it. Proverbs 29:25: don't let fear run your life! Psalm 56:3: When you're afraid, trust in God! We must resist the temptation to fear. If we can trust and believe he can get us through, fear will evaporate!

Calling Jesus King of the Jews was a political threat to Herod. Jesus is the King we serve, beyond any earthly authority.

Choose Jesus as your Lord and don't sit on the fence. Be all in! You must choose whom you will serve.

Matthew's genealogy of Jesus is filled with gentiles; as God starts to make a new people, the gentiles play a big role. The Kingdom of God is for everyone! The good news is that Jesus, the light of the world, came for all people, for sinners! He came for us. The only way to receive this good news is to accept the bad news, that we're sinners who need him.

No one is beyond saving, beyond grace!

Jesus becomes famous, then hides away from the public to talk with his Father.

His focus was on preaching in synagogues, not on miracles; miracles were to lend credence to his teaching, to give weight to his message.

Jesus prayed! If he needs to pray, so do we. We must set aside dedicated time alone with the Lord.

Lepers were to isolate themselves (Lev 13:42). When they wanted to be around others, they had to announce their uncleanness. This leper risks it all, breaking the law to approach Jesus. But Jesus is greater than the Law; he's the Spirit of the Law! He heals the leper.

Jesus told the man to stay silent about his healing, but he wanted to spread the word and disobeyed Jesus. So unfortunately, Jesus had to leave the region. The man didn't obey the Lord, and it caused problems for Jesus' ministry rather than helping it!

When we go against what God says to do, even if we think it's to help further the Kingdom, we're actually hurting. It's always best to trust and obey.

Jesus becomes famous, then hides away from the public to talk with his Father.

His focus was on preaching in synagogues, not on miracles; miracles were to lend credence to his teaching, to give weight to his message.

Jesus prayed! If he needs to pray, so do we. We must set aside dedicated time alone with the Lord.

Lepers were to isolate themselves (Lev 13:42). When they wanted to be around others, they had to announce their uncleanness. This leper risks it all, breaking the law to approach Jesus. But Jesus is greater than the Law; he's the Spirit of the Law! He heals the leper.

Jesus told the man to stay silent about his healing, but he wanted to spread the word and disobeyed Jesus. So unfortunately, Jesus had to leave the region. The man didn't obey the Lord, and it caused problems for Jesus' ministry rather than helping it!

When we go against what God says to do, even if we think it's to help further the Kingdom, we're actually hurting. It's always best to trust and obey.

If you want to avoid terror at the second coming, you must accept the gentle first coming! This passage tells us where the church's focus should be: the Word of God. Faith is going to God, knowing he can do whatever he wills. True faith says, "Your will be done."

Mark is all about action, showing Jesus as always moving; he's communicating what Jesus did, to show us what WE are to do.

We had no interest in God before he called us. Like a leper, we were outside the camp. But we came to realize our condition and came to him. God reached out and took us as his own! His purity cleansed us! This is what we are called to do as the church. We must lay a foundation for those around us, and for the generations after us, making disciples of the nations.

The early church overtook the pagan holiday of Saturnalia, and replaced it with a celebration of Christ; the church can sanctify a sinful institution!

Are you unsaved? Jesus embraces lepers; come to him. Don't clean yourself up first. As he cleanses us, we become lighter and lighter, more free in him!

We must counter the devil's lies with God's truth, and fill our lives with worship. Peter spoke in love, but the devil spoke in fear.

We must come to Jesus with not only our words or our thoughts, but our hearts. We must be all in.

Mark is intent on showing Jesus as King. He shows many parallels between Jesus and David.

When Peter was called into ministry, he didn't abandon his wife; he took 3 years to study with the Lord, and then embarked on ministry with her by his side.

Pastor Josh shows some of his photos of Peter's house in Capernaum to give some context for the biblical accounts in today's passage.

The darkness hates the light! Jesus shows up and demons flee.

If I want God to heal me or fix my situation, is it for good reasons, or just so I can go on sinning? Is it for his glory or my own comfort? The woman Jesus heals immediately gets up and serves her family. We too should have an eager desire to serve God in our healing.

Jesus' name is above all names, all powers, all thrones. He's greater than the most spiritual of men. And we have the opportunity to share his name, so we must stand in truth, with confidence! We don't need any magic words, just the word of God, utterly set apart.

We walk with the Lord NOW; his blessings aren't only meant for heaven. We're no longer bound to sin; be utterly dependent on him. Give your sin to God and walk in his love!

It's good to give thanks to God, walking in him and abounding in thanksgiving! Even in tough times, we grieve with hope, and rejoice. Continue steadfastly in prayer and be vigilant in thanksgiving! Find reasons to be thankful.

God's word contains many examples associating thankfulness with sharing a meal. Every time we eat together dinner at the table is an opportunity to be thankful and worship God! He blesses us many times a day, in innumerable ways.

Praise him for the great things he's doing and the great things he's already done!

Worship him because he's Lord of both heaven and earth! He's holy, separate!!! His works are greater than ours. Jesus through his blood purchased everlasting life for us on the cross! Rejoice and be thankful!

How? God tells us his love language. Shout words of affirmation! He wants us to talk to him; don't be shy about our gratitude! Don't be ashamed. 

Serve him with gladness and singing! Serving him is a privilege!!! Serve and praise him with gratitude. 

We are to use our minds in worship. Engage our hearts AND our heads!

Enter his presence with gladness and Thanksgiving, and bless his name, because he is good and his love and faithfulness endure forever!!!

We thank God for all that he's provided, and in everything, give him his due glory!!!

Trust Jesus in the face of death. God allows trials because we're forced to go to him for help. He works on his terms, not ours; he uses people and experiences we wouldn't have chosen to allow us to grow.

When we sin, we should feel shame; shame is holy!

Often we need to be silent, be still, and wait for God to speak and act.

Once you taste the glory of God, you can't get enough. He is love!

God made Adam a gardener, to plant and grow fruit. And the fruit becomes the womb of the seed that will grow more plants. Jesus, the new Adam, was necessary to be the perfect sacrifice. He endured the punishment of the cross so we didn't have to. The debt is paid!

Sin is man taking the place of God. Salvation is God taking the place of man!

God forms in us simply by grace. He chose us not because we're holy, but because he is holy!

Once the grace of God is in you, all the power of hell can't overcome it.

We don't change into his glory because we try, but because we see him for all he is and all he's done for us.

We live in a culture that has forgotten how to blush, how to feel shame for our sins. Take yourself to his feet and pour all of yourself onto him in worship. He's the King who makes his throne on a cross!

Jesus and the Father are one, bringing the same message! Mark is informing the gentile Christians that they are NOT a sect or weird branch of old testament believers; Jesus preaches with the same authority as the Father.

Repentance is a gift. It means there's still time to come to the Lord and say you're sorry, and that time is now! In about 40 years, Jerusalem would be burned to the ground, so this message was URGENT.

Wherever a believer goes, as the Spirit goes with him, the Kingdom is increased!

When Jesus said, "Follow me," the four young men immediately left their lives and followed him. Young men need a purpose! James and John were apparently from a wealthy family, so they gave up a lot to follow the Lord. God calls all kinds of people from all economic strata, regardless of our qualifications! He calls us, THEN he qualifies us!