Epiphany: Jesus is God's Gift for People of All Nationalities (Matthew 2:1-12 & Ephesians 3:1-12) (Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12)
Francis Blight, 7th January 2024Part of the Sermon series, preached at a Fordham Sunday Service service
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2:2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
2:5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
2:6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
2:9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
2:10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
3:2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3:3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
3:5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
3:9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
3:11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
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