Introduction

Let us turn to Matthew Chapter 2. If we were to read it using our usual methods of Bible reading, it would be quite difficult to understand. What exactly is this chapter about? Let us give this chapter a title: the miraculous and humble Jesus Christ. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ actually differ quite significantly; one mentions going to Egypt, while the other does not.

So, is Matthew's account correct, or is Luke's account correct? This involves our method of reading the Bible. Whether it is Matthew or Luke, were they present at the scene of Jesus Christ's birth? Neither of them was present at the scene of Jesus' birth. What they wrote was merely to highlight a theme, which is the birth of Jesus Christ. As for whether they actually went to Egypt or not, we do not need to explore that. But what both of them wrote about is a miraculous experience, while also showing that although Jesus Christ is God incarnate coming into the world, He still had a very humble beginning. Until Jesus Christ was later crucified on the cross, what we saw was a miraculous Jesus, and also a humble Jesus.

In fact, after reading Matthew Chapter 2, we have many confusions. Let me talk to you about some confusing things. For example, these wise men, what are they? If you examine the Bible, you will find that they are not erudite scholars; they are merely astrologers. How do these astrologers who look at the stars have anything to do with Jesus Christ? Aren't those who look at the stars engaging in evil arts? We are very confused.

Are these stars actually in the sky, or are they like a fireball guiding these wise men above their heads? This is beyond our imagination. Moreover, there are several very peculiar things. When these wise men came to Jesus, these stars stopped at that place. After entering, they saw the child, and then bowed down, opened their treasures, and offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. As a result, these wise men were also warned in a dream by God not to return to see King Herod.

For example, let me tell you a miraculous story. How was Jesus born, and what happened? Who knows about this? No one knows. As for who Matthew heard it from? Probably he heard it from Jesus himself later, or from Jesus' mother, Mary. In fact, no one knew what happened at that time. Later, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, telling him to get up and take the child and flee to Egypt. This may also cause some people to be confused.

Flee to Egypt? I am Jesus, God incarnate. Do I need to flee to Egypt? If we were to make up this story, it would be troublesome. It seems like Jesus is not quite human, like an angel! Oh my, this is God incarnate! Is He an ordinary mortal? Herod, come at me! I am invulnerable! But the fact is not like this. What the Bible describes is that the angel of the Lord told Joseph to take Jesus and flee to Egypt quickly. We are confused. Is there a need to flee? Isn't He who is inside greater than he who is outside?

What is even more confusing is that when King Herod saw that he had been tricked by the astrologers, he ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity. These boys were killed just like that? This is even more confusing. Could it be that God, you cannot prevent these things? Who did these boys offend? As a result, the words of the prophet Jeremiah were quoted: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.

As a result, the second chapter also says that the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph, telling him to get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because Herod was dead. After reading this, if we were to study this passage of the Bible as historians, it would be troublesome! We must not read it in that way today, because history cannot be investigated. But later, we know that after Jesus Christ was crucified, resurrected, and ascended into heaven, He bestowed the Holy Spirit. If we want to verify this, we should live according to the words of Jesus Christ and see if we can live out the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then see if we ourselves will also experience a miraculous and humble life.

Understanding God's Way of Doing Things

Jesus' family went down from Bethlehem to Egypt, and no one cared for them at home. If we look at it this way, we will be very confused. But I pondered and discovered that it doesn't matter if people are confused. People must know God's style of doing things. God's style of doing things is intertwined with the miraculous and the humble. If we carefully look at Paul's life, you will find that if people choose to believe, they can rise up; if people choose not to believe, they will fall.

We can also read Jesus' life experience in many ways. Some people finish reading and that's it, while others finish reading and fall. Therefore, our lives are full of confusion. Until today, we must know for sure that anything can have many interpretations, a confident interpretation and a non-confident interpretation. With the confident interpretation, that confidence may be a false confidence. Why is it so difficult to believe in the Lord? Therefore, let us explore together what this miraculous and humble Jesus is all about.

The Apostle Paul's epistles are written like this:

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

This matter is beyond our imagination. I think it is normal for us to have confusion, that is, the things we encounter in our lives are very confusing. Whether you are a person who loves God or a person who does not love God, the things we encounter are basically the same. For example, Jesus also had to flee to Egypt. We must begin to understand the matter of human life. Since people are in the flesh, they naturally have their own weaknesses; but if we see God's miraculous work in us, then it is extraordinary.

For example, Joseph in Genesis was sold into slavery in Egypt. This is too unimaginable. As a result, God was with him, and he prospered in everything. Originally, when God is with people, the things people experience have both miraculous things and humble things. Therefore, these things depend on how people interpret them. In the Gospel of Luke, there is also a description of this matter. Many people will rise because of this child Jesus Christ, and many people will fall because of this child Jesus Christ.

Are you willing to be a person who rises up, or a person who falls? After reading this chapter of Matthew, it is easy to choose to fall, and it is also easy to choose to rise. Anyway, when people see these things in their lives, they are really confused. Not only are people who have God with them confused, but people who don't have God with them are also quite confused.

For example, the Israelites who died in the wilderness were still eating manna from heaven the day before, and the next day, the plague came and killed them. There are many confusing things today, so brothers and sisters must ponder the words I just shared. Some people do not understand: a person who does not believe in the Lord well lives quite well; a person who believes in the Lord well is sold into slavery in Egypt. Of course, becoming a prime minister later is another matter.

Originally, in this life, whether you believe in the Lord well or not, you have to pay a price, and how to pay this price is really confusing. Because God's intention is like this, that many people will fall on the rock of Jesus Christ, and many people will be raised up because of such things of Jesus Christ. Miraculous, right? A long time ago, I preached a sermon called Many Will Rise, Many Will Fall, and I also preached The Rock of Stumbling, and the number of clicks was very high. Why? Originally, people really want to know the truth of the fall and the truth of the rise.

Removing the Confusion Within Us

What exactly is Jesus Christ doing? Our Jesus Christ is to bring God's people to God's kingdom. Don't say that Jesus Christ has His weaknesses. Which of us in God's kingdom, mighty people, powerful warriors, does not have weaknesses? They all have weaknesses. I have a characteristic. Whether it is close interaction or long-distance interaction, the person you see is probably that small sample, unremarkable, vulgar in speech, but my doctrine is not vulgar, we must explain this clearly.

Many people like to be an angel, with two small wings on their backs. Originally, they had no wings, but they had to put on fake wings on their backs. They feel that it is good to be an angel. Why? Because angels can fly swish, swish, swish, and they feel it is particularly good. It is said that the Soviet Union at that time wanted to dig a hole in the ground to dig to the United States. As a result, this project failed. If you were an angel, you would not have to do this. You stomp your foot, and you would turn from this end of the earth to that end, and this hole would pop out from that end of the United States. People feel that this is very good.

But the Bible wants people to know one thing, that people are very precious in God's eyes, and people have God's image. It is very clear in Hebrews that angels are ministering spirits. Is it good to be an angel? Or is it good to be a human? Since we are human, I will tell you that it is good to be a human. Let us enjoy being human! Because God wants to be with people. When God wants to be with people, don't think that people will have three heads and six arms, exotic armor, come and go without a trace, no! A person who has God with them will definitely experience many miraculous things, and at the same time, will also experience many humble things. When we are humble, how should we think?

For example, Joseph, he knew that this child Jesus was God incarnate, and Mary also knew. Then why did they have to flee to Egypt? Why couldn't they just let Jesus destroy Herod and them? Fortunately, the Bible records it like this, that even Jesus, who is God incarnate, still has to flee to Egypt. Some people want to be like an angel, invulnerable. I tell you, don't think like that!

Our God wants us to be people who have God's presence with them. God wants to be with us, but we are still human beings. Do not assume that you are invulnerable, do not think that you are a living deity. Once I ministered to someone who drew talismans in a temple. He had been sick for a long time, so he came to me. I led him in prayer, and he got better. Those people said that I was someone who was connected to all three realms.

Whether I am connected to all three realms, or eating all three realms, I think that's fine. But if you interact with me closely, you will find that my temper is not that great, it's quite big. I have the faults that people have. For example, if I don't shower for a few days, I will also stink. But I have one advantage, I am quite durable in relationships. I am not like some pastors, who stand on the stage like gods, but once they come down, you don't know what they are like.

Usually, I speak and act as I should. Why? Because I don't want to be a two-faced person, I just want to be a real person. Some people will ask: Look, when you pray for people, their illnesses are healed, how come you still get sick? Hey! Because I am a sinner, I have so many faults, shouldn't God discipline me? So some people don't understand. You need to know that there are many confusions and mysteries in the Christian faith.

I have preached more than ten times solely on the mysteries of the faith in Jesus Christ. For example, the Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh, and as a result, many people use this thorn of the Apostle Paul to prove that God is not a God of healing. This is too incomprehensible. Even an elementary school student reading a text would not read it that way, let alone an adult! After reading books for many years, and studying theology, you still can't read the Bible like that.

Even if the Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh, it cannot deny that God healed many patients through his hands! It also cannot deny that Jesus Christ healed all who came to seek Him, do you understand? For example, Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, beaten with fists, kicked with feet, and spit on. These also cannot deny the miracles He performed!

We must never read the Bible to the point of confusion, and do not take things out of context and mess things up. If the incarnate Jesus was like this, shouldn't we ordinary people be even more so? Our humble way of life cannot deny the amazing work God is doing among us; the amazing work God is doing in us cannot deny our humble way of life.

I think the miraculous and the humble are not contradictory, because I have both the miraculous and the humble in me, which is the wonderful thing about people. It is normal for people to have weaknesses. If there were no weaknesses, what would we overcome? We overcome not because of anything else, but because we overcome weaknesses, relying on faith in God. If the incarnate Jesus Christ was like this, how much more should we be?

Since God is with us, He often causes us to experience some miraculous things. For example, Joseph, when he had to go to Egypt, where did he get the travel expenses from being so poor? As a result, the wise men brought him gold, frankincense, myrrh, and gifts. Now Joseph was happy, he had travel expenses, and it solved the problem of travel expenses to Egypt. In fact, living is a very simple thing. Did he worry about the house in Nazareth and the things at home? The neighbors might be surprised, how did this family disappear? Joseph didn't care about this at all! Joseph took a stroll in Egypt for a few years, survived, and returned to Nazareth.

Dealing with the bad habits of religion, striving to grow

Living is originally quite simple. In many instances, God will provide for us. Whether you owe money or not, whether you live this way or that way, it's quite easy. Many of our internal problems do not stem from faith. Even if we experience some miraculous things, in the end, we still don't believe. In fact, people like miracles, and Jews like miracles even more. We are attacking the religious spirit, and later we will talk about the yellow weasel thing.

If today's Christians see a star and you follow it, many pastors will say that this is a heresy, but that is how it is recorded in the Bible. Many people are confused, what were these wise men and magicians doing? Are they the same as the magicians of Egypt? What spirit is behind the magicians of Egypt? Behind them is an evil spirit, how could they do this? How could Joseph receive these things?

If we only pursue miracles and do not have humility, then that is a yellow weasel. We want to live a real life in the world, not only experiencing God's miraculous works, but also experiencing the humble works of our lives. We must really deal with the dark forces behind us, which is the religious spirit. If the Pharisees read these things, could they believe in the Lord? After they read these things, they cannot believe, which fulfills the words of the prophets. Why does it fulfill what the prophets said? Because it is difficult for people to believe, so they quote what is said in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ has both miraculous things and humble things, so He can shepherd the people of Israel.

We who are pastors should not pretend to be gods, but be normal people. You will find that normal people establish normal pastoral relationships through faith, not through your ability, but through God's ability, to shepherd the sheep that God has given you. People will grow and mature in this process. Brothers and sisters, no matter how old you are, you will find that you can only gain joy in growth. Why do people become bored after believing in the Lord? Because there is no growth, and it is troublesome to hear the same thing every week. Why do many people like to listen to the sermons on our website? Because after listening to these sermons, people will grow, and when people grow, they will be very happy. Our shepherding is to make people grow.

Jesus grew up in this way. Luke said: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Originally, God's intention was like this. Don't be afraid if we have weaknesses, God will definitely lead you. Don't be complacent if miraculous things happen, there is nothing great about it. A Christian's life is to experience God's wonderful protection and wonderful care, while experiencing the story of God constantly letting us grow. In this way, people will be very happy, how good it is to be a person!

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

Until today, I still strive to grow, full of the stature of Jesus Christ. When Jesus became flesh, he did not immediately become a three-headed, six-armed young man after he was born. Jesus was also a child when he was born, he drank milk all day, and grew a little bit. After drinking milk for another day, he was still so small; he didn't grow much in a month, from three kilograms to six kilograms, from six kilograms to ten kilograms, growing to the point where he could run around... This gradually grows, how good!

Let me tell you, why do people like to raise children? The joy of watching a child grow up is irreplaceable. But people just don't know, and often get upset and annoyed when they look at their children! Some parents don't know how to raise children and just mess around, and after messing around, they get annoyed when they look at their children. Why? Because they don't know that growth is key. They don't know how to manage their children, nor do they make their children grow, let alone shepherd their own children. The whole person is very religious. You must know that religiousness is not a way to grow.

Some people say to me: Alas, when I try to study hard, everything hurts except my hair! I give you an encouragement, in fact, I am the same as you. When preparing this chapter of Bible study, everything hurt except my hair. But I grew, I overcame some difficulties. That process was really uncomfortable, really hard, but it doesn't matter. In this pain, I grew and overcame my weaknesses!

I share this with everyone, in fact, I am also as weak as you, but our weaknesses have God's help. The Apostle Paul in the Bible also had weaknesses. He said: When I am weak, then I am strong in God. Relying on yourself is really not enough, you must rely on God!

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, we must continue to grow and mature in Jesus Christ! Our Jesus Christ also grew up from a small age in this way, let alone you and me? Therefore, we experience God in the miraculous, and we also experience God in the humble. We will never be confused by these things, because we often experience God's presence. This is the incarnate God, Jesus Christ, who came to the world and opened up a true and living way for us, to restore the glorious image that God created us with, and this is His salvation.

After saying so much, are you still confused? In fact, the principle is very simple, we must grow, constantly grow, this is the key! Constantly restore the glorious image when God created us, and many problems in our work, study, and life will be solved easily. We will no longer be afraid, and it is such a wonderful thing to have God's presence with us throughout our lives, to have Emmanuel God with us! Let our lives be full of wonderful stories!

May God bless everyone!