President John Kennedy once observed, “The history of man is the history of war?” Why is this statement true? Jesus prophesied, “You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6). Why is world peace so elusive and seemingly unattainable? Why is Messiah called the “Prince of Peace”? (Isa. 9:6) How does Jesus bring “peace on earth”? (Psa. 46:9; Lk. 2:14) What is peace? What are the different kinds of peace? Are you at peace with yourself and others? How did you find peace? Is there anyone with whom you have had difficulty being at peace with? What do you suppose is the cause of your conflict? What can you do to be at peace with this person? (Rom. 12:18)

1. hope
faith
joy
peace
LOVE
4th in a series of
studies on
The Advent of
Jesus Christ

3. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who
has been born King of the Jews? For we
have seen His star in the East and have
come to worship Him.”

4. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when
they had come into the house, they saw
the young Child with Mary His mother,
and fell down and worshiped Him. And
when they had opened their treasures,
they presented gifts to Him: gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.

5. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a
dream that they should not return to
Herod, they departed for their own
country another way.

7. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
“wise men” (μάγος - magos) = astrologer, wizard,
magician
More than likely
they were
scholars,
Zoroastrian
priests

8. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
Magi
Magistrate = Latin magistratus, an administrator and
enforcer of the law; a judge
A king-maker

9. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
“East” (ἀνατολή - anatolē) = dawn of the Levant,
the Orient
Persia

10. 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in
the East and have come to worship Him.”
Daniel 4:7 Then the magicians, the astrologers,
the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and
I told them the dream; but they did not make
known to me its interpretation.

11. 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in
the East and have come to worship Him.”
Isaiah 9:6–7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is
given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase
of His government and peace there will be no end, upon
the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and
establish it with judgment and justice from that time
forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.

12. 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in
the East and have come to worship Him.”
Daniel 2:11 It is a difficult thing
that the king requests, and there is
no other who can tell it to the king
except the gods, whose dwelling is
not with flesh.”
How could the Magi have
known about Christ?

13. How could the Magi have
known about Christ?
Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel
went to Arioch, whom the king
had appointed to destroy the
wise men of Babylon. He went
and said thus to him: “Do not
destroy the wise men of Babylon;
take me before the king, and I
will tell the king the
interpretation.”

14. 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
“troubled” (ταράσσω - tarassō) = cause great
distress, trouble, disturb, conflict;
cause a riot, throw into confusion

15. Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD,
“for the wicked.” (cf. Isa. 57:21)
“the wicked”
Hebrew (rāšā‘) = wicked, ungodly
Greek (Ponēros) = bad, malignant, to make a
tumult, to be disturbed”
What causes Conflict?

16. Know God, Know Peace!
No God, No Peace!
What causes Conflict?

17. James 4:1–3 Where do wars and fights come
from among you? Do they not come from your
desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and
covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet
you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You
ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss,
that you may spend it on your pleasures.
What causes Conflict?

18. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he
inquired of them where the Christ was to be
born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of
Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

19. 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the
wise men, determined from them what time
the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to
Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully
for the young Child, and when you have found
Him, bring back word to me, that I may come
and worship Him also.”

20. What are the levels of Conflict?
 was “troubled” within (3)
 “secretly” plotted (7)
 lied “that I may come and worship Him also” (8)
 “became exceedingly angry” (16)
 murdered “all the children born in Bethlehem” (16)

21. 11a And when they had come into the house,
they saw the young Child with Mary His
mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Psalm 72:11 Yes, all kings
shall fall down before Him;
all nations shall serve Him.

22. 11b And when they had opened their treasures,
they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh.

23. King Seleucus II Callinicus
offered gold, frankincense
and myrrh to the god
Apollo at the temple in
Miletus in 243 B.C.
Apollo

24. 11b And when they had opened their treasures,
they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh.
Song of Solomon 3:6 Who is this coming out of
the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed
with myrrh and frankincense, with all the
merchant’s fragrant powders?
Isaiah 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover
your land… They shall bring gold and incense,
and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.

25. Gold

26. Gold
 Exodus 32:4 – golden calf
 Psalm 135:15 – “The idols of their nations are silver
and gold, made of human hands.”
 Exodus 25:10 – Ark of the Covenant
 Daniel 3:10 – King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue
which he ordered everyone to bow down and
worship

27. Gold
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My
Lord and my God!”
Mark 15:39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite
Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last,
he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Philippians 2:10–11 at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.

28. Gold
 1 Kings 10:10 – Queen of Sheba gave 120 talents of
gold to King Solomon
 Psalm 72:15 – “And he shall live, and to him shall be
given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be
made for him continually; and daily shall he be
praised.”
 1 Kings 10:14 –Now the weight of gold that came to
Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold.

29. Gold
 Revelation 19:16 And He has on His robe and
on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS

30. Frankincense
 Exodus 30:34–35 And the LORD said to Moses:
“Take sweet spices… and pure frankincense with
these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts
of each. 35 You shall make of these an incense, a
compound according to the art of the perfumer,
salted, pure, and holy.

31. Frankincense
 Mark 15:37–38 And Jesus cried out with a loud
voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the
temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
 Hebrews 6:20 “He has become a high priest
forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

32. Frankincense
 Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? It is
Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also
makes intercession for us.

33. Myrrh
 Mark 15:23 “And they offered him wine mingled
with myrrh; but he did not take it.”
 John 19:39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to
Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of
myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

34. “Christ not only prayed for peace, but bled for
peace: “Having made peace through the blood
of His cross.” He died not only to make peace
between God and man, but between man and
man. Christ suffered on the cross, that He might
cement Christians together with His blood; as
He prayed for peace, so He paid for peace.”
Thomas Watson
As Our Sacrifice
symbolized by Myrrh

35. As Our High Priest
symbolized by Frankincense
 Philippians 4:6–7 Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

36. As Our King
Symbolized by Gold

37. "If He (Christ) had left
us a lot of gold, thieves
would have stolen it in
the first century; but He
left His peace and His
joy for every believer,
and no power on earth
can take it from him
who trusts."D.L. Moody

38. December 01 “Hope in Christ”
08 “Faith in Christ”
15 “Joy in Christ”
22 “Peace in Christ”
24 “Love in Christ”

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