The People: Good News for all Nations Matthew 2:1-12 NLT Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. Matthew 2:1-12 NLT 1. One Story, Four Gospels Luke writes primarily to a audience, while Matthew writes as a to readers. Matthew emphasizes details that speak to Jewish identity and Messianic hope. 2. God’s Promise from the Beginning After the fall, God chose and promised that through his , all nations would be blessed. 3. A Long History of Separation Centuries of conquest taught Israel to think in terms of and . Salvation was expected to look like national freedom and political restoration. 4. Matthew’s Shocking Scene The Magi were (non-Jews) from the . They were likely connected to pagan/persion religious traditions. These outsiders came not just to observe, but to Jesus. 5. The Gospel Breaks the Categories Jesus is Israel’s Messiah, but also the Messiah of the . God’s plan was always to enemies and make them . 6. A New People The church is described as a race, a priesthood, and a nation (1 Peter 2:9). These titles once belonged to , but now belong to all believers in Christ. Unity in Christ does not erase , but it does redefine allegiance. 7. The Church’s Posture Toward the World The only real distinction is between those who have grace and those who still it. Hostility is met not with , but with . 8. The Mission We Share Jesus sends his followers to make disciples of all . No one is in because of , and no one is out because of their tribe. The good news must be , because people cannot believe unless they . Reflection & Study Questions Personal Reflection Are there people you have quietly written off as “unlikely” to follow Jesus? Why? Which fears most often keep you silent: fear of rejection, fear of saying the wrong thing, or fear of failure? Gospel Understanding How does the presence of the Magi reshape your understanding of Christmas? Why is it important that Matthew includes this story at the very beginning of Jesus’ life? Church & Community In what ways can cultural, ethnic, or denominational identity subtly become a barrier to the gospel? What would it look like for our church community to more meaningfully live as “one family” across differences? How can prayer, giving, and hospitality become concrete expressions of gospel unity? Mission & Practice Who has God placed in your everyday life that might be closer to the kingdom than you think? What is one small, realistic step you could take this month to speak about Jesus more openly? How do the stories of Junichi and Don challenge common assumptions about when or how people come to faith? Prayer Ask God to give you his eyes for people you currently see as indifferent, hostile, or unreachable. Pray for courage—not just to love people quietly, but to speak the name of Jesus clearly and graciously.