DOWN INTO THE LAND OF SLAVERY (4 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15
This content is part of a series.
Down into the Land of Slavery (4 of 4)
Series: In Search of the King
Jeff Strite
Matthew 2:13-15
OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLc81CS7TY4
(We turned the video's sound down as I explained the artist and artwork that was being shown).
I’m not much for modern art, but this particular piece of artwork intrigued me. It’s the work of the renowned French artist Bernard Pras. He’s known for creating his masterpieces with common objects as he does here. If look closely you’ll see that this composition is made from the specific placing of a guitar, a sofa, a bicycle seat, a piece of luggage and so on.
You’ll also notice that the only way you can see what artist intended is to look at it only from the perspective he wants it seen from.
In the same way, God often uses common objects and arranges them in such a way that if you look at them in a certain way you can see exactly what He wants you to see. And that’s what’s happening here in Matthew 2. God is telling us a story (that many of us have heard ALL our lives) and puts common objects together in such a way that -if you look at it from His angle - you'll see exactly what God wants you to see.
First let’s break it down.
Jesus is now about 2 years old. It appears that his family has gotten a house in Bethlehem and settled into life there and it seems that maybe Joseph’s family in Bethlehem has helped him establish himself there.
But then something happens that is out of the ordinary. Wisemen show up from the East with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Some have speculated that there may have been as many as 300 men in that caravan - servants, a military escort and others - who have come to this humble town of Bethlehem - city of little more than 1000 residents. This entourage probably caused quite a stir as they worshiped this new child and give their gifts to the family.
Then as mysteriously as they've come, the Wisemen return to their homes by another road.
That night, Joseph is war ...
Series: In Search of the King
Jeff Strite
Matthew 2:13-15
OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLc81CS7TY4
(We turned the video's sound down as I explained the artist and artwork that was being shown).
I’m not much for modern art, but this particular piece of artwork intrigued me. It’s the work of the renowned French artist Bernard Pras. He’s known for creating his masterpieces with common objects as he does here. If look closely you’ll see that this composition is made from the specific placing of a guitar, a sofa, a bicycle seat, a piece of luggage and so on.
You’ll also notice that the only way you can see what artist intended is to look at it only from the perspective he wants it seen from.
In the same way, God often uses common objects and arranges them in such a way that if you look at them in a certain way you can see exactly what He wants you to see. And that’s what’s happening here in Matthew 2. God is telling us a story (that many of us have heard ALL our lives) and puts common objects together in such a way that -if you look at it from His angle - you'll see exactly what God wants you to see.
First let’s break it down.
Jesus is now about 2 years old. It appears that his family has gotten a house in Bethlehem and settled into life there and it seems that maybe Joseph’s family in Bethlehem has helped him establish himself there.
But then something happens that is out of the ordinary. Wisemen show up from the East with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Some have speculated that there may have been as many as 300 men in that caravan - servants, a military escort and others - who have come to this humble town of Bethlehem - city of little more than 1000 residents. This entourage probably caused quite a stir as they worshiped this new child and give their gifts to the family.
Then as mysteriously as they've come, the Wisemen return to their homes by another road.
That night, Joseph is war ...
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