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Page 5 of 8
But No one believed the Shepherds
Even two years later, no one in Jerusalem seemed to know that Messiah was living close by.
Matt 2:1-3
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
New International Version
Herod went to the Jewish leaders to get the story, and they had no idea that Jesus was living only 10 miles from the temple in Bethlehem.
Consider these scriptures:
Why was this not common knowledge? – Why didn’t everyone know that the Messiah was being raised up very near Jerusalem?
Isa 53:1
Who has believed our message?
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
New International Version
John 12:37-38
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
"Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
New International Version
Jesus own natural brothers never really believed him to be the Messiah while they lived and grew up with Him (John 7:5)
Rom 10:16-20
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." NIV
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