Luke 2
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
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This might appear to be a terrible time for Joseph and Mary to have to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem because of her condition. And in fact, Mary gave birth to Jesus while in Bethlehem.
But it was ordained by God that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And this taxation pronounced by Caesar caused Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem when the baby was born.
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John 7
38 He that believeth on ME, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 But this spake HE of the Spirit, which they that believe on HIM should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is THE Prophet.
41 Others said, This is THE Christ.
But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(The unbelievers thought they had proof in this that Jesus could not be Messiah)
50 Nicodemus (a believer) saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
50 Nicodemus (a believer) saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
(Jesus appeared to come out of Galilee so in their thinking HE could not be "THE Prophet". The Messiah.)
53 And every man went unto his own house.
53 And every man went unto his own house.
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In their own wisdom, the unbelievers deceived themselves about Jesus thinking themselves clever to realize Jesus was from Galilee and not from Bethlehem.
But they thought they knew something when they did not know the truth that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and was of the house and lineage of David: (Luke 2:4)
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I Corinthians 1
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in HIS presence.
30 But of HIM are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Unbelievers take pride in their wisdom by which they prove Jesus could not be Messiah. And by their own wisdom they deceive themselves unto their own damnation.
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Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.
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Even when a person is wise "in his own eyes", if God wants that person, God gets that person.
Consider the apostle Paul.
Acts 26 (Paul's testimony to king Agrippa)
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Paul went straight to Damascus as Jesus sent him. Paul did not return to the high priest at Jerusalem. Paul followed Jesus' instructions immediately. And Paul belonged to Jesus immediately.
It was the will of God for Paul and God made it happen according to HIS will.
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