Reading plan 2014

This year I am starting a reading plan through the Bible. I would like to post some thoughts and observations that come out of it.  I'm posting them here on the blog mainly to help keep myself on track and to stay interactive with the text as the year goes on.
Here were some of today's thoughts:

Matthew 2-3:12

The visit of the wise men is really interesting, I wish I had more time to look deeper into it.

-They came from such a long distance to honor a King they knew very little about.

-They showed great dedication and honor to Jesus, not just by the gifts they brought but by protecting Him from Herod.

- Fulfillment of prophesy is throughout this chapter, from the wise men to the flight to Egypt.  Even the decision to go to the district of Galilee instead of Judea.  God had it all planned out and no human will was going to disrupt it.  Then John the Baptist and all that he was prophesied to do.

-John breaks down the legalism of the Pharisees and Sadducees right from the start.

-What a great line “God is able to raise up from these stones..” Human ancestory and deeds are nothing to God, he wants the broken and contrite heart like those that were coming confessing their sins.

-The section ends with John giving praise and adoration to Jesus as well.

-First we have kings coming and bowing down to Jesus and now a man who wears camel hair and eats locust honoring him and Jesus hasn’t even performed on miracle yet.