Mattana Ministry - Sunday Sermon - 22 February 2026

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Sunday Sermon: 22 February 2026

Theme: Nothing is a Coincidence

Scripture: Micah 5:2; Joshua 19:15; Luke 2:4; Matthew 2:1; John 6:35;Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:26; John 1:46; John 15:1; Matthew 3:13-17;Ephesians 4:10; Matthew 4:1-4; Matthew 21:8-9; Luke 19:37-38; John19:17-18; Matthew 27:33 & John 14:27

Message:

I read something very interesting this week, and as many of you know me, I don't just leave it there. I will dig deeper and search until I find the answers or some of the answers.

The difference in sea level between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea is 1100 meters.

What made the fact so interesting to me? Let's take a look.

The Dead Sea is the lowest place in the world with a sea level of -400 meters. Jerusalem overlooks the Dead Sea. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, and the Judean Desert borders the Dead Sea. Bethlehem is a stone's throw from the Dead Sea, and Nazareth is far north of the Dead Sea. Wait, that's not all; the beginning of the Gospel unfolds right in the middle of the world. (Thank you, Google Earth, for letting me play on you for half the morning)

Here are all my facts, and now I will leave you with that thought.

Fortunately or unfortunately, that's not how it works; I dug a little deeper and looked at what I found:

Bethlehem - House of Bread

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

The prophecy is made that there will come a Ruler from Bethlehem, although it is a small village, who will reign forever.

Joshua 19:15

And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.

The town Bethlehem is given to the tribe of Judah. Judah is the tribe from which David comes and from which Jesus is later born.

Luke 2:4

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)Joseph travels back to Bethlehem to be registered.

Joseph comes from the tribe of David.

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and Herod arranged for all children under the age of 2 to be killed.

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jesus is the Bread of Life, and was born in the village meaning "House of Bread.

Nazareth - Branch, Shoot, To Protect

Matthew 2:23

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Luke 1:26

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

John 1:46

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus grew up in the small village of Nazareth. It is a small farming village, and Nathanael openly says that nothing good can come out of Nazareth.

John 15:1

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. Without Jesus, we can not grow and do not receive nourishment.

River Jordan - Descend, Flow Down

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.But John forbade him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist,and God calls from heaven that Jesus is His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.Interesting that the River Jordan flows into the Dead Sea

Ephesians 4:10

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Jesus descends to the realm of the dead but is exalted by His ascension to heaven on the clouds.

Judean Desert - Praised, Celebrated

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil (unsuccessfully)

Matthew 21:8-9

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Luke 19:37-38

And when he was come near, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time on a donkey, and the crowd sings hymns to praise and glorify Jesus. Jesus is believed and celebrated in this moment.

Jerusalem - Heritage of Peace, Vision of Peace

John 19:17-18

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha:Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

Matthew 27:33

And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

In Jerusalem, Jesus is brought through the last hours, after which the Crucifixion takes place at Golgotha. Remember, Golgotha is a hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus gives us the encouragement that we can find peace in Him that we will not find in the world.

If we look back today, we can see that everything can not just be a mere coincidence. Everything has been meticulously planned over the centuries. It is not possible to be planned by humans; we simply do not have the ability to plan something so great.

Is there anything that is just coincidental in the Bible? No. Everything has a precise purpose and meaning. At times, we gain the insight and wisdom to understand something.

We can study the Bible for hours.and it will just be words and characters for us, but then there is that moment when a little light is switched on, and we see something incredibly beautiful. Spend this Lent season discovering more and more treasures in the Bible, be receptive to the Holy Spirit, and be obedient to the Voice of God.

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MM