AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING, SO…

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE TO JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS?

The fourth Sunday of advent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPTPmlhznI

Bethlehemian Rhapsody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxvMkSKRWOA

The Magi (from 1:40): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lpv77EdxF4&t=158s

The actual Bible words from the Visual Gospel (from 6:44): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqPnRCNSsI&list=PLB38F2DD7C8DF8D8A

 

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

6 ‘“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel”’

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

WHO WERE THESE MAGI?

  • Well, there is no evidence that there were only 3 of them (this was inferred from the number of gifts that they brought), and they were not kings at all.

 

  • They were Wise men from the East – from Persia

 

  • The Greek word “Magos” (given the Latin plural “Magi”) is derived from the Persian word denoting members of the religious cult into which Zoroaster was born and of which Daniel was classed. These “wise men” studied astronomy as a way of understanding current and future events (hence astrology) but were totally opposed to the occult. So, even though we get our word “magic” from them, they certainly had nothing to do with this practice. Their study of the stars was a scientific one.

 

  • As with Daniel they were the wise advisors to kings and princes guiding them through their study of the stars and their ability to interpret dreams. He was known as “chief of the Magi” and their position as advisors was well-established by the time of the Persian Empire.

 

  • It has been argued that there was fear amongst Herod and the Jews at this visit because the Magi were from the Parthian Empire – the enemies of Rome. Was their visit the presage of yet another attack – or even invasion – by the rival empire? Were they seen to be “king makers” (for such they were in Parthia at that time) who were looking to anoint a new king to replace Herod? This may well have been what Herod thought.

WHAT DID THEY WANT?

  • The truth

 

  • They longed for the Saviour of the World

 

  • They knew there was more to life

 

  • Contrast this with the response of Herod. He did NOT want any of this. He wanted only for himself – he wanted security and power. He was not interested in the Truth. He was not interested in the things of eternity. He was only interested in the “here-and-now” in the “what’s in it for me?”

 

  • What about you? What do YOU want this Christmas time?

WHAT DID THE MAGI GIVE TO JESUS THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS?

  • They gave Him their time and effort: many days (maybe months) of travel to find Him; years of seeking and study.

 

  • They gave Him their worship – they bowed down and worshipped Him.

 

  • They gave Him gold – tribute for a King. King of earth as well as Heaven. This act signified their obeisance to Him – that they were placing themselves under His rule. He was to be King of their lives from this time onwards.

 

  • They gave Him Frankincense – the honour given to God with incense – an act of worship and recognition of divinity. It was also an incense used in the priestly office – recognising that He is the great High Priest over all.

 

  • They gave him Myrrh – for embalming the dead – showing that He would die for them and us.

 

  • What about you?

WHY DID THE MAGI GIVE GIFTS TO JESUS?

  • Because of who He was: they recognised that He was the King of the Jews. They understood that He came from Heaven. And so, their gifts were to worship Him now.

 

  • What about you?

 

  • And they gave Him gifts because of what He would do. That He was the future King of Kings and Lord of lords. And that He was going to die for the world – and they were honouring Him for this.

 

  • What about you?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE TO JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS?

Herod thought only about himself and those around him. For so many this Christmas it is all about what we have got – will you get everything that you hoped you would get? Or is Christmas about those closest to you – what you gave to show them that they were special to you? Herod would do this too – though for less noble reasons – he lavished gifts on his followers to buy their loyalty.

Jesus came to earth to give His all for the whole world. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.

What better thing can I give to Jesus this Christmas than to give Him my heart.

What better thing can I give to Jesus this Christmas than the gold of my obedience to Him this coming year; the frankincense of my obeisance (worship) to Him (and only Him) this coming year; the myrrh of my sacrifice of myself for Him this coming year.

So, let us end this year of 2018 with a decision of what we are going to do in 2019. Let us bow down and make Him this promise now.

 

WHY SHOULD I WANT TO GIVE MY HEART TO JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS?

Because of all that He has done for me – how else can I say thank you? How else can I adore Him for who He is?