Christmas Through the Magi's Eyes
Christmas Through the Eyes • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsThe visit of the wise men fills our hearts with wonder with its breathtaking adventure and miracles. In this story we find the invitation not only to come to Christ but also to respond faithfully.
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A story full of wonder
A story full of wonder
Creative writing
I love a good book
Vivid verbs, rich vocabulary, descriptive adjectives.
We ate some different types of tasty fish.
Our party dined upon a tantalizingly-wide array of scrumptious piscatorial delights.
Movies are similar (epic genre): rules
Involve several locations
Never go back the way you came
Include danger and narrow escapes
Creative writing - book or movie - is important, but it can only enhance what is already there.
Great plot, characters, backstory, message are all necessary
Like lousy movies with amazing special effects
Today’s passage has all the elements of a creative movie epic
prophetic backstory with mystery and intrigue
exotic locations
memorable characters
narrow escapes
tragedy, crisis, and room to write in a few, lovable furry critters
- all in just 12 verses! (Matthew 2)
Like creative writing, this only enhances what’s there - don’t want to miss what’s there: the story of God coming to Earth as a baby.
Christmas through the eyes of the magi
Their experience
Reminds that
The birth of Jesus invites our response.
The birth of Jesus invites our response.
Arrived after the fact - so do we today
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Jesus’ birth invites us to respond to him. How can we follow the wise men’s example?
Pay attention
Pay attention
Magi were masters at paying attention.
Their history:
A line of wise men in Babylon since the time of Daniel
(Susa, Iran said to contain his tomb - Jewish traveler Benjamin Tudela visited this location around 1160, 100 years before Marco Polo)
Daniel was highly revered. Became “chief magi”
Magos was a priestly caste system in Babylonia
Magi - same root as magician; Wise men - old term was wizard. Kings?
Ref to kings came in 3rd century
Ps 72 about Solomon, Ps 72:10-11
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
Jesus said someone greater than Solomon had come
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
What did they pay attention to?
The past - history
Daniel’s words and his Scriptures
Daniel’s reputation - paid attention for 500 years
Balaam - lived in Babylonia, by the Euphrates
5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
Perhaps well-familiar. Maybe Balaam was one of their order of magi.
Multiple ancient sources connect Balaam with the magi. Balaam’s successors.
Knew Balaam’s story
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom shall be dispossessed;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”
Paid attention to the present
Circumstances
Movement of the stars - we don’t use this for signs. God still worked through this practice
starofbethlehem.net - one explanation
Jupiter (planet of kings) and Regulus (star of kings) meet in conjunction once every 12 years. “Retrograde” motion means rarely Jupiter will appear to double back and touch Regulus again. In 3/2 B.C., this happened a third time!
However it happened, it was of God
Point - they paid attention
Paid attention to the future - prophecy was about what this King would do.
“One from Jacob shall exercise dominion”
There is a second advent coming
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (3030 Experience Again and Again)
3030 Experience Again and AgainThe School of Experience is a pretty tough institution. And it’s a lot tougher when we fail to learn our lessons. You remember the case of the school principal who protested to his superintendent because he wasn’t given a certain promotion. “After all,” he said, “I’ve had twenty-five years’ experience.” “No, Joe,” said the superintendent, “that’s where you are wrong. You have had one year’s experience twenty-five times!”—Sterling W. Sill
Paying attention involves growth and preparation.
Are you growing in wisdom and experience?
Is your life a reflection of growth?
Pack your bags
Pack your bags
The magi traveled toward Christ.
Arduous 500 mile journey. Dangers, guards, large retinue
No immediate audience with Herod
Herod heard - troubled - “all Jeru. with him.” When Herod ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. (Tracy Byrd lyrics, 1998)
Assembled chief priests and scribes - BIG meeting
“he who has been born king of the Jews” (v 2) is associated with “the Christ” (v 4)
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Distrust: Herod prevented any action from the meeting. Fear that the religious leaders would support the Messiah.
Secret audience with Herod
Information about timing of star’s appearance
Reconnaissance mission under false pretense: “that I too may come and worship him” (v 8)
Final 1% of journey. Coming to Jerusalem was not enough.
Our journey to faith cannot end at 99%. We must continue fully.
Headed 5 mi. to Bethlehem, but did not know where to go there.
Reappearance of the star.
We do not always know the destination of the journey, but that cannot stop us from seeking God.
Jeremiah 29:13–14 (ESV)
13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord...”
James 4:8 (ESV)
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (3029 Wanting It Badly Enough?)
A young man came to Socrates one day and said, in substance: “Mr. Socrates, I have come 1,500 miles to gain wisdom and learning. I want learning, so I come to you.”Socrates said, “Come, follow me.” He led the way down to the seashore. They waded out into the water until they were up to their waists, and then Socrates seized his companion and forced his head under the water. In spite of his struggles, Socrates held him under.Finally, when most of his resistance was gone Socrates laid him out on the shore and returned to the marketplace. When the visitor had regained his strength, he returned to Socrates to learn the reason for this behavior.Socrates said to him, “When you were under the water, what was the one thing you wanted more than anything else?”“I wanted air.”Then Socrates said, “When you want knowledge and understanding as badly as you wanted air, you won’t have to ask anyone to give it to you.”
Bend your knees
Bend your knees
The magi worshiped.
Worship was their goal all along.
Some question about the word proskuneo (προσκυνέω)
To pay homage or to worship
Response to seeing Jesus removed all doubt
“fell down and worshiped him” (v 11), “opening their treasures”
They worshiped by bowing down.
They worshiped by giving.
Have you opened your treasures to Christ?
Do you worship according to your preferences?
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Worship)
Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. Therefore, when Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, “All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain.”The example of godly leaders is helpful, but only the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion.
Business meeting results: Expenditure plan for 2022 was overwhelmingly passed at the business meeting last Sunday