The Magi - Journey Generously
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Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better
than pride. NLT
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Why do most final, 4th Sunday sermons on Advent, end with the Magi? Logically, they should be at the end as the Magi come after Jesus’ birth to give gifts in celebration. It is a natural ending. Many religious paintings in fact show the baby Jesus in a stable, a manger with animals, with a bright star overhead. Everybody is in the picture. But the Magi are at both the beginning and the end of our Advent story. They are our guides, our feet and our eyes as we journey through Advent. We begin this sermon series with the Magi because they are the first to respond to His star. The star had to appear at around the same time the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, if not before. They are the first community to hear and respond. Their journey had to begin many months, or even a year before, when they travelled from the east to worship the child King.
Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better
end with the Magi? Logically, they should be at the
History tells us that they were priests, healers, scientists, leaders and astronomers in their society and they were born into a family of Magi. In years of tradition, study and storytelling, the Magi’s families handed down the story of His star, the star of a promised King. These leaders left everything— homes, families and status and comforts—to follow His star. Traditionally they are pictured as three (again, this is logical because there are three very thoughtful gifts—small, easy to carry and valuable) but their actual number is not known. For years their families awaited the appearance of His star
than pride.
end as the Magi come after Jesus’ birth to give gifts
scientists, leaders and astronomers in their society
scientists, leaders and astronomers in their society
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.”
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
in celebration. It is a natural ending. Many religious
and they were born into a family of Magi. In years of
and they were born into a family of Magi. In years of
They were watching for a star so they could follow and worship a king, the King of the Jews. Being received by Mary and the child Jesus was the finish, the end of a quest. Our wise Magi are both at the beginning and the end of the narrative of Advent. They are Advent’s frame.
paintings in fact show the baby Jesus in a stable, a
tradition, study and storytelling, the Magi’s families
tradition, study and storytelling, the Magi’s families
). They were watching for a star so they could follow and worship a king, the King of the Jews. Being received by Mary and the child Jesus was the finish, the end of a quest. Our wise Magi are both at the beginning and the end of the narrative of Advent. They are Advent’s frame.
How did the Magi see?
manger with animals, with a bright star overhead.
handed down the story of His star, the star of a
handed down the story of His star, the star of a
They saw the end at the beginning: they saw the coming of a new, great king; the King of the Jews; a child Saviour King. They saw first; they saw on our behalf. They began with the desire to worship and this is how they end. Worship is the end point of their journey.
Everybody is in the picture. But the Magi are at both
promised King. These leaders left everything—
promised King. These leaders left everything—
Why didn’t Herod see His star?
Why didn’t the people of Jerusalem see either? Or the people’s chief priests and teachers?
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Herod and the people of Jerusalem see neither ends, nor the beginning. The beginning is the birth of the child Saviour Jesus. The ends are the end of Jerusalem, the end of the Temple, the end of Herod. The end of waiting. They are blind, unseeing and immersed in darkness.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
? Herod and the people of Jerusalem see neither ends, nor the beginning. The beginning is the birth of the child Saviour Jesus. The ends are the end of Jerusalem, the end of the Temple, the end of Herod. The end of waiting. They are blind, unseeing and immersed in darkness. describes ‘His people’, those who see: ‘...people walking in darkness (who) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
In Isaiah the prophet describes ‘His people’, those who see: ‘...people walking in darkness (who) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
In Isaiah the prophet describes ‘His people’, those who see: ‘...people walking in darkness (who) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
the beginning and the end of our Advent story. They
homes, families and status and comforts—to follow
homes, families and status and comforts—to follow
Herod lived in a land beyond darkness. He was preoccupied with his selfish desires; he never looked outwards and so never saw the light.
are our guides, our feet and our eyes as we journey
His star. Traditionally they are pictured as three
His star. Traditionally they are pictured as three
Herod lived in a land beyond darkness. He was preoccupied with his selfish desires; he never looked outwards and so never saw the light.
But the Magi were looking and saw.
through Advent. We begin this sermon series with the
(again, this is logical because there are three very
(again, this is logical because there are three very
And at the beginning of Advent we have to see, to look for the coming saviour like the Magi. Jesus is the star of Advent, of the Christmas story. All other lights—store lights, candle lights, the moon light, and star light—point to one light, His light. We journey with His Star, this great light. This first sermon’s purpose is to focus on the Magi so we can see as they saw, with excitement and wonder; with knowledge and wisdom; with faith and hope. Our purpose: to see anew; to walk in His wondrous light; to journey from our land of darkness to light.
Magi because they are the first to respond to His
thoughtful gifts—small, easy to carry and valuable)
thoughtful gifts—small, easy to carry and valuable)
star. The star had to appear at around the same time
but their actual number is not known. For years their
but their actual number is not known. For years their
the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, if not before.
families awaited the appearance of His star
families awaited the appearance of His star
They are the first community to hear and respond.
(Matthew 2:2). They were watching for a star so they
(Matthew 2:2). They were watching for a star so they
Their journey had to begin many months, or even a
could follow and worship a king, the King of the
could follow and worship a king, the King of the
year before, when they travelled from the east to
Jews. Being received by Mary and the child Jesus was
Jews. Being received by Mary and the child Jesus was
worship the child King.
the finish, the end of a quest. Our wise Magi are
the finish, the end of a quest. Our wise Magi are
both at the beginning and the end of the narrative of
both at the beginning and the end of the narrative of
Advent. They are Advent’s frame.
Advent. They are Advent’s frame.