SEEKING CHRISTMAS
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SEEKING CHRISTMAS
MATTHEW
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Background:
The wise men arrived after the birth of Christ. They started traveling when Christ came.
Magi. The first Gentiles to worship Christ, acc. to Mt. 2:1–12. Guided by a mysterious star, they came from the East to *Bethlehem with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the Christ Child. They are called in the NT μάγοι (sages). The idea that they were kings first appears in Christian tradition in *Tertullian, who calls them fere reges (‘almost kings’; Adv. Jud. 9 and Adv. Marc. 3. 13), and it became general from the 6th cent., on the basis of the implied reference in Ps. 72 (71):10. The NT account says nothing of their number. *Origen is the first to give it as three, probably on account of their three gifts, and this has become the general tradition. Their names, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, are first mentioned in the 6th cent. Excerpta Latina Barbari and later in a work of pseudo-*Bede known as the Collectanea. In the Middle Ages they were venerated as saints, and the Milanese claimed to possess their relics, brought from *Constantinople in the 5th cent. These were taken to Germany by *Frederick Barbarossa in 1162, and are now enshrined in *Cologne Cathedral. The Adoration of the Magi early became one of the most popular subjects of representation in art, the first extant painting being in the ‘Cappella greca’ of the Priscilla Catacomb dating from the 2nd cent. See also EPIPHANY.
The meeting here resulted in the first Gentiles to Worship Jesus.
Life Lessons from the Magi.
Seek God at Christmas and all year long. (We saw His star in the East and have come…)
You’ll notice that when the Son of God was born, not a single religious person was invited. The people who should have known the most about the birth of Jesus, the spiritual and religious leaders of Israel, didn’t have a clue.
Wise men who had studied the Hebrew Scriptures came from the East because they had seen the Star. They knew the Savior of the world had been born, but they didn’t know where.
When they asked King Herod of Israel, he didn’t have any idea. He asked his religious scholars, and they knew exactly what he was talking about. They’d been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years. They had discussed it, debated it, detailed it, and dissected it.
Those of us in ministry should take that as a cautionary tale. We may know the Christmas story inside and out. We can teach it, preach it, and recite it from memory. But we can also completely miss the meaning of the story for ourselves.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew every religious tradition by heart, but they wouldn’t walk five miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to witness the arrival of God’s Son. Let’s be honest—that’s us sometimes.
But it doesn’t have to be true this year. Pastor, here are three actions you can take to make sure you don’t miss the real reason for Christmas.
Stop
Stop
I know it’s tough to stop running and slow down during this season. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for pastors. But remember what the psalmist says: “Be still, and know that I am God” ( NIV).
Sometimes the most important part of worship during the holiday season for those of us in ministry is the simplest—we need to chill out. God always speaks to the person who is willing to listen. God doesn’t talk to you if you’re constantly telling him you don’t have the time. Do you have time to talk with God this Christmas? If not, you need to make the time because nothing else matters more.
Look
Look
Take another look at why Jesus came in the first place. Don’t just do this when you’re preparing for your Christmas sermon. Make the effort to read the Christmas story with fresh eyes, maybe in a translation you’re not accustomed to using.
Don’t let yourself get too familiar with the Christmas story. Remind yourself of what God did to show you his love. You need to be reminded of that just as much as the people you’re serving this season.
Say Thanks
Say Thanks
Spend some time expressing gratitude to God for sending Jesus to the world for you. Gratitude is a life-changer during the Christmas season. God gave you the greatest Christmas gift you’ll ever receive. Let him know what that gift means to you.
Don’t miss the real reason for Christmas this year. As you invest in others this Christmas and help them understand the true meaning of the holiday, take time to stop, look, and say thanks to God to refresh your own perspective on the Christmas story.
Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
2.Give gifts to the Lord and His work. (Presented Him gifts…)
A Christmas Gift
A guy bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas.
After hearing about this extravagant gift, a friend of his said, "I thought she wanted one of those sporty four-wheel-drive vehicles."
"She did," he replied. "But where was I going to find a fake Jeep?"
Some of you are faking it through Christmas. You haven’t sought to bring the gift of Christmas. But, it’s important.
“Bringing gifts was particularly important in the ancient East when approaching a superior (cf. ; ; ) … Frankincense is a glittering, odorous gum obtained by making incisions in the bark of several trees; myrrh exudes from a tree found in Arabia and a few other places and was a much-valued spice and perfume (
All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.
; ) used in embalming (). Commentators, ancient (Origen, Contra Celsum 1. 60) and modern (Hendriksen), have found symbolic value in the three gifts—gold suggesting royalty, incense divinity, and myrrh the Passion and burial. This interpretation demands too much insight from the Magi. The three gifts were simply expensive and not uncommon presents and may have helped finance the trip to Egypt” (D. A. Carson, "Matthew," in Matthew, Mark, Luke, The Expositor's Bible Commentary 8, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984], 89).
“What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all scented powders of the merchant?
) used in embalming (). Commentators, ancient (Origen, Contra Celsum 1. 60) and modern (Hendriksen), have found symbolic value in the three gifts—gold suggesting royalty, incense divinity, and myrrh the Passion and burial. This interpretation demands too much insight from the Magi. The three gifts were simply expensive and not uncommon presents and may have helped finance the trip to Egypt” (D. A. Carson, "Matthew," in Matthew, Mark, Luke, The Expositor's Bible Commentary 8, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984], 89).
But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.”
Give gifts to the Lord and His work. (Presented Him gifts…)
3.Worship Jesus intentionally, not haphazardly. (we… have come to worship Him… they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.)
Worship Jesus intentionally, not haphazardly. (we… have come to worship Him… they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.)
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
1. Like Herod hated the worship of the True King, Satan hates when God is magnified and honored. How is your worship or service to God often sidetracked or even opposed?
2. Is God asking you to serve or worship Him in a sacrificial way? What is stopping you?