Posted by David Whitten on December 18, 2011 under Featured Articles | 
Magi
Matthew 2:1-12
Last week we started a series identifying the key figures in our Nativity. Last week we learned a little about shepherds. This week we are going to talk about the Magi and that will leave Mary and Joseph and The Christ child for Christmas.
Lets pick up with the Magi’s entrance on the scene in our Christmas story
The Visit of the Magi
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] 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 in the east[b] 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 Christ[c] 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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.’[d]”
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 make a careful search 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 in the east[e] 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 worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
So who were these mysterious visitors?
Where do they come from?
How did they know about Jesus’ birth?
What’s the deal with this star and what’s up with these gifts they gave to the baby?
We read this story and we have questions.
So let’s take our time this morning and see what we can learn from the Magi
Who were these strange visitors?
The Magi, are called by different names through the years. We sing a song written by rev. Henry Hopkins titled “we three kings” we have sung this song for years and so every nativity has these three visitors, these “kings”. The funny thing is that these men were not kings nor was it likely there were only three visitors from the orient. We number them as three because of the three Gifts they presented.
These men weren’t kings but advisors to kings they were wise men who’s counsel was sought out by kings because of their knowledge of many things. They were called magi because they were known to read the stars in order to tell the future they were a mystical people.
You get a good example of who these people in the book of Daniel. In fact some of the Jews who were carried off in to exile to babylon were chosen to serve the king and would be trained to serve as advisors and “wisemen”.
Dan 1:3-4 “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians”
Among those chosen were Daniel and our friends who were thrown in to the Firey Furnace
Dan 1:6-7 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
In Daniel 2 we see that King Nebuchadnezzar has a bad dream. Now because of this dream we get insight of one way these wisemen were used in the kings service.
The king has this dream so he called all his advisors and they are listed in Daniel 2:2 2 “So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed.”
This collection of men were known to be the Kings “Wise Men”. They were his advisors. If the king has a question for them they would answer him after consorting together. The magicians would do their magic to create illusions and give validly to their message, the enchanters would conger up spirits of the dead to get their answers the sorcerer would mix up potions speak some spell to bring about some mirical the astrologers would read the stars to give their answer. The astrologers would use the placements in the heavenly bodies and interpret them. It is widely assumed by the articles I have read about our Magi in the Christmas story that the men who followed the star that night were astrologers. We will return to that thought in a moment.
As you remember in the story in Daniel. The king has this dream and he wants his “Wiseman” to interpret it for him. But there is a twist. He wants them to first tell him what he dreamed then tell him what it means.
The Wiseman, the astrologers in particular respond to the kings impossible request in dan 2:10-11 “10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”
This makes the king angry and he decides to kill all the” Wiseman” including our friend Daniel. So Daniel summons his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to pray and ask God to show him the kings dream and give him the interpretation of the dream. And God did.
Daniel then finds an audience before the king in the eleventh hour and tells the king his dream and gives interpretation of the dream. The result is that God is glorified and the lives of these Wiseman are saved. Daniel is given high position in the kingdom as the chief advisor.
It is thought that Daniel had a signifant influence in the training of these advisors and included the teaching of his people and His God. Along with the prophecies and laws of Yahweh.
This where these wise men are believed to have come from. Along with the knowledge of God’s promise of a savor and King they were apparently given some external sign of a star or some other heavenly body which moved across the sky and they followed it. It appeared at a certain time and moved from where they were in the east (most likely in the Tigris Euphrates river valley some 500 miles east of Jerusalem).
Some bible scholars suggest that the star or heavenly body appeared the night that the Christ was born. The astrologers saw it that night and followed it to Jerusalem then in to Bethlehem. This explains why it took so long for them to arrive. It would have taken quite some time to traverse 500 miles over the desert to get to this new born king.
The wismen was asked by Herod the exact time the star appeared and from that information Herod gives orders to kill every child in Bethlehem and in the vicinity two years old and younger. It is assumed that Jesus at the time of the Wisemans arrival could be as old as 2 years old.
That bring us to where we are in our story
They Came to Jerusalem
These Wiseman Arrive in Jerusalem asking a question apparently assuming the general population had an answer to when and where their king was born… imagine their thought process at this moment. The Jews have in their prophecies that their king is going to be born and they don’t know.
Apparently after asking around someone brings them to their king which is Herod the sitting “King of the Jews” the visit created quite a stir in the city
1. This band of Wiseman often would travel in a complete entourage not to mention asking around “where is he born king of the Jews. They all were Jews. This clearly made the people a little concerned. In v3 of our text it states that Herod was disturbed and all of Jerusalem with him.
They didn’t know Herod called together the chief priest and teachers of the law (while they were sleeping) and they knew the prophecy but they weren’t expecting him…….really. they had great expectations of a deliver but they were some how blinded of his coming. They knew the scriptures concerning him they quoted from Micah
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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.’
OT prophet reference in Micah 5:2
They had head knowledge of the coming Christ but their heart knowledge didn’t even kick in. it was as if they were sleeping…..
It’s as if they were sleeping (click here to view video casting crowns “while you were sleeping)
Why they came:
We have come to worship him (dedication)
- Over 500 miles
- Looking watching for him and sought him out over 600 years waiting and watching
- They knew what the Jewish leaders missed . Messiah was born.
Gifts of gold incense and myrrh
These gifts honor Jesus as King, Priest and Savior
What about you are you watching for him
Are you longing for a time to honor and worship him
Among the gifts you give this year will you look to offer him a gift that will honor him as your savior, your priest and King?
Wake up o sleeper
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” Eph 5:14
May you know his coming is closer than it ever has before when he comes may hr find you watching and waiting to honor and worship.
don’t be found sleeping
Posted by David Whitten on December 13, 2011 under Featured Articles |
…and there were shepherds……
dsw@GBCC12-11-2011
[Luke 2:8-20]
Most people in America are familiar with this passage, even if they rarely crack open a Bible. These verses from Luke have even entered the popular culture, through Linus’ famous speech in the Charlie Brown Christmas video. Every December since 1965, in between televised scenes of the Grinch slithering around Whoville, and George Bailey being saved by Clarence the angel just as he’s about to jump off the Bedford Falls bridge, and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer running around the North Pole with Herbie (an elf who wants to be a dentist), we have Linus, who discovers the true meaning of Christmas in the gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2.
(DVD Video Charlie Brown Christmas – Linus reads luke 2)
The Nativity has long been a symbol of our Christmas celebration. It helps us focus on the real meaning of the season. Its characters each tell a part of the story of God’s precious gift to us. For the next few weeks that remain in our Christmas season I would like to take a section of the nativity and highlight its signifance in the Christmas story.
Today is like to focus on the shepherds
Linus was kind enough to read this test for us this morning.
In looking at the Shepherds part in our Christmas story we have some obvious questions.
- Who does God announce the birth of His Son to?
- Who does he invite to come and see the new baby? A ragtag collection of sheep herders! There is only one announcement of Christ’s birth recorded in the Scriptures, only one invitation from God to anyone to come visit Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus. And that one invitation goes to a bunch of uneducated, smelly, low-class, social and religious outcasts, a bunch of shepherds.
Let me tell you a bit about shepherds.
a little about Shepherds:
Luke 2:8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Let me tell you what I know about shepherds in bible times. There were three major types of shepherds.
ABBIR: One was a hired man of a servant of a wealthy household or a designated possession in a kings or nobles household. These Shepherds were called “Abbir” which is translated “mighty”. The Abbir was not the picture that we should see when we talk about the “Good Shepherd” or think of David and his care and love for his sheep. The Abbir was not concerned about this sheep. he was a sheep header and had little concern for his sheep other than the money he could make from them. It was strictly business. he would have hired hands to move from one grazing place to another all on the land owner’s land.
I do not believe this the type pf shepherd that was out in the fields that night.
PEASANT / OWNER: There leaves two other types of shepherds the local peasant who owned sheep. Similar to the sheep owner of a single lamb in Nathan’s story the told king David after he sinner with Bathsheebs and against Uriah in 2 Samuel 12. This shepherd owned no more then a hand full of sheep and was located in the town and had a home in the city. they were poor people raising the sheep for his wool that was sold in the market place. The Sheep were like family to its owners. In fact sheep were known to live in the house with the peasant and treated like we would treat our pets.
Even though this is the image of the “good Shepherd” loving his little flock, it is not the type of Shepherd we see here in this story.
A good shepherd could identify each one of his sheep by sight. He knew his sheep and they knew him.
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” – John 10:2-4 (NIV)
BEDOUIN: The Shepherd in our account of the angels is called a Bedouin or nomadic shepherd. When I visited Israel the Bedouins were there following their sheep living in tents along the roadways and in the fields. These are the shepherds that Luke is referring to “living out in the fields nearby” or “abiding” as the KJV puts it… actually means “living under the open sky”.
These Bedouins were a shady sort of people and were not trusted. They were poor and because they were unknown they were accused of any crime that might happen in he particular town hey were near. they would often be shewed off with their herds by local land owners.
They had an abundance of sheep they would live on the money they got from selling the wool from their sheep which was only seasonal pay they would wonder from place to place choosing the town to settle sheering time who had the best market price of wool.
People would often complain of their uncleanliness they smelled like their sheep. They were seldom a part of religious celebrations or festivals. the religious leaders were now welcoming to these travelers because little was known of who they were, they were poor and could offer little to the synagogue and they were considered unclean.
This is the type of shepherd that is spoken of here in this text here in Luke 2:18
the word used here is “poimēn” poi-main which mean “to feed” to a direct word translation is the word “pastor” which is the word used then the bible talks about its spiritual leaders the elders.
So these are the people that the angels appeared to with a message of great joy.
The Message:
When the Shepherds saw the angels the bible says they were Terrified the KJV says they were sore afraid. The word actually used here is the greek word “megus” it means just how it sounds like the word “mega” in which we get the idea of huge or massive in description to their fear it was big fear huge massive fear.
I wondered what it looked like… we respond to fear in different ways. scream like a little girl, run, jump. Start swinging. Faint. I wonder how they responded in their fear.. they were sore afraid…
Well Id be afraid too wouldn’t you? You are sittin out there by your camp fire under the stary night cookin your beanie weenies… or whatever they’d be cookin. Keeping an eye out for possible dangers then boom, a bright light and this angel looking all shiny or what angels look like talking however an angel talks. I imagine a big booming voice.
Now have you ever noticed that almost every time an angel shows up in the bible his first words are “fear not” because it is so unexpected and awesomely spiritual. And his first job is to calm down the one he is intended to bring a message to.
After he calms down these shepherds down he gives them an awesome message…
Listen to the message Given to these Shepherds
Luke 2:10-14 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
The meaning of this message
Great expectation
There was a great expectation of the coming of this promise that the angels revealed that night to these lowly shepherds.
Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David were all promised an savior. All the kings of Israel and the nation as a whole was reminded of this promise over and over again by the prophets. If there was nothing clear to the teachers of the law and prophets this message was clear. God had promised one who would come and save his people.
And they believed it.
They lived in terrible oppression and experienced exile as a nation by the hands of pagan nations. Now they were oppressed as foreigners in their own land and they waited for a deliver likened to Moses and in the line of their Great King David. Their prayer was one of long expected hope of such a messiah.
The prophet Simeon when Jesus was presented at the of 8 days old offered a common thought that was held by the Jews of his day. Listen to this praise of revealed prophecy.
Luke 2:28-32 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
What a wonderful message was brought to those shepherds that night. It is a message of incredible hope.
It is a message that we share today in this season. I love the song we sing this time of year. “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” John Wesley—1745 listen to this message of hope
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
What does it mean to call this child “The Christ”?
One of the most important is the word "Christ". What does it mean to call Jesus, "Jesus Christ"? Or, what implications does it have for us to say that Jesus is the "Christ"?
First of all, the word "Christ" comes from "christos", a Greek word meaning "anointed". It is the equivalent of the word "moshiach" (mä·shē'·akh) , or Messiah, in Hebrew. So, to be the Christ, or Messiah, is to be "the anointed one of God". But what does that mean?
To be anointed is literally to have sacred anointing oil poured on one's head because God has chosen the person for a special task. Priests and kings were anointed, and occasionally prophets. Kings were anointed during their coronation rather than receiving a crown. Even though prophets and priests were anointed, the phrase "anointed one" or "the Lord's anointed" was most often used to refer to a king.
So, the main picture of the word "Messiah" or "Christ" as the "anointed one" was of a king chosen by God. While Jesus also has a priestly and a prophetic role, the main picture that word "Messiah" is used for is a king. Through the Old Testament, we see little hints that God would send a great king to Israel who would someday rule the world.
This has implications about the basic understanding of what a Christian is. We tend to define ourselves by our creeds and statements of belief, but the very word Christ calls us to more than that. If Christ means King, a Christian is one who considers Jesus his Lord and King, and submits to his reign. Those who are saved have two things: both a belief in the atoning work of Jesus, and a commitment to honor him as their personal Lord and King.
They’re response
Luke 2:15-18 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
They Sought Him out
They spread the word
The response to the shepherd’s good news was amazement
