Magi 1

Matthew 2:1-2

This Advent season we are looking at the meaning of Christmas. What is the point and purpose for all the familiar stories related to the birth in Bethlehem? The same question can be asked about the holiday season we celebrate. What is our focus?

So often the Christmas holiday becomes all about the gifts. And if we are able to look beyond the gifts we may focus instead on the traditions – the meals, the gatherings with friends and family, the decorations, the trees and the lights.

All of these are wonderful parts of the celebration of Christmas but at the center is the baby born in the manger. What do we know about the baby Jesus?

We see the beginning of who this child is with the story in Matthew 2. Who came to visit the baby after he was born? Who are they looking for? What was their sign?

We often depict the Magi as kings from foreign countries. The tradition began, I believe, because of the gifts they brought and the attitude they had in their visit. They had expensive, valuable presents to give the child and as they sought him out they went first to King Herod. After all, for such an important birth the ruler of the land would certainly know where the child was.

But the Bible refers to these visitors as “Magi,” wise men. These men may not have been kings, but instead were very intelligent scholars. They were wise. They had been studying the skies and had seen a supernatural indication that something special had taken place. A bright, unusual star had appeared in the skies and moved to indicate where a special birth had taken place.

Who was this child who had been born? We simply refer to him as Jesus, but these wise men knew him to be a king. He was a person of great value, a person with wonderful power and authority. This was why they came to give gifts, to honor this great king.

As we celebrate Christmas we must remember that this tiny, helpless child who was born was actually indeed a great king. He was the Son of God and as the child of God he was the king of all kings on earth. He was and still is the Lord of all rulers.

We must work to have the wisdom of the Magi. We must be wise enough to recognize that Christmas centers on the child king that was given by God to rule over all of us in tremendous love.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you remember that Jesus is the king?

Prepare 2

Matthew 2:1-2

As a pastor there are many times when people will tell me that I might expect a phone call from someone else. They often explain what is going on, what problem, what need, and then when I do receive the call I am at least partially informed of what to expect. I must be prepared so that I can help.

Part of the familiar Christmas story involves the Magi, a term which means “wise men.” Where were the Magi from? What did they want to know? What made them look for this new king?

Little is known of these Magi, but we can assume from their story and the term that is used to describe them that they were intelligent men, astronomers, and apparently men of some financial means. They must have been watching the skies for any change in the formations of the stars because the appearance of a special star tipped them off that a great event had happened. A king was born to the Jewish people.

And whoever it was that was born must have been a special king since there is little record of foreigners traveling long distances to honor any of the other kings born to a royal family. The Magi claimed that they had come, not just to bring nice gifts, but to worship this new king.

These Magi (somehow gaining the title of “kings” over the years) are a traditional part of the story. There images are among the figures of any Nativity scene during the holidays. And they teach an important lesson about our approach to the Christmas celebration.

We can assume that they had prepared for this event. Their journey and their gifts were not a spur of the moment decision. They had anticipated the birth. They had watched for the sign. They had prepared so they would be ready to worship the new king when he arrived.

We too must approach Christmas like the Magi. We too must be wise in our preparation for the holiday. We should be prepared to honor God at Christmas, not allowing the holiday to surprise us and not allowing ourselves to miss out on the true meaning of what is going on. We must be ready to worship the king this holiday.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What must you do to prepare yourself to worship Christ this Christmas?

Rebel 4

Matthew 2:1-2

Part of the fun of Christmas is the surprise of the gifts. It is fun to give someone something when they aren’t exactly sure what it is that they are getting. There is joy in seeing the look of excitement at some unexpected present. One of my worries over the holidays is accidentally spilling the beans about what gifts we are giving.

The gift of Jesus Christ was indeed one of those unexpected gifts in a way. The birth of a Messiah was predicted and looked for, but no one knew exactly when it would happen. And the birth of this small child was the beginning of a rebellion in that society. Jesus, the Messiah, came to turn things upside down, to help the poor, to heal the sick, to forgive sinners. He would be a king far different from the earthly kings people were accustomed to.

One of the signs to indicate the birth of this new king was a star that appeared in the east. Who came because of the star? Who did they visit first?

The wise men, or Magi, were able to determine that a great king had been born in Judea. A star had appeared and they followed it many miles to Jerusalem. And here, in this capital city, they looked first for the new king. They asked the current king, Herod, about the new-born child.

It was an innocent assumption on the part of these three. They assumed that the next great king would be born in the majestic and important city of Jerusalem, so they started their search there. But in visiting Herod they tipped their hand, so to speak. They let this cruel and ruthless king know that one greater than he had been born. Herod learned from the wise men that a rebellion was beginning.

But that rebellion was not a political or military rebellion. It was a rebellion of attitude and behavior. Jesus came to bring love and peace and mercy, not strife and struggle and greed.

As we celebrate Christmas this year we encourage you to be part of the rebellion Jesus began. Rebel against strife and greed. Rebel against insensitivity and callous behavior. Instead, let us spend less money on presents and spend more time in fellowship with one another. Let us share a smile and our time with those we love, and also with the stranger we see on the street.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Is there something new you will do this Christmas, something good that is different than what you have done in the past?