https://www.bible.com/events/49528267
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
The Gifts Part 1
Strange men in a strange land
Today we are starting our advent teaching series called “Thegifts”.throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.
On their own these gifts werevery valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That storyiswhat we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.
Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story theytell.
These are The Gifts.
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
After Jesus is born, strange men from the East enter the story. The bible calls themMagiand we do not know much about them.
They werelikely keyfigures in the eastern culture who prided themselvesinbeingin the knowabout worldly wisdom and philosophy. Theyseem to haveknowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.
They have seen a star in theskyand they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.
They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him.Likely this wasa whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it wasalmost certainlymore than 3 of them traveling that distance.
Matthew 2:3-8
When King Herod heardthishe was disturbed, and all Jerusalemwithhim. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
The name “King Herod” would send a chill down the spine of the original audience. Somethingperhaps evenworse than we might even feel at the name Osama Bin-Laden or Adolf Hitler.
Herod was ruthless when it came to defending his power and position in government.
Scheming behind the scenes, Herod tells the magi to report back to him under the false guise that he too wants to worship this newborn king. With these final nefarious instructions, the magidepart.
Matthew 2:9-10
After they had heard the king, theywent ontheir way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
The NIV gives us a bland translation. The Greek literallysays“they rejoiced with a great joy, exceedingly.”
After a1000 milesjourney, only 6 miles to go to Bethlehem…
Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down andworshipedhim. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold,frankincenseand myrrh.
They worshipped him and then they got up and presented their gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and Myrrh. These giftsrepresentedthevery best, the finest goods,fit for a king.
And they are gifts that point beyond themselves to a tell us a story about who Jesus is.
Over the next fewweekswe will explore each one of these gifts that were presented to Jesus.
Matthew only spent 8 verses telling us about the birth ofJesus, buthas given us 12 verses talking about the Magi, preserving the details of who they were and what they gave.
Today we started with the Magi, because they, in their own way, tell us a story too. They tell us a story of outsiders and strangers who had such a large vision of Jesus, they were willing to do whatever it took to find him. And when they did, theyfell downand worshipped him.
They not only tell us a story,theygive us an example of how we too are to approach Jesus.
In complete humility and surrender, they lay all of their prestige, all of their sense of self, all of thataside,they bow down, forehead to the ground, and worship the king.
And their story, asks us a question- Have you worshipped Jesus like that?
Is your vision of Jesus such that you would do whatever it takes to find him, and when you do, that you would completely throw yourself aside andfall downand worship him?