Week beginning 3rd January

 

This year Christmas may seem to have been different; some Churches are still closed, some are meeting but only listening to music, but Christmas will never be cancelled. We may have been unable to share our gift opening with all our relatives, but that dose not not stop us from sharing the gift of God’s love through sending cards or emails, making phone calls and seeing each other through virtual means of technology. We may be unable to travel long distances, but if we have the right devices, we may be able to wish strangers happy Christmas while keeping our distances. Things were different 2000 years ago. There were no cars, the only transport was by walking or by donkey, horse and in the eastern counties camels.

The wise men or magi travelled a very long way, traditionally by camel, the journey may have been rough, they were foreigners going through strange lands to bring gifts to the Christ child. These gifts we will be looking at in greater detail later.

A Devotional Message by Anne Cetas in our daily bread writes

A mum felt she’d been overspending on family Christmas gifts, so one year she decided to try something different. For a few months before the holiday, she scrounged through yard sales for inexpensive, used items. She bought more than usual but for far less money. On Christmas Eve, her children excitedly opened gift after gift after gift. The next day there were more! Mum had felt guilty about not getting new gifts so she had additional gifts for Christmas morning. The kids began opening them but quickly complained, “We’re too tired to open any more! You’ve given us so much!” That’s not a typical response from children on a Christmas morning! God has blessed us with so much, but it seems we’re always looking for more: a bigger house, a better car, a larger bank account, or [fill in the blank]. Paul encouraged Timothy to remind people in his congregation that “we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:7–8). God has given us our very breath and life—besides providing for our needs. How refreshing it might be to enjoy and be content with His gifts and to say, You’ve given us so much! We don’t need more. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (v. 6).

The wise did not bring to many gifts or too few. That is the reason they are wise.

We Three Kings, arr. Christopher J. Madsen | BYU Men's Chorus - YouTube

Prayer

Lord, may we be like the Wise Men who were guided to you by a star. Give us the wisdom to seek you, light to guide us to you, courage to search until we find you, graciousness to worship you and generosity to lay our gifts before you. Help us to use your gifts wisely for you are our King and our God for ever and ever. Amen.

"Oriental Wise Men of Three" NEW Original Christmas Song! - YouTube

Matthew 2: 1 – 12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory - this was during Herod's kingship - a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. 2 They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signalled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him." 3 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified - and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. 

4 Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?" 5 They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: 6 It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."  7 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared.  8 Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." 9 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. 10 They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! 11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshipped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. 

The three wise men, also known as magi, were men belonging to various educated classes. Our English word magician comes from this same root. But these wise men were not magicians in the modern sense of sleight-of-hand performers. They were of noble birth, educated, wealthy, and influential.

There are Three gifts are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew but it is unclear how many Magi travelled heading East

The Gifts

The First Gift Gold

Gold is obvious. It’s been the store of value for thousands of years. It’s rare and difficult to accumulate. It’s easy to work into shapes or very thin sheets. And it doesn’t rust or corrode. All of these recommend it as a store of value and its use is all over the Old Testament books of the Bible, especially in the description given for building the temple and the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25). 

Solomon’s vast wealth is described in the amount of gold he accumulated. 1 Kings 10:14(14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents. That is, about 25 tons or about 23 metric tons

It’s no wonder that gold was the Old Testament symbol of kings. Thus, when the magi brought gold to honour Jesus, they were proclaiming him king.  Even more than that they were proclaiming him to be the ultimate king, the “king of kings.” 

The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh.

The Second Gift Frankincense

Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.

The Third Gift Myrrh

Myrrh was also a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to our Saviour when He was about to be crucified, a  wine drugged with myrrh, will help deaden the sense of pain. (Mark 15:23). Matthew 27:34 refers to it as “gall.” Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction.

The Wise men’s song

https://www.youtube/watch?v=lwnXK55VeSU

The Magi.

They laughed behind their hands when we set off.

Our camels loaded. What will it be?

A king? A child? A what?

We headed westward with anticipation and gifts.

The omen was clear shining in the sky

our compass and guide.

 

All of our studies seemed true.

But what if we found no child no king?

Could we return? Our reputations a joke  but “something” was felt by us all as we travelled the long miles west.

 

We found a king in Jerusalem. Too old,

Too mean, Too unwise.

We vowed not to return this way.

We stargazed on and came to a man, woman and child. No pretensions. Humble Joy filled poor but ALIVE! Then we knew! We were sure! The child, king messiah was found.

We could return home with stories with hope …. and our reputations.

Taken from The magi posted on line by Pieter Stok  

Prayer

Lord Father God, may your light shine in the darkness, guide my foot steps as once you guided the steps of the magi: that I too may be led into your presence and worship, I want to bring to you all my thanks, help me to use the gifts you have given me that that my actions bring you honour and praise. Thank you for your son, the Christ child, that through him others may seek His forgiveness, for Jesus is the king of Kings, Lord of Lord.

Nations, will bow down and worship the saviour of mankind,

For Yours O God, is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Have you ever lost any thing and spend ages looking for them especially if they are keys.

I must admit from time to time I have taken the wrong turning .and getting lost.

Or taking a short cut which ended up adding miles to the journey modern cars and mobiles can use SAT Navs. But the wise men did not have these they followed the direction they had, Gods guiding light, God led them mile upon mile across lands they may not have known, speaking different languages.

But they trusted God and after consulting with King Herod they went on.

The men were wise they realised that God had given them a warning in in a dream not to go back to Herod. They were obedient and went back a different route. Wise folk still seek him to day. I pray that The Christ Child will come close to you and fill you with his peace and love.

wise men still look for Him

CBC Choir- Wise Men Still Seek Him - YouTube

Wishing you a very happy and Peaceful 2021.

Joy to the World (2017) - Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble & the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - YouTube