Rest of the Story - The Magi

The Magi and Their Gifts
Matthew 2:1-18

Just the facts!

• Traditions and the two Christmas accounts:
  
  • Matthew & Luke
    
  • Woven into one narrative
    
• John 18:37b “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.”

Wise Men Still Seek Him

• I Corinthians 1:20-21 “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

The Magi

• The Magi = from the <Gk> μάγος (magos)
  
  • A word of foreign origin
    
  • A Magian, that is, Oriental (from the East) scientist
    
• By implication a magician:
  
  • A sorcerer
    
  • A wise man
    
• The Magi were responsible for religious and funerary practices of the ancient Persians.

The Magi’s Gifts

• Matthew 2:11 (Luke 2:39)
  
  • Jesus was probably one or two years old when the Magi found him.
    
  • By this time, Mary and Joseph were married, living in a house, and intending to stay in Bethlehem for a while.
    
  • The Magi gave these expensive gifts because they were worthy presents prepared in advance for a future king.
• Matthew 2:11
  
  • The gifts reflect the symbols of Christ’s identity and work.
    
    • Gold was a gift for a king
      
    • Frankincense, a gift for deity
      
    • Myrrh, a spice for a person who was going to die.
      
  • These gifts may have provided the financial resources for the trip to Egypt and back.

The Star's Characteristics

1. It signified birth.
   
   • The first conjunction signified birth by its association to the day with Virgo "birthing" the new moon.
     
   • Some might argue that the unusual triple conjunction by itself could be taken to indicate a new king.
2. It signified kingship.
   
   • The Planet of King's = Jupiter
     
   • It’s coronation of the Star of Kings signified kingship.
     
   • A triple conjunction by a retrograde planet
     
   • The King star = Regulus
3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.
   
   • The triple conjunction began with the Feast of Trumpets (Jewish New Year)
     
   • This took place within constellation of Leo
     
   • This points to a connection with the Jewish tribe of Judah (and prophecies of the Jewish Messiah).
4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
   
• Jupiter rises in the east.
  
5. The conjunctions appeared at precise, identifiable times.
6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
   
   • Herod was unaware of these things
     
   • They were astronomical events
     
   • They had significance only when explained by experts.
7. The events took place over a span of time sufficient for the Magi to see them both from the East and upon their arrival in Jerusalem.
   
8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
9. It stopped over Bethlehem.
   
   • Planet = a wandering star
     
   • A planet in retrograde appears on occasion to be stopped.

The Herods of the World

• Power-hungry rulers whose actions reek of evil.
  
• Unexplainable evil actions.
  
  • Despite our best efforts to create an atmosphere of cooperation and kindness, it is unrealistic to think we are going to eliminate these divisive, rude, evil people from the face of the earth.
    
  • Our only choice, unless we want to give in or give up, is to work around the evil.
    
• This is an imperfect world, we have a call, a responsibility to work for what is good and right.

The Paradoxical Commandments ---
Kent Kieth

1. People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway!
   
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway!
   
3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway!
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway!
   
5. Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway!
   
6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. Think big anyway!
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for some underdogs anyway!
   
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway!
9. People really need help but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway!
   
10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway!