Post by GinNJ on Dec 25, 2013 10:05:42 GMT -5
The Visit of the Magi
Matthew 2:1-12
1When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,* behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,2saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star* at its rising and have come to do him homage.”a3When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.*5b They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”9After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.10They were overjoyed at seeing the star,11* c and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
The wise men had heard about Jesus, believed what they heard and acted on it. They sought Him out to worship Him. They worshipped Him by giving Him things that were valuable to them. The actual meaning of the word 'worship' is 'surrender'. Not only did they surrender to Him what was valuable but what they surrendered tells us what they believed to be true about Jesus:
> Gold - symbolic of royalty. They were acknowledging Jesus as King.
> Frankincense - symbolic of priesthood. They were acknowledging Jesus would live a sinless life and be the mediator between God and man.
> Myrrh - used to anoint dead bodies for burial. They were acknowledging that Jesus' purpose was to die.
What a glorious day! The day that God the Father gave us the greatest gift He could ever give...the one true King in the form of man, to live a sinless life, to die for our sins and reconcile us to the Father!
In Luke 2:14 we read:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests"
God's favor, and resulting peace, rests on those who have heard about Jesus, believed what they heard and acted upon it. Praise be to God!
Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receiver her King!
Christmas Offering - Casting Crowns
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three wise men seeking truth, they traveled from afar
Hoping to find the Child from Heaven falling on their knees
They bow before the humble Prince of peace
We bring an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of Heaven, it's only by Your blood
It's only through Your mercy, Lord I come
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
We bring an offering to You
We are an offering to You
An offering of praise we sing
An offering to You
We are an offering to You, Jesus
An offering of praise we sing
An offering to You
We are an offering, oh Lord
We are an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, we bring an offering to You
O Lord, we bring an offering
Offering to You
We bring an offering to You
We are an offering to You
Matthew 2:1-12
1When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,* behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,2saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star* at its rising and have come to do him homage.”a3When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.*5b They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”9After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.10They were overjoyed at seeing the star,11* c and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
The wise men had heard about Jesus, believed what they heard and acted on it. They sought Him out to worship Him. They worshipped Him by giving Him things that were valuable to them. The actual meaning of the word 'worship' is 'surrender'. Not only did they surrender to Him what was valuable but what they surrendered tells us what they believed to be true about Jesus:
> Gold - symbolic of royalty. They were acknowledging Jesus as King.
> Frankincense - symbolic of priesthood. They were acknowledging Jesus would live a sinless life and be the mediator between God and man.
> Myrrh - used to anoint dead bodies for burial. They were acknowledging that Jesus' purpose was to die.
What a glorious day! The day that God the Father gave us the greatest gift He could ever give...the one true King in the form of man, to live a sinless life, to die for our sins and reconcile us to the Father!
In Luke 2:14 we read:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests"
God's favor, and resulting peace, rests on those who have heard about Jesus, believed what they heard and acted upon it. Praise be to God!
Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receiver her King!
Christmas Offering - Casting Crowns
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three wise men seeking truth, they traveled from afar
Hoping to find the Child from Heaven falling on their knees
They bow before the humble Prince of peace
We bring an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of Heaven, it's only by Your blood
It's only through Your mercy, Lord I come
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
We bring an offering to You
We are an offering to You
An offering of praise we sing
An offering to You
We are an offering to You, Jesus
An offering of praise we sing
An offering to You
We are an offering, oh Lord
We are an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You're due
O Lord, we bring an offering to You
O Lord, we bring an offering
Offering to You
We bring an offering to You
We are an offering to You