Is Your Christmas Making a Difference?
Matthew 2:1-11
Series: Christmas with the Classics
December 4, 2011
Morning Service
One of the great Christmas classics, It’s a Wonderful Life, tells the story of George Bailey. George believes that his life has amounted to little and means even less until an angel named Clarence helps him see what life would be like without him. George gets a glimpse of a reality where he never existed.
It’s a Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey and the town of Bedford Falls. George had big dreams of traveling the world, going to college and getting out of Bedford Falls. George never left Bedford Falls to care for the family building and loan. In the process, he struggled and fought with the town control freak, Mr. Potter. As the story unfolds, George’s uncle and partner in the building and loan lost $8,000 dollars. George takes responsibility for the lost money and in desperation finds that he is worth more dead than alive. He makes the decision to kill himself when an angel named Clarence steps in to save the day.
Clarence gives George an unusual gift, he gets to glimpse life as it would be if he never existed. At one point, Clarence makes the statement that George really had a wonderful life. George rediscovers his purpose in life and rediscovers the wonder of living.
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1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:1-11
Misconception #1: The Wise Men were Kings
Nowhere does the Biblical record describe these men as kings. We hear the song We Three Kings and take it for gospel. The Wise Men were Magi, a class of advisors that were part of the Babylonian society. The Magi were well known for various skills such as, diplomacy, the interpretation of dreams, the use of sorcery and politics. The word magi is where we derive our English word magic or magician. The Magi were often wealthy and held great influence in their culture but they were not kings
Wise Men or Magi were among some of the most highly regarded individuals in the eastern parts of the Ancient World. The majority of Magi or Wise Men were known for pagan practices. The Magi were sorcorers, practiced the black arts of magic. Magi were also students of science, astronomy, agriculture and politics. Magi were some of the chief advisors and diplomats of the day.
Matthew records that these Magi were from the East. There is evidence of an Eastern group of Magi that were God-fearers, not sorcerers. These men who come from the east, clearly are influenced by Jewish customs, thought and theology. How can this be? God fearers were non-Jewish followers of the one true God of Israel.
Misconception #2: The Wise Men arrived on Christmas Day
Matthew records that the Wise Men found the child after traveling from the East. The word for child is different than the word for baby. A child was no longer considered an infant. Clearly the language shows that Jesus was not a newborn. There are a number of Christmas plays and programs that depict the Wise Men arriving with the shepherds and giving their treasures to the baby Jesus. There is no way that the Wise Men arrived with the shepherds.
Misconception #3: There were three Wise Men
Nowhere does Matthew tell us that there were three Wise Men and there are no names given. In the Middle Ages names were attributed to the Wise Men but there is no scriptural basis for this. The Wise Men created an incredible stir when they entered Jerusalem and this implies that there was a large group of people traveling with the Wise Men. The Wise Men traveled from the East and likely from the area of Babylon. This would have been a journey of nearly 900 miles and would have months of travel time. These Magi would have not traveled alone and would have likely been accompanied by an armed caravan. The only time that the number three is even implied is with the three treasures, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Misconception #4: The Wise Men were following a star
We are not sure what the star they saw was. There are numerous theories and numerous arguments but none of that matters. Whatever the star was they saw it in the East and traveled to Jerusalem. The issue is that when they arrived, they did not know where Jesus was – where is he?
The Wise Men were overjoyed when the star appeared again and then they followed it to Bethlehem and where Jesus was. The word for star and the word for glory are incredibly close in nature. Some speculate that the Wise Men saw a star in the East which led them to Jerusalem and the glory of the Lord led them to Bethlehem. Either way they were directed by God.
The influence of Daniel
• Daniel saved the Magi from the wrath of the king
• Daniel was highly regarded and respected by the Magi – interpret dreams
• Daniel became the chief wise man over all the wise men in Babylon
• Daniel never returned to Israel
Main lessons on the Magi
The Magi were patient
The Wise Men watched and waited for a sign from God about the coming King. The Eastern philosophies taught that there was a coming King that would rise to universal power from the area of Israel. The Magi watched for some cosmic sign that revealed the birth of the King. They didn’t just sit and wait for something to happen, they were focused on being ready. They saw the star.
There is a new focus on the End Times as more and more events take place. Live your life each day like Jesus is coming today. Live each day like you might meet Jesus before the day is done. Jesus called the disciples to watch and pray. Looking for ways to draw closer to Christ and develop a deeper connection
The Magi were prepared
The Wise Men were prepared to travel
They were prepared with gifts
They disrupted Jerusalem – where is He?
The Magi were progressive
Followed the direction of the star – they were not following it
Fervent about finding the child – passionate
Faithful in their actions
The Magi were purposeful
First goal of the Magi should be the first gift of the church – worship
• Honor
• Glory
• Adoration
The Wise Men made a difference
The gift of effort
The first gift that Magi offered was not material but one of effort. The Wise Men traveled a long distance to visit the baby Jesus. Many scholars believe that the trip would have been hundreds of miles long and would have required an immense effort.
What are some simple things that can be done for others that would take a little effort? Are there talents that you possess that could be of benefit to others? Are there simple things that could be offered that take nothing but some effort? When we give of our efforts, we are truly giving of ourselves.
Ideas for the gift of effort
Common chores such as raking leaves, shoveling snow or mowing grass
Lend a hand in different tasks for friends or family like moving
Put some effort into making something special for someone else
The gift of time
The Wise Men also made a large investment of time. Hundreds of miles seems of little significance today with our modern travel but in the ancient times, traveling required time. The Wise Men invested months of their time just traveling to Israel, not to mention the return trip. Seeing the newborn king was of such importance that the Wise Men invested their time in the offering.
Life is measured by time. How we spend our time speaks volumes of our values and what matters to us. Spending time with other people shows that they are valuable to us and that they matter. The gift of time can mean more than an extravagant present.
Ideas for the gift of time
Take time to make a phone call to an old friend
Write a personal note or send a card – make it personal not something that is written by someone else
Search and find an e-card website and send several on different days – Write a personal message with each one
The gift of personal presence
The Wise Men made a conscious effort to build a bridge between themselves and the Christ child. The effort was made through their travel and their following the star. The Magi made the effort to be present with the newborn king. Sometimes just being with others is an incredible gift.
No amount of money or fancy gift can replace a personal presence. Personal presence is more than just being in the same place, it is actually being focused on the other person. Spending time with others can be one of the greatest investments that anyone can possibly make. People will likely forget the gifts that they received but they may never forget the time spent with family or friends. Invest in the gift of personal presence.
Ideas for the gift of personal presence
Take time to have coffee or lunch with a family member or friend
Make the time to be at important events
Implications Applications
The opportunity to make a difference always carries a price
• Serving Jesus without some form of cost is worthless: Would we really want Jesus to bless us in the same way we serve Him? The fact is that we would want far better from Jesus
The willingness to make a difference comes from the right perspective
Personal implications/applications
1. Christmas makes a difference in our lives – Focus of the message (How the coming of Jesus changes us)
• Humanity of Jesus – Myrrh
• Royalty of Jesus – Gold
• Divinity of Jesus - Frankensence
2. Christmas allows us to make a difference
• Christmas is an opportunity like no other
• Christmas is a season for giving
• Wise Men brought gifts
• Wise men also brought their worship – the most important gift that they brought was not material but spiritual. The best that we do during the Christmas season may not be material but spiritual.
3. Christmas allows us to encounter the Messiah
• The Messiah has come – how do you respond? (Wise Men, Herod or religious leaders)
• The choice belongs to us
