For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are 4 readings of Scripture prior to the Message: Today's assigned readings are: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-19 and Mathew 2:1-13
Let us pray...... O' Heavenly Father we thank-you for the gift of your son. Help us to place commitment ...to our conviction... Help us to place feet ...to our faith. To be as the Magi ... the wise men...... and to rise up ...and follow the star. To rise up ...and follow your son. And it is in his name... the strong name of Jesus ... that we pray. (Pause)
A family was driving into Fredericksburg, Virginia, ... for a Christmas season get-together.
As they passed by the Anglican church... there was a manger scene in the yard, ... The youngest boy asked his mother...... what is that?
"Honey...That is Mary, Joseph, ......and the Baby Jesus, is lying ... in the manger,".
A few blocks further on ... they passed the Methodist church, ...where a scene was depicting ......the journey ... of the Wise Men.
"Who are they?" ...the young boy asked.
"Those are the Wise Men, ...they are looking for the Baby Jesus."
"Well, they're not all that wise" ... the young boy replied, ..."they won't find him there.
He's down the street... at That Anglican church." (Pause)
The annual observance ...of the birth of our Savior... is almost over.
Epiphany, ...is commemorated Today January 7th ... and it ends the liturgical celebration, ...... of the "Twelve Days of Christmas."
No gifts of turtle doves, ...French hens or a partridge in a pear tree; ...
Rather we celebrate ... the biblical gifts...... of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
When you look at a manger scene ...... what do you normally see?
There is Mary and Joseph, ...and the baby Jesus.
And ... Gathered around the manger, ... you see ... cows and sheep ... and shepherds.
But who else is usually standing near the manger ... ......the Wise men.
But when the wise men arrive, ...where do the scriptures state that Mary and Joseph are living? (Matthew 2:11)
That's right... Joseph ... Mary and Jesus... are in ... a HOUSE
BIBLE "On entering the house, ... they saw the child with Mary his mother, ......and they knelt down and paid him homage..." END Matthew 2:11
From other information that we find in the Gospel of Matthew... it appears ...that Jesus must have been a toddler ...when the Wise men came to offer... their gifts.
Possibility ... He was a two-year-old. ...Clearly...He was no longer lying in the manger.
They have found a house to live in, ... and Joseph most likely ... has set up shop ...as a local carpenter ... in the town of Bethlehem.
1 ½ to 2 ½ years have probably transpired since the birth.... of the Christ Child.
The shepherds came ... some time ago...... and the scriptures are silent ...as to anyone else coming to visit... since his birth.
Now enter the Wise Men.
Some scholars speculate it might have taken these Wise men up to 4 months to make the journey to Jerusalem.
Not including their time of preparation.
And theirs was not a "safe" journey.
Much of the way ... would have been unprotected.
Thieves and robbers plagued many of the roads ......and forced merchants and commoners ... to travel in large caravans, ... for safety.
But these ......were neither commoners nor merchants.
These were prominent men.
It has been speculated that "at a minimum ... they would have brought with them a full military escort along with their servants.
The total party ......could have amounted to more than 300 people."
That would have explained the stir they caused ...when they rode into Jerusalem.
To have 300 people ......walk into Jerusalem ... a caravan of obvious importance ... would have caught the attention ... of the entire city.
And the fact that these wise men ......had no trouble gaining an audience with King Herod... gives us an in-sight...that these were men of prominence and of power.
So, ... we are clearly looking at more than just 3 guys out for a ride ...on their camels.
This was a large band of men ......who had traveled a great distance ...over dangerous roads.
Just to prepare for their journey ... would have taken months.
That is why most scholars believe these wise men ......did not arrive ......for approximately 2 years after Jesus birth.
Many legends have grown up around the story of these Wise men, ...... one of which ... is that they were... " 3 kings."
The idea of Three Kings ... was to correspond ... to the 3 gifts ... that were given to the Christ child... one gift ... from each King.
The truth is ... We really do not know how many there were ... or who they are.
Where they really kings? ... (Slow) Probably not.
Matthew calls them... "Wise men from the East."
The Greek term Is ...MAGOI (MAH-goy) ...which is where we receive the title... MAGI.
They were probably astrologers ...... which explains why they would have noticed ...... and then been so enthralled about ... finding this unusual star ... in the sky.
As they would later say to Herod, BIBLE "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." END
The idea...... that heavenly signs marked the births and deaths of great leaders ...... was widely accepted... in the Eastern culture.
What these MAGOI saw intrigued them... it excited them enough ...to leave their homeland ...and to follow the star.
They were probably from Babylon ...... And it was going to be a very long journey ...to the town of Bethlehem.
For these Wise men, ......this was the most important journey ...... they would ever take.
Nobody ... No one ... No-thing ... was going to stand between them ...and following that star.
These Magi made a dramatic commitment of time ...to search for ... this New king. (Pause)
Beloved...The gift of time ...is one of the most precious gifts ... That we can give tour Lord.
When the Wise men of old came to find Jesus in Bethlehem ... they focused not on themselves ... ...Not on what they could receive ...but on what they could give ...what they could give to ... this king.
And the first thing they gave Him ...was time.
How could one not find the time ... for the one they call their King... Their Lord and Savior?
And Beloved ... Wise men ... and wise women ... still seek him.
Those who call themselves followers of the Christ... ... find time ... make time ... to be with their king. (Pause)
There is a wonderful message from these Wise men ... for us.
First ... These three or however many MAH-goy ... met God ......in the midst of their daily work ...
They were at their work... When God gave them ... a sign.
God is not limited to meeting with us ...in a certain place ...or at a certain hour.
God can ... and God does speak to us ... Anywhere ... and at Any time.
The message Beloved ... is to be constantly prepared...... To be constantly Alert ...... for what God has prepared for you ... For what God has ... in store for you. (Pause)
(1 Finger) So the First message is: ... to make time ... to spend time with the Lord ... God will meet you in your daily life ... Be alert.
(2 Fingers) And the second ... have a willingness ......... A willingness in your heart ... to take action.
The Wise Men could have noted the appearance of the star in their charts... And done... nothing more.
They could have indicated... that this phenomenon, probably heralded something very special, ... and then gone back ...to their normal lives. Yet they did not!
(Slow) They put commitment ...to their conviction, ... They put feet... to their faith, ... and commenced to follow. (Pause)
When God presents us with a new opportunity, ... Are you ... willing to get up ... and put feet ... to your faith?
The Message of the Wise Men ......should enlighten us... that there is something special ... something remarkable ... that awaits us ... at the end... of the journey. (Long Pause)
One of the things ... that has intrigued me about this Account ... is the incredible wrong turn .... these Wise men took ... as they neared ... the end ... of their journey.
Instead of following the star to Bethlehem, ...they stopped in Jerusalem ... to ask directions.
Which has caused some to suggest ...that this is why these magi are so famous...
They are the only men in history ...... known to stop ... to ask for directions. (Pause)
Yet...In a way ... the visit with Herod ... might be expected.
After all, ... they were on a journey to welcome a New ..."King of the Jews," ... presumably ...Herod's new born son.
They question Herod at his court... BIBLE "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?" END
Herod calls on the Chief Priests and the Scribes and where did they look for the answer?
The Scriptures!
As corrupt as Herod's administration was ... they knew where the truth could be found.
BIBLE "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet ..." END (Pause)
So, it has been written ... These Wise men ... found the truth ... they found their way ... when they received insight from ...... the Scriptures.
So...What is God calling us to do... as his people?
We need not guess.
The answers are found in the pages of Scripture (Hold up) ... Within this love letter ... from the heart of God.
The Scriptures were clear... And The magi were back on course.
Beloved ... when you are lost ... when you feel far away from God ... turn to his word ... and he will lead you back on course.
The MAGOI found Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea... and they laid before him their gifts ... and they worshiped him. (Pause)
There is a lesson for us ... in the gifts that were given.
In fact, ... it would appear ... that God Himself ... had inspired their offerings:
The Gold - presented to the infant King ... represented His royalty.
Frankincense ... an expensive resin ... that was burned in the temple as a symbol of prayer ... spoke of His divinity.
And Myrrh, ... another expensive resin that ... was used in embalming ... representing His death... His death for us.
These were gifts given with care ...... and in adoration ......of this newborn King.
But as religious as their gifts were... they had a practical value ... That the Magi may not have even realized.
Hear God's word...
BIBLE "When (the Wise men) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'" END Matthew 2:13
How would Mary, ... Joseph ... and their baby child ...survive in a foreign country ... no family ... no immediate source of income?
How... They have gold, ...They have frankincense ...... they have myrrh.
Gifts of great Value.
A currency ...accepted throughout the known world. (Pause)
(1 Finger) Beloved... Just as the Magi, ... be ready... Be alert...to meet God in the midst of your everyday life, ...... then rise up and follow the star.
(2 Fingers) What you believe should determine how you behave.
Be willing to put commitment to your conviction.
Be willing to put feet on your faith; ...... then rise up and follow the star;
(3 Fingers) Scripture is God's living word ... your resource to know God's direction for your life......let his word ...... permeate your very being.
Then...rise up and follow the star. (Pause)
O' Beloved ... Where is the light of that star leading you?
Once we come into the true presence of Jesus ... it changes ... everything.
Take time... Find time... Make time ... for the one you call your Savior and your Lord.
For Wise men ...and Wise women ... still seek him.
Be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit ... that resides within your very being.
Prepare your heart to encounter the risen Lord.
Prepare your heart for action.
(Slow) Then Beloved Rise up ...Rise up ... And Follow the star!
Rise up and follow the one you call your Savior ... and your Lord.
Rise up and follow Jesus.
Amen and Amen!
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