2019-12-31 Epiphany • Runs for 12 days after Christmas • Celebrates Jesus as the light of the world Jesus, Light of the World • Today we are in the Matthew 2:1-12 season of Epiphany The Magi • The story found in Matthew 2:1-12 – Magi, who are Gentiles (like us), are searching for the The Rising of the Star coming King Matthew 2:1-2 In the time of King Herod, after ‘Rising of the Star’ Jesus was born in Bethlehem of • ‘Star’ – 4x – v2,7,9,10 Judea, wise men from the East • The Magi come to Jerusalem came to Jerusalem, asking, following the star ‘Where is the child who has been • Takes place during the time born king of the Jews? For we of Herod – Herodian rule observed his star at its rising, and for 150 years in Israel have come to pay him homage.’ 1
2019-12-31 A Sense of Expectation • An awareness that God is • Balaam’s prophecy to Balak – going to act “I see him, but not now; I • A sense of hope – looking behold him, but not near — a and trusting in God’s future star shall come out of Jacob” actions (Numbers 24:17a) A Sense of Fulfillment • Micah’s prophecy has been • The star has risen – the fulfilled – “from you shall prophecy has been fulfilled - come a ruler to shepherd my the Messiah has been born in people Israel” (v6) the baby king (v2) An Offering of Worship • They come bearing gifts (v11) On entering the house, they saw • They are filled with joy (v10) the child with Mary his mother; • The magi serve as models for and they knelt down and paid him us to follow homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him • Raises the question: What are gifts of gold, frankincense, and we searching for? myrrh. Matthew 2:11 2
2019-12-31 The Story’s Dark Thread • Not everyone chooses the light • Some prefer the darkness; then and now Choosing Fear Over Love Herod, Filled with Fear Do We Imitate Herod? • Not only Herod but ‘all • The truth is we often resist Jerusalem with him’ (v3) God rather than seek him • Seen acted out in the • We want to go our own way massacre of the innocents • We fill and live our lives in with the rage of Herod fear (v16-17) Do We Want to Change? • We seek darkness rather than light • This is demonstrated as we choose enmity rather than Choosing Love Over Fear reconciliation 3
2019-12-31 Receiving Christ’s Love Choosing Light Over Darkness • To receive Christ’s love for us • To make a decision to • To move into that sphere of choose light, peace, love love • To not give in to our • To pass that love on to piccadillos & immediate others compensations Choosing Peacemaking • To seek reconciliation with others to the best of our ability • To allow Christ’s peace to fill us & then live from that place of peace 4
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