Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Wise
Here’s the story of the Magi or wise men visiting Jesus:
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
(Matthew 2:1-12 ESV)
Here we have men of reason and knowledge visiting Jesus. They were astronomers or astrologers, the difference was less clear in Jesus’ day. Suffice it to say, they would have believed events in heavens connected with events on earth, and something told them that a King of the Jews was being born.
They used their considerable resources, money, time to travel to Israel. They risk robbery on the road, or disappointment when they arrive. Once there, they gave their treasured gifts, and their worship. They gave their hearts, to a baby or child (this may have happened up to two years after Jesus’ birth).
This was not a small thing, worshipping a baby. If they are wrong, and this isn’t God himself, they could be accused of idolatry, worshipping something on earth rather than God in heaven. They also risk embarrassment, intellectual ridicule, etc.
Question: What practical risks are involved in following Jesus today? How do you calculate what risks are worthwhile?
Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.
Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today!
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This week is about the practice of prayer, and our motivations. We've seen this week how God says we can get what we want out of prayer.
If we want to pray, wherever, however, to know and love God, then we can have that kind of relationship with him - it's offered to us.
If we want to pray in public to impress people with our big words and religiosity, we can have their applause. But that’s it.
I think every sitcom has an episode with a high school reunion, where someone scrambles to find the most beautiful, successful date possible to make everyone else jealous.
Dating them because of what other people will think, rather than because they truly want to know and love the person.
In the same way, we can try and use God, and the outward signs of a relationship with him, to try and impress others.
But Jesus gives us an example of prayer, known as the Lord's Prayer
He started it out with relationship being number one. He began with Our Father. Actually, he said, Abba, an Aramaic word like daddy.
Here’s my paraphrase: Your name is holy. We want your kingdom to come to this earth, for your realm of heaven to be our realm. We trust you to provide for us now and forever, even though we rebelled against you in sin. Because of that you owe us nothing, we owe you everything, but you gave us everything instead. Help us to forgive others in the same way, and keep us from temptation to sin and rebel against you again, so we never stray into evil again, but remain in your light.
Every line is a reflection back to him of God’s values and teachings…as we’ve seen them in Jesus.
This is not a prayer telling God anything he doesn't know…trying to use or control God.
It's not a prayer about how big our words are, or how many there are.
It's about relationship… God I know you and what you care about, and want to know and care about the same things.
That attitude is most apparent in the line, "Your will be done."
Challenge: Pray, this prayer today, quietly, alone. The version in Matthew, might be slightly different from what you may have memorized in the past…but we’ll use it because it’s what we studied today. Start with the whole thing. Then go line by line, and pray to God about each line.
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
(Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
