Advent Series: The Magi
Matthew 2: 1-12
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (use as appropriate)
Bethlehem (also called Ephrath or Ephrathah) was the ancestral home of David, probably Israel’s greatest king. It was not large or significant and lay just a few miles south of Jerusalem.
Herod the Great was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal and an excellent administrator – and also wise enough to keep in favour with successive Roman emperors. His building projects (notably the temple at Jerusalem, begun in 20 BC) were admired far and wide. His love of power caused him to inflict heavy taxes on his people and he resented the fact that most Jews regarded him as a usurper. In his later life he turned to cruelty and, in fits of rage, killed many of his close associates. The Roman Emperor Augustus said of Herod, that it was safer to be his pig than his son! Jesus was born before the death of Herod, which (in our calendar) was probably about 4-5 BC.
Wise men from the East (ancient Greek = magoi). They probably came in significant numbers – far more than three! The term “magoi” came to cover a wide range of people interested in dreams, astrology and magic. There is some suggestion that they were descendants of Jews exiled from Judah centuries earlier. If so, were they aware of the prophecies about the Messiah? The tradition that they were kings can be dated to the time of Tertullian (died c225), and probably developed under the influence of Old Testament passages saying that kings will come and worship the Messiah (e.g. Psalm 68.29; 72.10-11; Isaiah 49.7; 60.1-6). Church tradition also gives us their names – Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar. If you are really interested you can see their supposed skulls in Cologne Cathedral, Germany!
Star in the East – many suggestions for the natural origin of this remarkable star. A conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter? A supernova? A comet? Whatever it was, it is significant that God met them in their own medium: a star. Jewish scholars would have seen this as a messianic fulfilment of Numbers 24.17: A star shall come out of Jacob; a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.
Chief priests and scribes – chief priests would include those who once held the office of High Priest. This was a political appointment which Herod frequently changed. The scribes (teachers of the law) were experts in the Old Testament and its many traditions. They taught the scriptures rather than copying out manuscripts.
Gold, frankincense and myrrh – it was common in the East that one would never appear before royalty without bringing a gift. Three gifts – three wise men? It is often stated that gold = royalty; frankincense = divinity; myrrh = death. However, it is probably true to say that the wise men were unaware of this significance – they simply wanted to honour this new king.
The gold would prove to be most useful in the following months when Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt with Jesus. But more important than the gifts was that they worshipped Jesus. What a curious sight it must have been to see such dignitaries bowing before a young child.
I suggest you consider 3 cartoons by Anne Lewin to look at this passage as we try to consider the significance of the visit by the “Wise Men”.
CARTOON 1 – a room with three men dressed in flowing robes and standing around a dining table which is being set for a meal. Through the window you can see a young couple coming down the road and pushing a buggy. The servant is looking somewhat confused, and the caption reads: You see, last year we went to see them, so this year they are coming to us.
Q. Do you have this discussion at Christmas time – whose turn is it to host? Whose turn is it for the grandparents to come and spend Christmas? Is it always easy to come to a decision?
Q. Can you discern a deep truth behind the cartoon which challenges us for the coming year?
CARTOON 2 – the wise men are seen having a discussion as they prepare to set off on their journey to find this new king. Two of them are holding the traditional gifts, but the third is holding an envelope. In response to their concerned looks he says: Yes I know, but a token is much lighter and much easier to carry.
Q. What is your response to God for the coming year? Is your faith just a token/a gesture – come to church and the housegroup but not much more? Or will you be prepared to offer something far more precious?
CARTOON 3 – the Rector is sitting in the Vestry, filling a cardboard box with the church nativity figures. The caption reads: So it was back in the cupboard to be taken out again next Christmas.
Q. You may well have done this already! But has this Christmas made any difference to your faith? Have you discovered anything new about Jesus? Have the services you attended over the Advent/Christmas period encouraged you/challenged you in your faith?
If you have time, you might like to reflect on the different responses shown by (a) Herod, (b) the chief priests and scribes, (c) the wise men (Magi)
PRAYER
You might like to have a time of reflection so that each person can have an opportunity to renew their own personal commitment to Christ in the coming year – perhaps with a lighted candle, 2024 diary and music? Something along these lines …..
The people of God had become careless in their relationship with the Lord, so He rebuked them through the prophet Haggai: `Consider your ways’ (Haggai 1.5). The start of a new year is a good time to do this.
What one thing can you do in 2024 to increase your enjoyment of God?
What is the biggest time-waster in your life, and how might you redeem the time?
What is the most helpful way you could strengthen your church?
Who will you pray for in 2024 that they may come to Christ?
What one thing will you try to do differently in 2024?
Further notes to aid discussion:
Cartoon 1: Can you discern a deep truth behind the cartoon which challenges us for the coming year?
Jesus comes to us every year, and he stays with us throughout the year, in good times and in difficult times. The real challenge is how you will respond to God’s amazing generosity throughout 2024. Have you made any resolutions which will impact on your Christian faith in the coming year?
Cartoon 2: What is your response to God for the coming year? Is your faith just a token/a gesture – come to church and the housegroup but not much more? Or will you be prepared to offer something far more precious?
We are not talking here about money – though the start of a new year is always a good time to reflect on our financial giving. The most precious thing we have is ourselves, and we are precious to God: ‘You are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you’ (Isaiah 43.4).
Cartoon 3: You may well have done this already! But has this Christmas made any difference to your faith? Have you discovered anything new about Jesus? Have the services you attended over the Advent/Christmas period encouraged you/challenged you in your faith?
The commercial world has already moved on – perhaps you have seen crème eggs and hot cross buns on sale already! But the real message of Christmas is that God is with us 365 days a year. The baby of Bethlehem will become our crucified Christ.
The different responses to Jesus:
Herod’s response was brutal but, in his eyes, it was reasonable. He saw the coming of a new king as a threat to his power and authority. Having spent years scheming, double-crossing and murdering to keep his position he was not going to let it go – whatever it might take to keep it. He knew he could only rule by might and not by right. He knew that a new “King of the Jews” called for swift and decisive action. His massacre of the children was brutal and horrific, but he saw it as perfectly REASONABLE. It is interesting to note that within a short time he developed a painful illness and died in agony.
The chief priests were the descendants of Aaron, the ones called to supervise the temple and the sacrificial system. The scribes were the spiritual descendants of Ezra and were called to steward the Hebrew scriptures as spiritual guides to Israel. Both groups were waiting for the Messiah, speaking about the Messiah, praying for the Messiah, and praising the Messiah in their worship psalms. They knew the messianic prophecies and that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5.2). Sadly they could only look to the past and were not willing to see God at work in the present. They watched as the Magi made their way to Bethlehem, such a short journey; they didn’t even go along to check the claim of the Magi. Their reaction was totally UNREASONABLE. For them tradition and religious activity was used as a substitute for radical obedience. The seeds were being sown for the death of Jesus and the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Daniel had held the position as chief of the Babylonian and Persian Magi many centuries earlier and he spoke about the prophecies about the Messiah – had they been passed on from generation to generation? So when God spoke to them in a language they could understand – through a star – their response was perfectly REASONABLE.
It led them to ‘transform their thinking, disturb their diaries and demand their worship. They responded reasonably, radically and unreservedly. They left nothing behind in response to King Jesus. Wise men and women still do so today.’ (Phil Moore)