Follow the Light

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On 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, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  (Matthew 2:7-12)

Thoughts: The wise men, magi from the east were called kings by some in a reference to Old Testament passages that speak of kings bringing gifts to the Messiah.  Numbers 24:17 has an ancient prophecy: "a star shall rise out of Jacob."   Isaiah 9, 11 and Daniel 7 also speak of this.  Psalm 68:29 ("kings shall bear gifts to you") and 72:10 ("May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts") speak of the natural response to bring gifts to a king.  Some have made specific guesses of heavenly signs- from a nova, a comet, a volcanic cloud, alignment of planets- all that happened about this time.  

Raymond Brown rightly points out that Matthew was making a theological point.  Star gazers- following a natural light are pointed to the heavenly light of Christ.  So all of us look at the heavens that are telling the glory of God only to specifically find the clearer revelation of God come to earth to show us the way (and make a way).  

Prayer: Lord, help me to see my need to give to you.  Let me follow the light you give me into your presence.  

12/9- Matthew 2- Spirit of Commercialism

12/9 Scripture – “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Another spirit of this world that can make our Christmases difficult is the spirit of commercialism. Charlie Brown even counters this. He sees Snoopy’s First Place doghouse decorations and cries in frustration, “Even my dog has gone commercial!”  Throughout December and even earlier we are bombarded with things that we can buy that will guarantee our happiness this Christmas season. One of the most moving was the old Coca-Cola commercial that showed the world putting aside all differences over a Christmas soft drink!

But this can create incredible stress as we buy things we don’t need, stress over the right gifts, and try and purchase joy even at enormous cost to ourselves.  Debts can pile up and stresses and tensions mount. And yet the best Christmas moments are not bought in a store. The moment a loved one comes home. A precious memory that warms our hearts. The mystical moment every Christmas Eve when Silent Night is sung by candlelight.

The Holy Spirit creates true unity, joy, and peace. Some of my favorite Christmas traditions are the simplest.  I love to string cranberries and popcorn into garlands, to make “gifts” for the birds with pinecones, to just sit by a fire. But like those wise men long ago the most meaningful times are when we lose ourselves in worship. My husband’s mother started a tradition when the boys were young. Each Christmas Eve we would go out to the barn singing carols. Grace had placed Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in one of the stalls. It was cold and musty and dusty and so peaceful as we shared the Christmas story in a barn. No amount of money could by the feeling on that sacred night in a Spirit-filled barn in the Carolinas. Let us be still and know God this Christmas.

Prayer: Father, make me still so that I may feel your presence and be filled with your peace. Draw me ever-nearer to You and Your Son, and Your Spirit.

Activity: Plan a special time of worship just for you or for you and someone special in your life.

By Rev, Tracie Stewart

12-12-13 Wise Men

"I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel..."(Numbers 24;17- 1300 B.C. by Balaam)

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, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Thoughts: The wise men or Magi- were probably astronomers and pre-scientists from the east.  Some think Babylon (modern Iraq) or the Arabian area (like Qutar today).  Early traditions called these magi kings probably because of the kingly gifts offered to the baby King of kings.  Early tradition had three kings- because of the three gifts but we do not know how many came.  The amazing thing is they left their homes and traveled for months looking for the newborn king.  Their commitment and hope was amazing. 

Here are some explanations of "the start"

1) A conjunction of Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter in 7 B.C. 

2) A comet- the Chinese reported one in 5 B.C. 

3) A supernova- a temporary but brilliant star (probably in the Amdromeda galaxy).  Eusebius and the Protoevangelum of James (2nd century) point toward a surprisingly brilliant and unpredicted star.  Robert McIver points to Chinese and Korean astronomers pointing to a supernova about the time of Christ. He also points to Roman drawing of a supernova in about this time.  

Regardless, the Magi were convinced, and acted on their conviction.  They were not afraid to tell King Herod of a possible challenger to his throne.  They were not afraid to leave their home to travel afar.  We should seek their conviction and action. 

Prayer:  May I seek you and find you, Lord, this Christmas.