December 09, 2007

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 Scripture KJV

Reverend David S. Huffer

Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
 Waynesboro, VA

Matthew

2:1		Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2:2		Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

2:9		When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
2:10		When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11		And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The Christmas Crazies - Did The Magi Do Magic?

Matthew 2:1-2; 9-11

Christmas – Have you felt the rush of it?

·              It’s been coming a long time now, and here it is December!

·              Our calendars are quickly being filled with parties to go to and bonus’ to think of,

·              As well as presents to buy, places to go and people to see and food to prepare!

This Christmas stuff is enough to drive a person crazy!

Question – Why do we make Christmas time crazier than any other time in our lives?

·              I don’t see anyone getting crazy over “Turkey Day” like they do over Christmas – WHY?

This morning I am hoping to draw us out of the craziness long enough to take a more “sane” look at Christmas and what it is really about.

So let’s begin with those wise guys called the Magi.

·              DID THE MAGI DO MAGIC?

READ MATTHEW 2:1-2; 9-11

Have you thought about the Magi yet this season?

·              These men come around every year at Christmas time

·              We hear about them in sermons, plays, and songs.

Who were these who traveled from a far to see the Christ child?

·              A lot of “speculation” and “supposing” sometimes filled with “superstition” is told concerning the Magi

·              After all it is where we get our word “magic.”

Some believe these men were magicians traveling in a side show called “The Eastern Extravaganza of Really Neat Magic Tricks!”

·              And they went from town to town pulling quarters out of people’s ears and sawing them in half

Of course – I am kidding – they didn’t saw people in half – they quartered them!

SERIOUS THOUGH – by the 6^th century the Magi of Matthew 2 had been identified as kings from the orient (We Three Kings of Orient are) and given names:

Balthazar = King of Arabia

Melchior = King of Persia

Gasper, (the friendly ghost – No!) = King of India

And listen to this story:

“Early Christian legends tell of twelve wise men living in the East.

·              Their special treasure was a scroll written by Seth, the son of Adam

·              On this scroll were written prophecies concerning the Messiah of the Jews and the star which would appear at His birth

·              This group of wise men devoted themselves to watching for the Messiah’s star

·              From generation to generation, every month these twelve wise men would ascend into a mountain cave and spend three days purifying themselves in its fountains, searching for the star

·              And praying to be led to the Messiah

·              As each man died, his son or other close relative took his place

About the year 6 B.C., the long awaited star appeared

·              It shone brightly in the shape of a beautiful boy child with a cross glowing behind him

·              The star-child announced: “The King of the Jews is born in Judea”

·              Go quickly to worship him” (ChristStory Christmas Symbols)

This is nothing more than a fabricated story such as the “Lord of the Potter Rings of Narnia” (Most won’t catch it!)

The speculations of magical entreat go on and on as to who the “Magi” were.

·              But maybe more than asking “who” the Magi were – we should ask, “WHY” the “Magi?”

Naturally, Fulfillment of prophecy – some suggest, Isaiah 60:1-7 speaks of kings coming “to the brightness of your rising” (v. 3) and gifts of “gold and frankincense” (v. 6)

·              kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.”

·              Prophecy of the Magi

But rather than holding to some Christmas production where it reads “Magi enter stage right”

·              These men, whoever they are, reveal much more to us than just a bit of Christmas magic

·              They reveal truths that are “obvious” – but have become “oblivious” to many

MAGI REVEAL: CHRISTMAS IS A JOURNEY - Matt.2:1b

Some debate where they came from – East? West?

·              But there is no doubt that Christmas requires each of us to journey in order to find its true meaning

Will Christmas journey into the depths of our hearts?

·              The Magi journeyed beyond the dictates of their hearts and minds

·              They followed the guidance of God by way of the star

Some people wonder about the star asking if it were nothing more than an astrological happening God had prepared or had coincidently used to guide the Magi.

·              Now is not the time to debate – but know this – If God can manifest Himself in times past in a pillar of fire and smoke and if He can place all of the stars in the sky and name them – then He would have no trouble creating a special star to shine at His Son’s birth.

Too simple you say – Then you are being led by something other than what the “magi” were being led by.

·              Scriptures say that the Magi rejoiced at the re-appearance of the star.

FRIENDS – Do you and I rejoice at God’s leading in our lives?

Let us journey beyond the presents, pressures, and parties, as well as ourselves, to find the real reason of Christmas.

MAGI REVEAL: CHRISTMAS IS FOR THE ASKING – Matt.2:2a

The magi arrived “asking” the whereabouts of the new born King, revealing the intents of their hearts – to worship Him.

·              Where is Jesus in Christmas this year?

·              Where is the whereabouts of this One who came to be the Savior of our lives?

·              Where will we find Him?
 

FRIENDS – The BIG question at Christmas is not “Where is Jesus?”  But “What do you want for Christmas?”

So what are you asking for Christmas this year?

·              Our lists are long of things that we think we need

·              Many a face will be longer when they realize they have not gotten what they want

·              And – if we get everything we asked for – Then what?

·              What will our lives be full of – ourselves?

Every Christmas there is a “spirit of Herod” (selfishness) that prevails in many a heart

·              Even  more so than Scrooge

·              There is always the danger of making Christmas about myself rather than the One who has been born for me.

FRIENDS - Christmas asks about the whereabouts of Christ in your life

MAGI REVEAL: CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT WORSHIP – Matt.2:11

Worship is a powerful expression of where the heart is.

·              The Magi in bowing down placed the worth of the Christ (Messiah) higher than themselves

FRIENDS – That’s real worship! Putting greater “worth” on God and His Son, and the salvation of the world.

The truth is “worship” is not about songs and sermons – though they can be useful to bring each of us to a point of placing greater worth on Christ.

·              Worship is about – Christ – God’s Son – Our savior

In their worship – the Magi gave of themselves

·              Today – we see worship as more “getting” than “giving”

·              We walk away from our worship services of “songs and sermons” and say: “I didn’t get anything out of that.”

·              When in reality it is not about getting – but giving myself to the One I put greater worth on and in

·              Than all of me and all my stuff

CHRISTMAS IS TO MANY – MORE ABOUT GIVING THSN GETTING

The apostle Paul quotes Jesus as saying; “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
 

STORY – I was at Wal-Mart and a young boy excitedly showed me a pocket full of change and some wadded up bills that he was planning to use on buying presents for others.

FRIENDS – That is what Christmas is about!

The Magi opened their “treasures” and gave them (all they had) to the new born King – our Savior – Jesus Christ.

·              The once “babe in a manger” grew up to warn us about the treasures that can captivate and hold our hearts hostage

Matthew 6:21 – "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

FRIENDS – Where our treasure is, there is where we will find not only what we treasure – but what we give ourselves to.

Christmas reveals the heart of God – Giving His own Son!

·              Will we worship Him this Christmas?

·              Will we give of ourselves as an act of seeing Christ as greater worth than ourselves?

·              Will we live in the heart of God who love and gave?

CLOSE

Did the Magi do magic?

·              NO – but they did journey, ask for and worship the Christ.

Will we this season not get caught up in “The Christmas Crazies” and journey beyond ourselves asking for Christ, so that we might worship Him.

O Come Let Us Adore Him … O Come Let Us Adore Him … O Come Let Us Adore Him … Christ the Lord!

AMEN!

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