Week 4: The Magi: Love in Action
Come to the Manger (4 of 5) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 15 viewsGod's love invites us to respond with worship, sacrifice, and devotion.
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
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Worship:
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Introduction:
During this advent season, we have talked about hope (in Jesus Christ), peace (of God) and joy (choosing the joy of the Lord rather than temporary happiness of this world).
This week, we are going to briefly talk about God's love as we prepare to celebrate Christmas in the next few days.
Introduce the Magi's journey as an example of love in action—a response to the revelation of God's love.
Who were the Magi: in the book of Daniel, it refers to three class of individuals: astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers who were likely considered medicine men and practiced magic. The wise men in Matthew were magi from Persia or Arabia.
The wise men of the East, having read the Holy Oracles left behind by the Jews in the days when Esther was the Persian queen, learned about the Savior who was to be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2). They were so forceably impressed and inspired that they made the long journey to take gifts to the Bethlehem babe.
How they were viewed:
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Magi in Other Literature
Magi appear in various ancient texts as wise counselors who provide rulers with divine guidance
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Magi in Other Literature
The LXX of Daniel includes magi among the various people whom King Nebuchadnezzar used to interpret dreams (Dan 2:2). The LXX presumably includes Daniel as one of this group without any sort of censure, since the result of his successful interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is his appointment as leader over all the wise men of Babylon (Dan 2:48).
• Xenophon tells of magi who interpret the will of the gods for Cyrus the Great (Xenophon, Cyropaedia 4.5.51).
• Plato associates magi with corrupt and manipulative royal court officials who are the enemies of the republican government he describes (Plato, Republic, 9.572e).
• Plutarch tells of magi who interpreted dreams for King Darius III, the Persian opponent of Alexander the Great (Plutarch, Alexander, 18.3).
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Magi in Other Literature
The book of Acts presents more problematic references, as the apostles oppose men described as magi:
Acts 8:5-25 tells us about a Samaritan who practices magic (magi) and Acts 13:6-12 describes a Jewish man named Bar-jesus who is known as a sorcerer or at least a court advisor who gives wicked counsel to the proconsul at the time (Sergius Paulus).
Transition: The one common denominator of the wise men is they were men who claimed to know the truth or continued to seek for truth.
We have even more people today either claiming to know the truth or continuing to seek for the truth.
I. Love Seeks Jesus (vv. 1-2)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
The Magi's Journey: They traveled a long distance, driven by a desire to find and worship the newborn King.
approx distance: From Persia (now is Baghdad, Iraq) to Jerusalem is over 900 miles which would have taken them by camel 3-12 months. That doesn’t include the many weeks of preparation time before starting their journey.
Application: True love for God compels us to seek Him wholeheartedly, even when it's inconvenient or costly.
Illustration: Share a story of someone going to great lengths for a loved one or for Christ.
Transition:
II. Love Overcomes Obstacles (vv. 3-8)
3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
Opposition from Herod: Herod's fear and deceit contrast with the Magi's genuine worship.
Obstacles Faced: Uncertainty, hostility, and cultural differences didn't stop them.
Application: Love for God remains steadfast even in the face of distractions, challenges, or opposition.
Transition:
III. Love Gives Sacrificially (vv. 9-11)
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Worship Through Giving: The Magi offered costly gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) as acts of worship and devotion.
Symbolism of the Gifts:
Gold: A symbol of royalty.
Frankincense: A symbol of worship and divinity.
Myrrh: A symbol of suffering and sacrifice.
Application: Genuine love for God is marked by sacrificial giving—of our time, talents, and treasures.
Transition:
IV. Love Obeys God (v. 12)
12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
Divine Warning: The Magi heeded God’s warning in a dream and changed their course.
Application: Love for God leads to obedience, even when it requires altering our plans.
Conclusion:
Recap the Magi's journey as an expression of love: seeking, overcoming, giving, and obeying.
Challenge the congregation to reflect on how their love for Christ is evident in their lives.
Invite a response: How are we seeking Jesus, overcoming obstacles, giving sacrificially, and obeying God in love?
Why would God make such an effort to call the magi “to the manger?”
What does this tell us about God’s plan? We see now the fullness of God’s story from that was set out to Abraham: For ALL The nations to be blessed! Jesus would be for EVERYONE!
If God sends a star to lead the wisemen, what does this tell us about God’s love?
Who are you praying for to know Christ? This story reminds us that God is always at work to bring people know him. John 3:16 is a promise that we can hold on to!
The story of the Magi is a reminder of the universal call to seek and worship Jesus. It challenges us to pursue truth, recognize Jesus’ kingship, and respond with obedience and worship. And it reminds us that God’s love is for the whole world, who are all invited “to the manger.”
As we light the Love candle tonight, let it be a reminder that Jesus’ birth was not just an event in history but the fulfillment of God’s eternal promise. His love shines brightly in the darkness, and it’s this love that empowers us to love others.
Let’s allow the light of love to illuminate our hearts and radiate through our lives as we prepare for the celebration of His coming.
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Advent Message: Love That Lights the World
Scripture Reading: John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-11
Introduction
Tonight, as we gather around the glow of candlelight, we are reminded of the light that love brings into the world. Love is the heartbeat of the Advent season. The candle of Love, which we light tonight, symbolizes the boundless love God has shown us through the birth of Jesus Christ.
1. Love Revealed in Christ
In John 3:16, we read the familiar words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates the essence of Christmas—God’s love came down to dwell among us.
Jesus wasn’t sent to judge the world, but to save it. This sacrificial love wasn’t reserved for the righteous or the deserving. It was for everyone. The messy, the broken, the sinner, and the saint alike. His love is unearned and unconditional.
2. Love That Transforms
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
1 John 4:9-11 tells us that God’s love was made manifest in sending His Son so that we might live through Him. This love transforms us. It calls us to be different, to love not just in words but in actions.
The love of Christ invites us to love our neighbors, to extend grace, and to forgive. It challenges us to step into the darkness of others' pain and shine His light. When we live out His love, we become reflections of the light of Christ in a world desperate for hope and healing.
3. Love That Lights the Way
The light of the Love candle reminds us that love is more than a feeling; it’s an action and a calling. It is through love that we reflect the light of Christ to those around us.
This Advent season, consider who needs to see the light of Christ’s love through you. Maybe it’s someone struggling with loneliness, someone burdened by loss, or someone who simply needs to know they are valued. Let your love be a beacon that points others to the manger and ultimately to the cross.
Closing Reflection
As we light the Love candle tonight, let it be a reminder that Jesus’ birth was not just an event in history but the fulfillment of God’s eternal promise. His love shines brightly in the darkness, and it’s this love that empowers us to love others.
Let’s allow the light of love to illuminate our hearts and radiate through our lives as we prepare for the celebration of His coming.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Your love revealed in Jesus Christ. Help us to reflect that love in our words and actions. May Your love shine through us, bringing light to a world in need. Amen.
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