The Magi: Let Us Adore Him

// INTRO

Turn to Matthew 2.

Each year, I like to into specific elements of Jesus’ birth.

This year, I dove into the significance of Isaiah’s prophecy that he would be a child and they would call him, Immanuel.

Today, I want to hone in on the Magi from the East that came bearing gifts to a young Jesus.

Three Stops Today:

Who were the Magi?

Why did they come?

What did they bring to Jesus?

Proverbs 25:2 ESV

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Pray

Matthew 2:1–2 ESV

1 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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

1. WHO WERE THE MAGI

To understand who these guys were and why they were coming from the East, we need to visit Daniel 2.

Daniel in Babylon

In ~602 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon has a dream that none of his wise men & magicians can interpret.

Daniel, a Jewish exile, speaks up when he finds out the King’s frustration that none can interpret the dream.

Neb. was planning to execute all the wise men and magicians for their inability to interpret his dream.

Daniel makes it very clean from the start that there is a God in Heaven that can interpret the dream.

Daniel 2:27–28 ESV

27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Neb. sees a great image that walks him through the Babylonian Empire through the Roman Empire; and finally to an Eternal Kingdom that will never cease.

Daniel Becomes Prefect

Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of world empires and an eternal kingdom, and because of this, he’s elevated to chief over all the wise men of Babylon. From that moment on, the Magi are shaped by a Jewish prophet who teaches them that history is moving toward a coming King.

2. WHY DID THEY COME?

Fast-forwarding about 600 years and you have a few generations of these Magi that have come through the teachings of Daniel.

These Magi (short for magician) were not the magicians that we think of today.

These were intellectuals that would look for signs in the stars to indicate key moments in human history.

Matthew 2:2 ESV

2 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.”

The Star of Bethlehem

In the creation narrative (Gen 1.14-19) we see that God has placed stars in the sky to be for signs, seasons, days, years, and light upon the Earth.

Stars are NOT for astrology and fortune telling of ones life.

The stars have been given as signs of God’s master plan for humanity. They exist to point to HIM, not yourself.

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 148:3–4 ESV

3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

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There has been some incredible advancements in technology.

Because stars are incredible consistent, we have software that has mapped out the stars and planets and we can “rewind” time and see where the stars would’ve been at different times in history.

Babylon 3-2 BC

August 1, 3 BC

We see Jupiter moving across the sky.

Jupiter

the “King of Planets”

also referred to as a “wander star” - planets would move across the sky differently that the stars.

August 12, 3 BC

Jupiter passes by Venus creating our first conjunction.

A conjunction is when a planet/planet, or planet/star pass each other in the sky creating a super light.

Venus

the third brightest light in the sky, after the sun and moon.

symbolized royal birth, rulership, divine favor

often associated with a new king or shift in power

Venus often appears as the “morning star” throughout history.

September 14, 3 BC

Jupiter & Regulus Conjoin

Regulus

the King of the Stars

Rosh Hashanna - high probability that Jesus was born at the time of the Jewish new year, Feast of Trumpets, Days of Awe, Yom Kippur (day of atonement).

February 17, 2 BC

Something interesting happens and Jupiter goes into retrograde motion causing a second conjunction with Regulus.

May 8, 2 BC

Jupiter turns again and creates an incredibly rare TRIPLE CONJUNCTION with Regulus.

In the ancient world, anything that was a triple hass great significance.

Think, “Holy, Holy, Holy”

*now from August to May is 9 months!

Regulus and Leo

Regulus sits at the feet of the constellation Leo or “Lion”

Seeing the triple conjunction, that started with Venus all leads these wise me to realize a new king was born.

When the final conjunction happens, you can imagine the dots are connected.

Leo (Lion) represented the Lion of Judah, which they all knew to be Israel.

<< show animation >>

So they take off for the capital, Jerusalem.

Arriving to Herod’s Palace

Contrary to your modern day nativity – the wise men were not at the birth of Jesus. We can actually see this in Matthew’s writings when he says Matthew 2:1 “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…”

Also, there were most likely many more than three. Due to the safety concerns of that day, it’s likely they travelled in a whole caravan of 12 or more.

Their trip would have been roughly 1200 miles and probably would have taken several weeks to complete.

Matthew 2:3–9 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘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.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 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.” 9 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.

The scribe quotes Micah 5.

Herod is shocked to hear that a new king has been born.

He calls for the scribe to find that these wise men aren’t crazy, and that this baby king is being born just up the road.

Herod sends them off and they make their way to Bethlehem.

3. WHAT DID THEY BRING?

Matthew 2:10–11 ESV

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 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.

Now Matthew doesn’t give us all the details but he does give us important ones - he telling a story of the narrative of God and the gospel of Jesus!

They bring:

treasures

gifts

gold

frankincense

myrrh

Gold

This was a common gift that would be brought as tribute to a king.

They were testifying that this young child was indeed a king.

Frankincense

This was the incense that was used in priestly duties and serves as a double meaning.

Jesus is a priest

Jesus is God in the flesh, Immanuel.

Myrrh

Myrrh is mainly used an embalming agent.

Weird thing to bring to a baby shower.

Yet, the significant message it sends – This king was born to die.

This king that they saught out has been born to Reign, Intercede, and Die for his people.

CONCLUSION

I love that God used what the Magi already knew to get their attention.

He spoke their language.

He led them by light.

Transition to candle light element

Rev 13.8 tells us that the lamb was slain before the foundations of the world.

While we don’t have time to dive into the stars timing around the death of Christ, we’ve seen that God had a plan from before the foundations of the world.

Before you took your first breath, your Heavenly Father had a desire to call you son/daughter. To crown you and bestow upon you a ring and robe, to call you his own.

So in the dark world that we live in, he sent a light.

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

But at some point, Jesus turns and looks at those that follow him and says, Matt 5.14-16

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So this morning as we start with a simple candle light, we will see the slow and steady growth that will lead to a room full of light.

End with Silent Night