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.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He 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.” After 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

-Matthew 2:1-12

Who are the Magi?

We know they were men who came from a great distance bearing gifts.

We know they are from the East because Matthew tells us.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem.

-Matthew 2:1

Magi: comes from an Iranian word that refers to a special class of religious people found among the Persians.

Babylonian Astronomers believed events on earth were first played out in the heavens. When Jupiter rose in a certain way at a certain time, it indicated the birth of a great king.

Modern Astronomers can calculate the movements of the stars and planets in the past. They calculate that there was an unusual convergence of Jupiter and Saturn at the time of Jesus’ birth.

There was a teaching across the ancient world that a great king would someday come out of Judea.

Where is He who is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him.

-Matthew 2:2 (NKJV)

Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

-Daniel 2:48-49

When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled.

-Matthew 2:3a (ESV)

So they said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea for thus it was written by the prophets.'

-Matthew 2:4 (NKJV)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

-Micah 5:2

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He 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.'

-Matthew 2:7-8

A decree went out from King Herod that every male child under two years old would be executed. Matthew 2:16 (Paraphrase)

After 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

-Matthew 2:9-10

The Wise men saw the star rise in the east. This signified the birth of the Jewish King.

They knew to go to Jerusalem to search and ask more specifically.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh

-Matthew 2:11

Gifts of the Magi

Gold because He was a King.

Frankincense because He was God.

Myrrh because He was a man.

The greatest gift was given by Jesus to all of us.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.

-Luke 2:10-11

If there is a God who created us, we could not discover him by going up into the air. God would not relate to human beings the way a man on the second floor relates to a man on the first floor. He would relate to us the way Shakespeare relates to Hamlet. Shakespeare is the creator of Hamlet’s world and of Hamlet himself. Hamlet can know about Shakespeare only if the author reveals information about himself in the play. So too the only way to know about God is if God has revealed himself. If He indeed writes himself into the drama of History.

-C.S. Lewis, Christian Reflections: The Seeing Eye

The wisdom of the world always fades.

All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.

-C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

-Matthew 24:35 (ESV)

I believe in God the Father. I believe in Christ the Son. I believe in the Holy Spirit. Our God is three in One. I believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again. For I believe in the name of Jesus.

-Hillsong Worship, The Creed

To pray to God is to flatter oneself that he can alter nature with words.

-Voltaire

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age?

-1 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

The wisdom of the world can take you so far, but it cannot take you home!

Why has God written Himself into your story?

1. He wants to BE your story

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.

-Matthew 2:11a

2. He wants to be IN your story.

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

3. He wants to take you into the REAL story.

...only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover of the title page: now, at last, they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever and which every chapter is better than the one before.

-CS Lewis, The Last Battle

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