BE THE SIGN!

Love, Listen, Lead

Three questions for today

•Who were the 3 (magi) wise men? •Where is the king of the

Jews? •What is up with the 3 gifts?

Matthew 2:1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?

So who were the 3 (Magi) Wise Men?• They were not kings.• The Greek “magos”, can be

translated “wise men,” “astrologers” as in (Acts 13:6, 8) “magician” or “sorcerer.”

• They were a priestly class of Persian or Babylonian experts in the occult, such as astrology and the interpretation of dreams.

• They represent pagans (Gentiles) who, though they do not have the special revelation of the Torah, come to Jerusalem following the light they have seen.

• Their goal is to “worship” or to “pay homage” to the new king.

• They were pagans who were looking for God.

Where is the king of the Jews?

Matthew 2:1-2

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?

Implications• Herod you are not king• Rome is not the supreme in

this world (or any nation)• Pagans (Gentiles) are

finding there way to God in their language; God is reaching out to them too

• Pagans (Gentiles) need the scripture too

What is up with the 3 gifts?

Matthew 2:11On 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.

Traditional interpretations• All three gifts are ordinary offerings

and gifts given to a king.• The three gifts had a spiritual

meaning : gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.

• Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.

Gold • Is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile pure metal known

• Does not rust• An excellent conductor• Compared with other

metals, pure gold is chemically least reactive

Frankincense• Frankincense is tapped from

the very scraggly but hardy Boswellia tree by slashing the bark and allowing the exuded resins to bleed out and harden.

• These hardened resins are called tears.

• The trees are also considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so unforgiving that they sometimes grow directly out of solid rock.

• Exodus 30:34

Myrrh• Myrrh is the dried oleo gum resin of a

number of Commiphora species of trees. • Like frankincense, it is produced by the tree

as a reaction to a purposeful wound through the bark and into the sapwood.

• The trees are bled in this way on a regular basis.

• the term ultimately derives from the Aramaic word ܡܪܝܪܐ (murr), meaning "bitter".

• Myrrh is used in embalming.• In modern medicine it reduces bad

cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, reduces swelling and stops pain

• In Chinese medicine the two resins are classified as herbs for vitalizing circulation of blood and are utilized for treating traumatic injury

WHOSE EXAMPLE WILL WE FOLLOW?

One concluding question

LOVE, LISTEN, LEAD

The example of the three is to:

WHOSE EXAMPLE WILL WE FOLLOW?

One concluding question