Christmas is Messy: Wise Men and Fools Matthew 2:1-12 December 18, 2016 Introduction: Christmas is Messy Christmas has become a time of incredible _________________________. There is a word for this frenzied activity: bedlam! Bedlam means _________________________, commotion, pandemonium, and chaos. In the 1400s there was a London monastery, St. Mary of Bethlehem, which served as a hospital. It became a city-run insane asylum. The word bedlam is a corruption of the word Bethlehem. Bethlehem and bedlam are historically and semantically _________________________. Who Are the Magi? (Matthew 2:1-2) The Magi show up, they leave their gifts, and they go home. Many _________________________ have arisen about the Magi. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, claimed to have discovered the bodies of the Magi in Persia and took them to Constantinople. Marco Polo, while exploring in the 1270s, claims to have been shown the three tombs of the Magi in Persia. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the Magi were a priestly caste originating with the Medes. Although they were mainly a _________________________ group, they had some _________________________ power. Daniel was an advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean and King Darius the Mede. Through Daniel’s faithfulness, people in places of influence heard the _________________________ of the Lord. Since Daniel was a well-known official among the Magi of his day, we should not be surprised if some of the Magi _________________________ Daniel and his God. Those Who Missed Christmas King Herod (Matthew 2:1-3) Matthew says Jesus was born during the reign of Herod (reigned 30-4 B.C.). Herod is known most for rebuilding and expanding the _________________________ _________________________. Herod had always been a _________________________ ruler and did anything to protect his throne. When the Magi came to Jerusalem to see the newborn king of the Jews, Herod was _________________________. He became _________________________ that a rival to his throne had been born. The Chief Priests and Scribes (Matthew 2:4-5) The chief priests and scribes, being experts in the Law, knew _________________________ the prophesy foretelling the birth of Messiah (Micah 5:2). What did the religious rulers do? They did _________________________. Conclusion: What is the true meaning of Christmas? It is _________________________. The word _________________________ comes from an old English word meaning to ascribe _________________________ or _________________________. We _________________________ that which we worship. How do we worship Christ the Lord? True worship requires _________________________ _________________________. Christmas is Messy: Wise Men and Fools Matthew 2:1-12 December 18, 2016 Introduction: Christmas is Messy Christmas is messy. That has been our theme over the past few weeks. Christmas should be a time of reflection and gratitude to God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem. Instead, Christmas has become a time of incredible busyness. There are many things going on right now. There are parties, concerts, and programs to attend. There is shopping to finish. If you have not finished your shopping, you are fighting for parking spaces, searching for special sales and gifts for loved ones, waiting in line, and then wrapping the presents. Then there is cooking the food and cleaning the house. There is so much to do! There is a word for this frenzied activity: bedlam! Bedlam means confusion, commotion, pandemonium, and chaos. Where did this word, bedlam, come from? In the 1400s there was a London monastery, St. Mary of Bethlehem, which served as a hospital. It became a city-run insane asylum. For a small admission price, people could go inside the asylum and heckle the inmates. It was one of the most famous tourist attractions in London. Ironically, the word bedlam is a corruption of the word Bethlehem. St. Mary of Bethlehem was often shortened to Bethlem, and then in modern times pronounced “bedlam.” The word bedlam came to refer to the noise and commotion and confusion that characterized the asylum. Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and bedlam are historically and semantically related. Christmas, in many ways, has become bedlam, a time of insane activity filled with noise and confusion. Christmas is messy! Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not trying to be a scrooge. I look forward to Christmas and all the trimmings – the decorations, trees, and lights. I enjoy school concerts, and the work parties. I even like shopping – especially if it is online. I enjoy gift-giving and gift- receiving. Please, don’t misunderstand me. I pray we will take time to settle down and worship Christ, the newborn king. We continue preparing for Christmas by looking at Matthew’s account of the birth of Christ. Today we are in chapter 2. Matthew introduces us to an unusual group of travelers that have puzzled and fascinated believers for ages, the Magi. Matthew 2:1-2: Who Are the Magi? (Matthew 2:1-2) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” The Magi appear after Jesus is born. Who are the Magi? It seems most of what we know about the Magi comes from Hallmark cards. We see images of three kings riding on camels, traveling through sand dune desserts, staring at a bright star in the sky. Luke, the other gospel writer who gives us details about the birth of Jesus, says nothing about the Magi. Matthew doesn’t say that much about them. Matthew doesn’t tell us specifically where they came from. They came from the east. He does not tell us how they knew about the birth of Jesus. The Magi show up, they leave their gifts, and they go home. We never hear about them again. Many traditions have arisen about the Magi. Tradition says there were three because three gifts were given. Some believe the Magi represent the sons of Noah – Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Therefore, one of the Magi is represented as an Ethiopian, another as an Asian, and the other as European. Names have been given to the Magi – Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Some organize the hymn, “We Three Kings,” as Caspar, who brought gold, singing verse two; Balthasar, who brought frankincense, singing verse three; and Melchior, who brought myrrh, singing verse four. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, the man who made Christianity a legal religion in the Roman Empire, claimed to have discovered the bodies of the Magi in Persia and took them to Constantinople. Those remains are on exhibit today at the Shrine of the Three Kings at the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. Marco Polo, while exploring in the 1270s, claims to have been shown the three tombs of the Magi in Persia, just south of the modern city of Tehran. Macro Polo said: In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building, beautifully kept. From Biblical Magi Wikis, thefullwiki.org According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the Magi were a priestly caste originating with the Medes. The Medes were a people who lived in norther modern Iran. The Magi were the scholars and priests of their day. They arose to prominent places of influence with the Medes, Persians, and the Babylonians. Although they were mainly a religious group, they had some political power. They served as advisors to kings. We remember Daniel was an advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean and King Darius the Mede. Daniel belonged to a class of men known as magicians or magi. Through Daniel’s faithfulness, people in places of influence heard the fame of the Lord. The appearance of the Magi is not random or coincidental. Since Daniel was a well-known official among the Magi of his day, we should not be surprised if some of the Magi remembered Daniel and his God. They may have been familiar with the book of Daniel and the prophesies about future events and the coming of Messiah. Since the Magi were astrologers, they would have kept a close eye on the stars for a sign of special events. God left a witness about the coming of Christ to the whole world – to the Jews and the Gentiles. The Magi have come to welcome the newborn king. The Magi follow the star, come to the place where Jesus is, and worshipped the infant king. There are two kinds of people in the Christmas story. There are people who found Christ at the time of His birth. There are people who missed Christ at the time of His birth. Matthew mentions several people who should have not missed that first Christmas, but did. Those Who Missed Christmas King Herod (Matthew 2:1-3) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew says Jesus was born during the reign of Herod (reigned 30-4 B.C.). Herod is called king, but was not a king over his own realm. Herod was appointed governor over Galilee by the Romans. However, when the Parthians, a rival to Rome, invaded Palestine, Herod fled.