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Title: Advent: The Faith of the Magi
Author: Marion Clark
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
Other than the holy family themselves, any nativity set will have three sets of characters. There are the shepherds. There is at least one angel. And there are the wise men, always three in number. The shepherds evoke a domestic feeling. We understand them to be common people like us. The angel, or angels, evoke awe. They are the beings from heaven radiating with glory. The wise men-they evoke mystery and splendor. Though human, they are not like us, and yet, they represent what we most aspire to be. They are the men of faith that we consider this morning.
Text
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."
And so appears the most mysterious of the characters associated with the birth of Jesus. "Wise men from the east" is all that Matthew reveals to us. Exactly where and exactly what kind of persons they are have provided scholars much opportunity for study and debate. Most scholars regard them as likely coming from the Babylon/Persia area beyond the Euphrates. We will see why in a moment. They are not kings as portrayed by the Christmas carol, but they are likely the counselors of kings, maybe even king-makers. Possibly they are of a priestly order. Most likely their expertise lies in astronomy. They are students of the heavens.
It is a star that has brought them to Jerusalem. But why Jerusalem? It would not have been odd for them to associate a bright manifestation in the heavens with the birth of a ruler, but how would they have associated it with the Jews?
They are likely not only students of the heavens but of ancient writings, including those of the Jews. Recall where the Jews of Judah were sent into exile. It was Babylon. Think of Daniel; thin ...
Author: Marion Clark
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
Other than the holy family themselves, any nativity set will have three sets of characters. There are the shepherds. There is at least one angel. And there are the wise men, always three in number. The shepherds evoke a domestic feeling. We understand them to be common people like us. The angel, or angels, evoke awe. They are the beings from heaven radiating with glory. The wise men-they evoke mystery and splendor. Though human, they are not like us, and yet, they represent what we most aspire to be. They are the men of faith that we consider this morning.
Text
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."
And so appears the most mysterious of the characters associated with the birth of Jesus. "Wise men from the east" is all that Matthew reveals to us. Exactly where and exactly what kind of persons they are have provided scholars much opportunity for study and debate. Most scholars regard them as likely coming from the Babylon/Persia area beyond the Euphrates. We will see why in a moment. They are not kings as portrayed by the Christmas carol, but they are likely the counselors of kings, maybe even king-makers. Possibly they are of a priestly order. Most likely their expertise lies in astronomy. They are students of the heavens.
It is a star that has brought them to Jerusalem. But why Jerusalem? It would not have been odd for them to associate a bright manifestation in the heavens with the birth of a ruler, but how would they have associated it with the Jews?
They are likely not only students of the heavens but of ancient writings, including those of the Jews. Recall where the Jews of Judah were sent into exile. It was Babylon. Think of Daniel; thin ...
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