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THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI
Gifts of the Season, Part 6
January 6, 2008 – Epiphany Sunday
Pastor Bob Sanders
Matthew 2:1-12 (TNIV)
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 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. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 " '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.'"
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
How many of you already have taken down your Christmas decorations? How many had them down before New Year’s Day? And how many still have your tree or your lights up? Well, hold your hands up proudly because you win the prize for being the most liturgically correct. See, according to the church calendar, the season of Christmastide isn’t over – not until today. There are, as the song says, twelve days of Christmas beginning on December 25 and lasting until January 6, also known as the Day of Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word and it means an appearing, a revealing, and on this day Christians recall how the newborn Messiah was revealed to the world in the person of these mysterious characters known as magi or wise men.
Where did they come from? We don’t know. Some say Arabia, others Egypt, still others India. I think the best guess is that they came from the region known today as Iraq. How many were there? Again, we don’t know. There might have been two or three or five or ten. But tradition has long held there were three – probably because of the three gifts they presented. Later tradition made them kings and even assigned them names: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. All we know for certain is what Matthew tells us: they came from the East following a star, and seeking a child born to be king.
When did they show up? Not on Christmas Eve. By the time they arrived the holy family was staying in a house, not camping out in the stable. Matthew tells us they entered the house and saw the child and his mother, then bowed down and worshipped him. Worship always involves the giving of something precious, and so the magi presented Jesus their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Throughout the Sundays of Advent and Christmas our theme has been “The Gifts of the Season.” On this Epiphany Sunday I want to stay with that theme and share with you a story I came across several years ago, a story written by a pastor named Paul Flucke. It’s not intended to be historically accurate, but it engages our imagination. And I think it tells us something very close to the heart of the Gospel.
So, sit back, get comfortable, and listen. It’s called The Secret of the Gifts. (Reading from the book)
* * * * *
It’s not too late to join the magi. It’s not too late to come and kneel before the Christ child, and leave at his feet those unseen, secret things that can be left nowhere else but there.
What would you bring to him this morning? What is most precious to your soul?
How about your plans for this new year . . . your goals . . . your life and your health?
How about your loved ones and their well being? How about your years of praying for that dear one who’s still wounded, or still wandering?
What would you give him that’s closest to your heart? The essence of who you really are?
How about your loss and your loneliness . . . your disappointment . . . your yearning for love?
How about your longing to know God not just intellectually but experientially, to know his presence and his power right now in your very bones?
How about your passion . . . your fondest dream . . . your wild hope to do something significant with your life before it’s over, something that will bring blessing to others in this world of need, and joy to you?
Come and bring your gift, whatever it is. Even it’s your own broken heart for as the psalmist says, “A broken and a contrite heart you, God will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). Bring who you really are to the only One who can receive and redeem it. Bring the gift of your truest self to this newborn King, this Savior who takes the heavy hammer and the bitter vinegar and the cruel spear and through them brings us his salvation, his peace.
Come to this Table. Give him your gift, and receive his.
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