Slices
Prepare
‘How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven’ (Phillips Brooks, 1868).
Bible passage
The Magi visit the Messiah
2 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 search carefully 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 worshipped 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.
Explore
Yes, it’s Christmas day! No surprise there though – Christmas advertising and events have been inescapable for weeks. Yet when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem – possibly as much as two years after Jesus’ birth (v 16) – Herod and the people of Jerusalem had heard nothing of it (v 3). Christmas really had come silently. Even today, despite all the noise of Christmas, many people are not really aware of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
One thing is clear, however: when God wants to get a message to people, he can. Joseph had a dream (1:20). The Magi, hundreds of miles away from Judea, saw a significant star (v 2). Ordinary shepherds near Bethlehem saw and heard a host of angels (Luke 2:9,13). Simeon and Anna were in the right place at the right time to see the eight-day-old Messiah they had been waiting for (Luke 2:27,38). Are we ready to hear from God today?
For the Magi, when the star stopped (v 10) their mission was almost accomplished. And what was the mission? For these affluent (look what gifts they brought!) pagans it was to worship the Messiah (v 11). Their mission is ours too.
Respond
Think of your friends and family who have not really grasped what Christmas is about. Pray that the real meaning of Jesus’ coming will dawn on them today.
Deeper Bible study
‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’1
We have seen that Matthew wanted to help his Jewish readers understand that the birth of Jesus heralded the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. He also had a bigger purpose. He was an evangelist, who declared that Jesus is not only the one who fulfils the expectations of Israel but is truly the Saviour of the world.
There is irony in this chapter. Matthew mentions three attitudes – the antagonism of Herod (vs 3,16), the indifference of the religious people (vs 4–6) and the true worship of foreigners (vs 9–12). The same attitudes are all around us today, perhaps even in our own hearts. First, there is the rejection by Herod, who was threatened by this unexpected claim to kingship. As is true for so many today, he would not submit to any other authority. Second, it is sobering to realise that those who best knew the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah were the ones who were the least interested in discovering the truth about Jesus. They knew their scriptures and were aware of Micah’s prophecy (v 6), but they kept a professional distance. This is dangerously possible today. We can know a great deal about the Bible, but know very little about the promised Saviour. Matthew tells us about a third response: the dedication of the wise men. They knew from their studies that something significant had happened. At considerable personal cost they sought out the answer with diligence and determination – ‘they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures’ (v 11).
It has been well said that this section of Matthew reminds us of the three reactions to Christ: to reject, to neglect, or to accept. On this Christmas Day, let us open our lives to welcome Jesus and worship him wholeheartedly.
Christmas Day can be busy, or it can be lonely. Either way, let’s ensure that we give time today to welcoming Jesus into our homes, our lives and our community.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Zechariah 5,6; Revelation 18
Pray for Scripture Union
As today we reflect on the wonder of God coming among us, pray for the 95 – for some this will simply be a joyful day of family celebration with no thought of Jesus, for others a painful day of loneliness and separation. Pray that over the coming year they may meet those who can show them the love of Jesus.
