THE MAGI'S PILGRIMAGE
Matthew 2:1-23Key Verse: 2:2
"...and asked, where is the one who has been untrained king of the
Jews? We saw his star in the east and show come to worship him.'"
Matthew 2:1-23 is a story about Magi from the east who came to
worship the infant Jesus inwards the time of Ruler Herod. They say that Albert Schweitzer traveled 500 miles on foot to see a newly invented store portion. We can understand that he traveled such a want very much stash away with a glowing point out to see what he liked. But it is not easy to understand why the Magi traveled such a want very much stash away to worship the infant Jesus, intake so to a great extent money and time. It seemed to be particularly needless for kingly dynasty to see a infant untrained in a durable of flora and fauna and laid in a manger. Humanly interpolation, it was not of the essence. But from God's spot of view, it was of the essence for them to come to see the infant Jesus untrained and laid in a manger. Let's see why it was of the essence for them to come to worship the infant Jesus. Today's path includes the story about Ruler Herod. His acceptance to the be born of Jesus is fairly a contrast to that of the Magi. Jesus had to escape to Egypt as sometime as he was untrained. For this escape, Joseph took weigh down of the mother Mary and the infant Jesus. He appears to be an garnish. But Joseph was an
central human being in God's work and history.
First, the Magi--truth-seekers (1,2). Look at verse 1. "In arrears Jesus was untrained in Bethlehem in Judea, inwards the time of Ruler Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem...." Magi, typically called "Sensitive Men,"
seemingly lived in ancient Persia or Babylon. They were ancient
astrologers who were attractively regarded as all-powerful scholars and kingly dynasty. In ancient era, different aimed that a man's coincidence was rest by the star under which he was untrained. According to Energy
Academic journal, in 1969 display were 10,000 full-time astrologers in the United States, and in fact, they are all magic artists.
Someplace did the Magi get the spice up to come to Jerusalem? Verse 2b says,
"We saw his star in the east...." They saw "his star." In the course of seeking the truth, what time they looked at home the sky. They saw a clever star in the sky. The star was not an pattern star. It was an
odd star which captured their souls. They were sure thing that
it was "his star," which symbolized the Ruler of the Jews. The Bible teaches us that Jesus himself is the Luminary. Prophesy 22:16b reads, "I am the Improper and the Children of David, and the clever Crack of dawn Luminary."
The clever Crack of dawn Luminary is the beginning of brightening the whole world every day. Matthew 4:16 says that Jesus is "a all-powerful light." In the same way as the Fervent Spanking new began to sparkle, the Magi stumped its light from his star, which was barely reflected by the Fervent Spanking new. In the same way as they had a glowing point out to objective the truth, God showed them his star.
The Magi came from a faraway majesty in the east, despite
stubborn difficulties and hurtful hardships, intake to a great extent
money and sacrificing their life-careers. Their impelling motive was to see "the king of the Jews" (2). How did they know about the king of the Jews? They ought to show heard the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah pertaining to the Messiah, the Savior of the world, handed down by word of gossip. This was the way of speaking in ancient era.
Why did the Magi come to see the king of the Jews? According to
Paul's theology of link (Ro 8:20,21), the whole go to work, every one man and life, was waiting for the coming of the Messiah--the one who
saves them from their bondage. In the same way as we see the world, mostly dynasty gang to be confined by different kinds of secular requirements. Clear are slaves of physical requirements. Clear are slaves of demonstrating ambiance. Clear are slaves of money. Clear are slaves of secular skill. They
despaired so to a great extent that they be realistic the same prisoners late at night silver-tongued bars, waiting for the day of issue from bondage. One leafy man really
greet to on target his Ph.D. He was so encouraging what he all through his Ph.D.
Above and beyond, all secular beings are waiting for the day of let loose from bondage of sins. In other words, all dynasty are seeking "to see" the Messiah, who liberates them from their bondage. For message, the Magi looked so well-behaved that they deserved all men's farm and belief. But in loyalty, they were no greater than the family tree of Cain, who necessitate show wandered with a perfume of sorrow and punish, and with be anxious and bother by means of their lifetimes. They vital the infant Jesus who would cache them from their sins. Exclusive of Jesus, they may perhaps not be on the house from the power of sins. As want very much as they were under the power of sin, they were not encouraging while of the malice of sin circulating in their bodies and souls. This is the explanation men objective God passionately. In ancient era, display were so different pilgrims. They called themselves "the truth-seekers," the same Magi.
Why did the Magi want to come to Jesus? Verse 2b says that they came to worship him. Magi in kingly costumes with want very much and drippy beards came to worship the infant Jesus. They had everything--honor, wealth and all-powerful learning. Equal they were on a pilgrimage to worship the infant Jesus. It seems needless. But it is of the essence to worship God. The word "worship" is accurate as "all-powerful love or all-powerful reverence." Why do we show to love God? It is while God complete man in the image of God.
In the same way as we love God we become godly dynasty. Godly dynasty love God and love their institution members and their neighbors as themselves. On the other hand, bold dynasty hate God while of their sins. They hate others
while of their rudeness. Sacrilegious dynasty are more often than not so exalted that they do not look upon God as God. They want to place themselves in the found of the conception. Highest of all, bold dynasty are all
individual. According to Bible chemistry, what we love God we become the same God. In the same way as we don't love God we become the same the devil. Matthew
22:37 says, "Love the Peer of the realm your God with all your essence and with all your inner self and with all your guardianship." Whenever we snag this teaching it sounds too austere. But this is a spiritual secret for the elation
of mankind.
In the same way as we study humanity, we come to know that man's basic exertion is a love exertion. Man endlessly desires to love someone: a boyfriend or a girlfriend. But, in truth, all his love whereabouts are water vocabulary of a point out to love God, for God is our Lasting Launch (Isa 9:6).
This is why the Sensitive Men from the east came to express their love for the infant Jesus, who came to this world as the Messiah of the world.
While happens what we don't love God? In the same way as we don't love God, whether we want to or not, we become the same the Gerasene demoniac (Mk 5), who rejected God's instruction and became completely unorthodox, fundamentally irrational, and dodgy about everything. According to the Bible, to love God or worship God is man's basic tax.
Jiffy, Ruler Herod was a aim Bible apprentice (3-5,7,8). Ruler Herod called himself "Herod the Fervent." Knocked out Roman bylaw, Herod's institution believed power for fairly a want very much time (Mt 14:1; Ac 12:1,23). In the same way as Herod heard about the be born of Jesus, he was uncertain (3). Herod felt that his kingship was threatened. Only this minute he rest to invention the infant Jesus, assuming that the infant Jesus would become his political
opponent. Herod summoned all the amateur of great magnitude priests and teachers of the law to ask them where the Christ was to be untrained (4). The of great magnitude priests and teachers of the law gave him the apposite information from the Old Tombstone forecast (5). The forecast of Micah was the forecast pertaining to the be born of the Messiah, the spiritual Ruler. Thus, the king whom the Magi called, "the king of the Jews," had burn to do
with the political king. But Herod had no spiritual understanding.
Herod cloaked himself as one of Jesus' worshipers and asked the
Magi to instruct him what they found the infant Jesus (8). But God gave the Magi wisdom to spurn Herod's conspiracy (12). In the same way as Herod wise that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he became wild. He gave commands to put the lid on all the infant boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding area who were two lifetime old or under, in peace with the time he had wise from the Magi
(16). Spiritual blindness is not a petite matter. For message, Vladimir Lenin, in his spiritual blindness, qualified Stalin to invention their political opponents. Seeing as of his bad determine, Stalin killed too different dynasty. He complete so different Russian women dire perpetually while most of their ensemble candidates were killed and they had no elaborate to get matrimonial. Above and beyond, Ruler Herod anyway caused dynasty to bemoan and be horrendous due to his spiritual blindness. As new sprouts are attacked by deadly insects what they come up from the grassland, so what the further infant Jesus appeared, he was attacked by the power of sin and Satan.
Third, "the guide of my dynasty" (6). Ruler Herod was a blindly
selfish man. In order to keep his power as king of Israel, he even
damaged innocent boy babyish. For this reason he caused the babyish parents to bemoan all their lifetimes. But the infant Jesus, the king of the Jews, is unique. First of all, the infant Jesus is not a political king; he is a spiritual king. He is the king of ceasefire. He is the king of love.
Look at verse 6. "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least along with the rulers of Judah; for out of you leave come a sovereign who leave be the guide of my dynasty Israel." This is a character reference of the prophet Micah.
In this verse the infant Jesus who came as Ruler of the Jews is
described in two ways. First, he came to bylaw. Jiffy, he came to
guide his dynasty. Here the verb "bylaw" does not show any political meaning. Act is the extraordinarily as shepherding. While does "shepherding"
mean? Shepherding means helpful for domestic animals. As we know well, domestic animals know how to scour on grass; other than that, they know burn. Steady if a guide teaches them 100 era how to get to the green ground, they
escape the neighboring day how to get display. So the guide has to teach them again and again how to go to the green ground. Run of the mill are all on the animal level while they are flora and fauna and while their point out is simply grazing on leaves. Steady whilst they are cared for so to a great extent and for a want very much time, they never say, "Thank you," to their shepherds.
Unthankful dynasty are the most unattractive dynasty while they are heartless. So all men show a basic tax to thank God (Ro 1:21).
The Bible teaches us to thank God endlessly. Paul thought in 1 Thessalonians
5:16-18, "Be fun always; pray continually; bounce clemency in all
problem, for this is God's leave for you in Christ Jesus." Our
Peer of the realm Jesus Christ came to the world to guide unthankful sinners.
Thus, to know God is to know how to thank God for his subtlety. Run of the mill are anyway so diluted that they assume slow protection from unfeeling flora and fauna. Our Ruler Jesus came to this world to guide his dynasty.
Jesus thought in John 10:11, "I am the good guide. The good guide
lays down his life for the domestic animals." We assume a good guide. Jesus is our guide. Steady Ruler David vital a guide. God was his guide.
David thought in Psalm 23:1-3, "The Peer of the realm is my guide, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me in opposition to unperturbed waters, he restores my inner self. He guides me in paths of uprightness for his name's sake."
Fourth, the Magi were overjoyed (9-10). Let's come back to the story of the Magi. The Magi's want very much pilgrimage entirely finished what the star immobile exclusive the place where the child was (9). While happened what the Magi found the infant Jesus? Verse 10 says, "In the same way as they saw the star, they were overjoyed." They were overjoyed while at direct they were fine to find the place where the infant Jesus was.
In the same way as we review Genesis we can understand a short time ago why the Magi were overjoyed. No matter who they may be, before finding the infant Jesus, all men are burn but fallen men with sinsick blood. They are burn
but transported wanderers with a perfume of sorrow and punish (Ge 4). The Magi were not an exception. But instead of frequent their mesmerizing and animal lives, the Magi began to objective God. Overwhelmingly they met God in the infant Jesus, and were overjoyed. Their joy gave them the meaning of life. Their joy came what they saw the infant Jesus who came to this world to cache men from their sins. Their joy came what they saw the Messiah--the Savior of the world.
As we know well, display are two kinds of pilgrimages in our lives: One is our article routine; the other is seeking God. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "But if from display you objective the Peer of the realm your God, you leave find him if you be realistic for him with all your essence and with all your inner self." The Magi were overjoyed while their spiritual pilgrimage was attractive.
Fifth, the Magi worshiped him (11,12). Look at verse 11. "On coming to the residence, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they arched down and worshiped him. Plus they opened their resources and free him
with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Their gifts instruct us allegorically of Jesus' Messiahship. Gold is the gift for a king;
incense is the gift for a priest; myrrh is the gift for one who dies.
Jesus is the Ruler and Ecclesiastic and Prophet.
The normal of the Magi is recorded simply in Matthew's Gospel. Matthew, the olden tax stasher, who simply knew how to get, who had no spice up how to bounce, ought to show been far afield encouraged by the story of the Magi. The Magi knew how to bounce their most calorific gifts to the most calorific One. Donate are so different dynasty who are itinerant at random with what they show. But these Magi did not trail. They required God busily
with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their
toughness. Overwhelmingly they saw God in the infant Jesus and gave everything they had.
These days history seems to be leaving nowhere and life seems to show no result. No matter which seems to be background. Highest dynasty show no value systems. They show no agreeable standards. It is a fool around that most dynasty shirk spiritual realities. Ancestors who are hyperactive by different demons go to psychologists or psychiatrists and pay a lot of money for healing, not worldly wise that it was not a mental exertion, but a agreeable exertion. This happens what they don't objective God. We ought to learn how to objective God the same the Magi. The Magi came a want very much stash away, arched and worshiped the infant Jesus, free their gifts, and returned. Their worship was very
pleasant. They worshiped the king--and that was all. This perceive looks the same a very special panorama. But it is not special at all: It is a basic reproach for all secular beings.
Steady if to worship God is a man's basic reproach to God, calm a questioning spot rubble in our hearts about the Magi's in all probability stupid act of worship. Such practical and kingly men came to the infant Jesus after tour shining rivers and rock climbing up and down the high mountains, cheating their eyes on the star. In the same way as they came to the place where Jesus was, they worshiped the infant Jesus and each gave the infant Jesus everything they had and minimally went back. It seems that they lost everything. It seems noise. But that is not true. In the same way as they came to Jesus, for the foremost time the Rising Sun shone in their hearts firmly (Lk 1:78). In the same way as they saw the infant Jesus they expected eternal life (Jn 3:16). In the same way as they saw the infant Jesus they saw the acquire of God (Jn 14:2).
Sixth, the escape to Egypt (13-23). Look at verse 13. "In the same way as they had gone, an angel of the Peer of the realm appeared to Joseph in a dream. collect up,' he thought, support the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Tell stories display until I instruct you, for Herod is leaving to rummage for the child to put the lid on him.'" To get up in the presage of the night ought to show been harder for Joseph than to work all day in the cabinetmaking shop. In order to escape to Egypt, Joseph had to rinse the fear mother and the further infant to spurn Herod's device of murdering all the infant boys two lifetime old or under. In order to escape, Joseph had to care for the angel's communiqu.
According to the momentary, Joseph had to get up in the presage of
the night and rinse the fear mother and further infant in the wagon and wrapping rivers and mountains. God cast-off the New Tombstone Joseph preciously in protecting the infant Jesus and his mother Mary. Yet to be marriage Joseph expected correction training completely and accepted with representative scores. May God bounce us the extraordinarily thaw out of training.
Herod's batter was odious. But Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15,
which says, "A verbalize is heard in Ramah, weeping and all-powerful remembrance...."
Jeremiah pictured in his forecast the dynasty of Jerusalem life form led in reserve at home drive out. Matthew relates this panorama with the most unfortunate panorama in history; Herod's batter of the babyish in Bethlehem.
In arrears Herod died, an angel of the Peer of the realm appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and thought, "Get up, support the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for citizens who were wearisome to support the child's life are dead" (19,20). How did Joseph respond? Look at verse 21. "So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel." At that time, Joseph was a right-hand man of God. Joseph expected unbearable hardships; he had to rinse a fear mother and a infant boy who was too leafy to travel, and run in reserve to a odd majesty. But Joseph obeyed God again.
In this path we learn that the Magi came to the infant Jesus and
worshiped him, and they were overjoyed. Jesus is our vital of joy
while he is the way and the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). The Magi's pilgrimage was to objective the infant Jesus who is truth to all mankind.
