Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus
The Gifts Part 1
Strange men from a strange land
Locations & Times
Church of The Nazarene- East Rock
East Side Hwy, Elkton, VA 22827, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Today we are starting our advent teaching series called “The gifts”. throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.
On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That story is what we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.
Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.
These are The Gifts.
On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That story is what we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.
Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.
These are The Gifts.
After Jesus is born, strange men from the East enter the story. The bible calls them Magi and we do not know much about them.
They were likely key figures in the eastern culture who prided themselves in being in the know about worldly wisdom and philosophy. They seem to have knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.
They have seen a star in the sky and they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.
They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him. Likely this was a whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it was almost certainly more than 3 of them traveling that distance.
They were likely key figures in the eastern culture who prided themselves in being in the know about worldly wisdom and philosophy. They seem to have knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.
They have seen a star in the sky and they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.
They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him. Likely this was a whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it was almost certainly more than 3 of them traveling that distance.
The name “King Herod” would send a chill down the spine of the original audience. Something perhaps even worse than we might even feel at the name Osama Bin-Laden or Adolf Hitler.
Herod was ruthless when it came to defending his power and position in government.
Scheming behind the scenes, Herod tells the magi to report back to him under the false guise that he too wants to worship this newborn king. With these final nefarious instructions, the magi depart.
Herod was ruthless when it came to defending his power and position in government.
Scheming behind the scenes, Herod tells the magi to report back to him under the false guise that he too wants to worship this newborn king. With these final nefarious instructions, the magi depart.
The NIV gives us a bland translation. The Greek literally says “they rejoiced with a great joy, exceedingly.”
After a 1000 miles journey, only 6 miles to go to Bethlehem...
After a 1000 miles journey, only 6 miles to go to Bethlehem...
They worshipped him and then they got up and presented their gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and Myrrh. These gifts represented the very best, the finest goods, fit for a king.
And they are gifts that point beyond themselves to a tell us a story about who Jesus is.
And they are gifts that point beyond themselves to a tell us a story about who Jesus is.
Over the next few weeks we will explore each one of these gifts that were presented to Jesus.
Matthew only spent 8 verses telling us about the birth of Jesus, but has given us 12 verses talking about the Magi, preserving the details of who they were and what they gave.
Today we started with the Magi, because they, in their own way, tell us a story too. They tell us a story of outsiders and strangers who had such a large vision of Jesus, they were willing to do whatever it took to find him. And when they did, they fell down and worshipped him.
They not only tell us a story, they give us an example of how we too are to approach Jesus.
In complete humility and surrender, they lay all of their prestige, all of their sense of self, all of that aside, they bow down, forehead to the ground, and worship the king.
And their story, asks us a question- Have you worshipped Jesus like that?
Is your vision of Jesus such that you would do whatever it takes to find him, and when you do, that you would completely throw yourself aside and fall down and worship him?
Matthew only spent 8 verses telling us about the birth of Jesus, but has given us 12 verses talking about the Magi, preserving the details of who they were and what they gave.
Today we started with the Magi, because they, in their own way, tell us a story too. They tell us a story of outsiders and strangers who had such a large vision of Jesus, they were willing to do whatever it took to find him. And when they did, they fell down and worshipped him.
They not only tell us a story, they give us an example of how we too are to approach Jesus.
In complete humility and surrender, they lay all of their prestige, all of their sense of self, all of that aside, they bow down, forehead to the ground, and worship the king.
And their story, asks us a question- Have you worshipped Jesus like that?
Is your vision of Jesus such that you would do whatever it takes to find him, and when you do, that you would completely throw yourself aside and fall down and worship him?