and Why Did They Come January 6 Epiphanyrevelation or appearing Eastern Orthodox Christmas In Western church Epiphany Day Celebrates the revelation of the Messiah to the Gentiles via the visit of the Magi ID: 808887
Download The PPT/PDF document "Who Are These Mysterious Visitors…" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Who Are These Mysterious Visitors…
…and Why Did They Come?
Slide2January 6
Epiphany=revelation or appearing
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
In Western church, Epiphany Day
Celebrates the revelation of the Messiah to the Gentiles via the visit of the Magi
Eastern church also celebrates Jesus’ baptism and wedding at Cana on Epiphany
Slide3Pop Quiz
How many kings visited Jesus in Bethlehem?
Slide4Zero
How many kings visited Jesus?
The Magi were not kings.
Slide5Okay then, how many Magi visited Jesus?
Slide6Two or more
Okay then, how many Magi visited Jesus?
Art & tradition: 2, 3, 4, 8, 12
Tradition of 3 comes from 3 gifts.
Slide7How did the Magi find the stable?
Slide8They didn’t.
How did the Magi find the stable?
They found Jesus in a house.
--Matthew 2:11
Besides, Jesus may have been born
in a cave or a house,
not a stable.
Slide9Evidently, the west.
They came from the East, so they Followed the star west.
“We saw his star when it rose” (Mt. 2:2), not “in the east.”
In which part of the sky—north, south, east, or west--did the Magi see the star?
Slide10Matthew 2:1-12
NIV 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.”
Just 12 verses
Slide113
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.’”
Slide127
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.”
Slide139
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.
Slide14What were Magi?
Where did they come from?
Why were they interested in the birth of a Jewish king?
What was the star?
What was the significance of the gifts?
Why did Matthew think their story needed to be told?
Slide15From a Babylonian root meaning “oriental scientist, wise man, astrologer, or seer.”
This word would have been used to describe Daniel, as well as his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who served as advisors in the royal court of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel the chief of the Babylonian magi, or the chief
magos
(“
Rab
-Mag” in Jeremiah).
Magi (plural of
magos
)
Slide16“Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
Daniel 9:25-26
Slide17Daniel received and recorded this prophetic revelation while serving as Chief Counsel in the Persian court. We can safely guess that the sages of Persia heard about it. According to Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, and 32, each “seven” in the vision represents seven years. This is the only detail Daniel received, but this one detail provided a critical clue for later generations.
If the Magi considered Daniel’s 69 “weeks” (483 years) a messianic prophecy, they may have been watching for the birth of the Jewish Messiah.
Slide18Slide19Daniel was considered a prophet of God
in Babylon and Persia. Many Jews continued to live in Babylon and Persia after the exile ended.It would not be surprising for their Magi to study Daniel’s prophecies and even other messianic prophecies.
Slide20Who were the Magi?
Most likely..
The Magi were members of a Persian (Iranian) hereditary priesthood, likely practicing the Zoroastrian religion.
Were looking for a messiah who would set up his kingdom on earth.
However…
Frankincense and myrrh do not come from Persia, but from Arabia & Yemen.
Slide21We know Mary had to stay in Bethlehem until her purification at the Temple (Luke 2:22), 40 days after Jesus’ birth.
When Ezra led the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem (400 miles), the trip took four months (Ezra 2:9). A journey by camel from Persia (800 to 1200 miles) would have taken 3 to 12 months. They were likely accompanied by a large entourage.Herod asked the magi when the star appeared, then ordered the massacre of all baby boys 2 years old and younger.
How long did the journey take?
Slide22Herod the Great
Killed 3 of his sons on suspicion of treason
Killed his favorite wife
Killed a mother-in-law
Drowned a high priest
Killed several uncles & a couple of cousins
Caesar Augustus said he would “rather be Herod’s pig than his son.”
Paranoid much?
Magi likely arrived a few months after Jesus’ birth
.
Slide23What was the star?
Option 1: Natural phenomenon
Conjunction of planets
Nova
Comet
Option 2: Something else
Angel
Light created for this purpose
like pillar of light/fire in Exodus
Option 3: Both?
Slide24What were the Magi seeking?
A prince?A messiah?
A god?
Slide25Why did they go to Herod’s palace?
Slide26What did the gifts mean?
Slide27Slide28Slide29Slide30Gifts Fit for a King
Frankincense
Rare, expensive incense used in worship of deities. Still used today in churches that use incense in worship.
Myrrh
Used in anointing oil to prepare priests, the altar, the Temple for sacrifices.
Gold
Slide31Why did Matthew include this story?
Slide32Any Gentiles here?
Slide33As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation;
it’s now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.
Luke 2:27-32
MSG
Slide343 Responses to Jesus’ Birth
Herod
Hostility
Chief Priests &
Teachers of Law
Meh?
Slide35Magi
Search diligently.
Bring finest gifts they can bring
.
Worship.
Slide36Leader: Arise, and go forth to shine for all the world to see.
People: We go to spread the good news of light and love,
righteousness and justice.
Leader: Go now and follow the star
that will guide you on your journey
this week, this year, and forever.
People: As the Magi of old,
we go forth in trust and excitement,
transformed in the presence
of the child of light.
Leader: May the blessing of the God of light
rest upon you and fill you with light.
All
:
Amen.
Benediction