Week Three

Most every Nativity scene includes wise men or magi – usually three of them. Matthew tells us that the magi came from the east and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Anything more than that is speculation.

The magi are important for a couple of reasons. For one, they began the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas., And their gifts tell us something about Jesus: Gold is a gift fit for a king; frankincense, when burned, rises to the heavens and signifies Jesus’ divinity; myrrh, which can be used to prepare bodies for burial, reminds us that Jesus is also fully human and died a human death.

As much as everyone loves to give and receive presents, the magi serve a more important function. They are outsiders. They are not Jewish and do not understand Jewish ideas about a messiah. They don’t understand the significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem, the hometown of King David. But they know there is something special about Jesus. The magi show us – very early in Jesus’ life – that Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection are not only for his fellow Jewish people but for all people, regardless of culture or nationality.
The wise men remind us to reach out to those who might be considered outsiders in our congregations and communities. God calls us to invite and welcome these people.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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”…

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 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.”

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. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped. Then they opened their treasures and present him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-2, 7-12

Our tradition of giving gifts at Christmas recalls when Jesus received, in Billups’ words, “an unlikely gift from a curious people.” The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh:
               
What is the significance of the magi bringing gold?
 
What makes these unusual gifts for a baby?

            Frankincense is a resin obtained from certain tropical trees that is used in perfumes and incense. In Leviticus 2:1, God’s people are instructed to include frankincense with their grain offerings so that their offerings, when burned, will have a pleasant aroma. Traditionally, frankincense is a reminder of Jesus’ divinity because the smoke of burning incense rises to heaven.

            Myrrh, like frankincense, is a resin. It is extracted from certain short, thorny trees. Myrrh is also used in incense, and Esther 2:12 refers to a purification rule involving myrrh oil. The Gospel of John tells us that, following the crucifixion, Jesus’ friend and follower Nicodemus brought myrrh to Jesus’ tomb to anoint the body. Because of this association with burial, myrrh reminds us of Jesus’ humanity. Though he was God, Jesus was also fully human and died a human death.

What comes to mind when you think of the magi, or wise men?  Matthew 2: 1-2,7-11. What differences did you notice between our descriptions of the magi and what Scripture, actually tells us?

What could we do, as a congregation to welcome Christmas visitors to continue worshiping with us or to continue their spiritual journey.

Closing Prayer: God, thank you for bringing us together for this time of study and discussion. Thank you for the witness and example of the magi. Work through us to show your love and race to all people, including those outside the community of faith. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen