The Wise Men visit Jesus

1. The Wise Men visit Jesus Matthew 2:1-12

2. 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 in the east and have come to worship him."  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christwas to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

3. 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 make a careful search 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 in the east 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 him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

4. Who were the Magi?

5. Who were the Magi? Traditionally they have been referred to as wise men.

6. Who were the Magi? Traditionally they have been referred to as wise men. The Magi represented the one power outside of the control of Rome: Persia.

7. Who were the Magi? Traditionally they have been referred to as wise men. The Magi represented the one power outside of the control of Rome: Persia. Daniel might have been considered a Magi as he served in the courts of the Babylonian and Persian kings.

8. Who were the Magi? Traditionally they have been referred to as wise men. The Magi represented the one power outside of the control of Rome: Persia. Daniel might have been considered a Magi as he served in the courts of the Babylonian and Persian kings. Since the time of Daniel Jews had lived in Persia.

9. 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 in the east and have come to worship him."  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christwas to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

10. Who was King Herod?

11. Who was King Herod? In 63 B.C. Rome conquers Palestine and incorporates it into the Empire.

12. Who was King Herod? In 63 B.C. Rome conquers Palestine and incorporates it into the Empire. The Romans installed local leaders to govern in their place.

13. Who was King Herod? In 63 B.C. Rome conquers Palestine and incorporates it into the Empire. The Romans installed local leaders to govern in their place. Herod was an Idumean/Nabatean descended from Moab. He claimed the title “King of the Jews” despite having no Jewish blood in him.

14. Who was King Herod? In 63 B.C. Rome conquers Palestine and incorporates it into the Empire. The Romans installed local leaders to govern in their place. Herod was an Idumean/Nabatean descended from Moab. He claimed the title “King of the Jews” despite having no Jewish blood in him. The Jews chafed under his rule. Jewish groups would have liked to have thrown off Herod and Rome’s rule and installed a Davidic king.

15. 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 in the east and have come to worship him."  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christwas to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

16. Then he uttered his oracle:        "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,        the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,  the oracle of one who hears the words of God,        who has knowledge from the Most High,        who sees a vision from the Almighty,        who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:   "I see him, but not now;        I behold him, but not near.        A star will come out of Jacob;        a scepter will rise out of Israel.        He will crush the foreheads of Moab,        the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:15-17 (NIV)

18. 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 in the east and have come to worship him."  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christwas to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  " '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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

19. A third set of characters appears in the story.

20. A third set of characters appears in the story. The priests show a remarkable indifference toward the news that their king has been born.

21. 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 make a careful search 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 in the east 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 him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

22. The Magi worshipped better than they knew.

23. The Magi worshipped better than they knew. The Lord gives us a dramatic demonstration of grace in this story.

24. All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!        Let your astrologers come forward,        those stargazers who make predictions month by month,        let them save you from what is coming upon you. Isaiah 47:13 (NIV)

25. The Magi worshipped better than they knew. The Lord gives us a dramatic demonstration of grace in this story. God also demonstrates his power by showing how he fulfills his promise to David in the birth of Jesus.

26. That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:   "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.

27. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.        " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

28. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.' “ 2 Samuel 7:4-16 (NIV)

29. The Magi worshipped better than they knew. The Lord gives us a dramatic demonstration of grace in this story. God also demonstrates his power by showing how he fulfills his promise to David in the birth of Jesus.