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Text to read: Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
Verse 2
[2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
To do him homage — To pay him that honour, by bowing to the earth before him, which the eastern nations used to pay to their monarchs.
Verse 4
[4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
The chief priests — That is, not only the high priest and his deputy, with those who formerly had borne that office: but also the chief man in each of those twenty-four courses, into which the body of priests were divided, 1 Chronicles 24:6-19. The scribes were those whose peculiar business it was to explain the Scriptures to the people. They were the public preachers, or expounders of the law of Moses. Whence the chief of them were called doctors of the law.
Verse 6
[6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Thou art in nowise the least among the princes of Judah — That is, among the cities belonging to the princes or heads of thousands in Judah. When this and several other quotations from the Old Testament are compared with the original, it plainly appears, the apostles did not always think it necessary exactly to transcribe the passages they cited, but contented themselves with giving the general sense, though with some diversity of language. The words of Micah, which we render, Though thou be little, may be rendered, Art thou little? And then the difference which seems to be here between the prophet and the evangelist vanishes away. Micah 5:2.
Verse 8
[8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
And if ye find him, bring me word - Probably Herod did not believe he was born; otherwise would not so suspicious a prince have tried to make sure work at once?
Verse 10
[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Seeing the star — Standing over where the child was.
Verse 11
[11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
They presented to him gifts — It was customary to offer some present to any eminent person whom they visited. And so it is, as travellers observe, in the eastern countries to this day.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh — Probably these were the best things their country afforded; and the presents ordinarily made to great persons. This was a most seasonable, providential assistance for a long and expensive journey into Egypt, a country where they were entirely strangers, and were to stay for a considerable time.
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Daily Devotionals:
Monday, December 28, 2015
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Read Matthew 2:1-12 today and pray for new insights.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Read Matthew 2:1-12 today.
- Have you felt led to pay homage to Jesus Christ?
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Read Matthew 2:1-12 today.
- Have you felt led to pay homage to Jesus Christ?
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- What do you feel the gifts the magi brought may symbolize?
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- What resolutions, if any, have you made?
Friday, January 1, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Do you feel you have the resolve and power to accomplish your resolutions?
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- In the past year, have you witnessed the Lord at work in your life?
- In what ways?
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- What gift can I bring this day to worship the Christ Child?
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
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Sermon Stories "Royalty Visits" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 3 January 2016 with Text to read: Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
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We come to the story with the people who saw the star of the neborn King of Israel and they came with three gifts that were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. we have heard stories what these gifts mean and that the people came from the east or Persia, but what happens if they came from India as we know there were wise people in India. Then again, what happens if they saw the star in the ast and traveled east to get there which means they could have come from some place on the continent of Africa because we have learned that there were many wise people in the tribes of Africa or the countries of that day in Africa that sometimes we do not accept because we see them as people who are ignorant because they are black and we are white. Anyway, the sotry of the people who came following the star were indeed wise people of royal ancestry. The royalty of non Israelites accepted this sign of the ne King of Israel, but the royalty of Israel did not because He wanted to kill this baby boy because he felt he was the King of the Israelites. This too often are we treat people today who live on the margins of society especially the people who are differently abled, yet many times the people who are differently abled can show us about God's love for all people. I was reminded this week from reading this short article by Father Henri J. M. Nouwen what he learned from the corre members in L'Arche. The story from him is:
Henri Nouwen Society
"It is worthwhile making a distinction between talents and gifts. More important than our talents are our gifts. We may have only a few talents, but we have many gifts. Our gifts are the many ways in which we express our humanity. They are part of who we are: friendship, kindness, patience, joy, peace, forgiveness, gentleness, love, hope, trust, and many others. These are the true gifts we have to offer to each other.
Somehow I have known this for a long time, especially through my personal experience of the enormous healing power of these gifts. But since my coming to live in a community with mentally handicapped people, I have rediscovered this simple truth. Few, if any, of those people have talents they can boast of. Few are able to make contributions to our society that allow them to earn money, compete on the open market or win awards. But how splendid are their gifts!" #HenriNouwen LIFE OF THE BELOVED[www.henrinouwen.org]
His experience reminds me of my own experience with my son and with other people I have been around and befriended who are people who are differently abled. You see, Jesus is royalty of all royalty and he treated the people who are differently abled as royalty then and now. How do you understand when royalty comes to church? We look at the outside ho people are dressed or act while God sees on the inside how royal and loyal they are to Him. Will you reconsider you position if you so Jesus dressed in rags or had a disability? How will you react and treat the people who are marginalized by society? We come to celebrate Jesus as royalty as we come and eat His Body and drink His Blood through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We often wonder how such a royal person would suffer and die for us, but He did. We come to receive from God through this Sacrament singing this hymn "WE THREE KINGS" by John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1857
1. We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
2. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
3. Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
4. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
5. Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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