Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Monday, 1 December 2014 "Glory to the newborn king"
Daily Scripture: Matthew 1:12-16 When the Babylonian exile ended,
Jeconiah had Shealtiel,
Shealtiel had Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel had Abiud,
Abiud had Eliakim,
Eliakim had Azor,
Azor had Zadok,
Zadok had Achim,
Achim had Eliud,
Eliud had Eleazar,
Eleazar had Matthan,
Matthan had Jacob,
Jacob had Joseph, Mary’s husband,
the Mary who gave birth to Jesus,
the Jesus who was called Christ.
17 There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David,
another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile,
and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
The Birth of Jesus
18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
Scholars from the East
2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
Micah 5:2-4 But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,
the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.
Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes
until the birth pangs are over and the child is born,
And the scattered brothers come back
home to the family of Israel.
He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength,
centered in the majesty of God-Revealed.
And the people will have a good and safe home,
for the whole world will hold him in respect—
Peacemaker of the world!
Reflection Questions:
“Christ” was a title, not a personal name. The Greek word “christos” meant “anointed one,” the same meaning as the Hebrew word “mashiach,” or “Messiah.” Matthew said Jesus is called “the Christ”—that is, the anointed king. Israel loved the hope of God sending a ruler born in Bethlehem. The “chief priests and legal experts” knew Micah 5 when King Herod asked them. But it was the foreign magi who spoke of the infant as Israel‘s ultimate king.
• Matthew used the Greek word "magoi" (English “magi”) to describe the visitors from the East. Picture the scene in your mind's eye: these wise men, often honored and respected themselves, honored the young child Jesus and named him “king.” What did this say about their hopes for who Jesus was and would become? What do you hope Jesus, the king, will do in your life?
• The Magi didn’t say, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We have come to make a treaty with him,” or “We have come to attend one of his meetings.”
Scholar William Barclay noted that the magi had “the reaction of adoring worship, the desire to lay at the feet of Jesus Christ the noblest gifts they could bring.” As you plan for Christmas, how will you honor Jesus’ birth through “adoring worship” this year?
Prayer: King Jesus, amid all of the holiday hoopla, help me to find a place of inner stillness and peace. And in that space, help me, like the wise men of old, to name you king, and to commit myself anew to serve you. Amen.
Insight from Chris Holliday
Rev. Chris Holliday serves as the associate minister at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West.
In the wake of Black Friday and in the midst of Cyber Monday, I found today’s GPS prayer especially helpful. I invite you to pray it again.
“King Jesus, amid all of the holiday hoopla, help me to find a place of inner stillness and peace. And in that space, help me, like the wise men of old, to name you king, and to commit myself anew to serve you. Amen.”
As we make a conscious decision to move away from our society’s consumerism and chaos, may we discover times and places of inner stillness and peace so that we might truly center ourselves on the Christ child this season. Here are some ways that help me experience the Prince’s peace.
May you take the time to consider when, where, and how you can experience the stillness and peace of Christ in your life; and may the light of His peace shine brightly in and through you during this Advent season and throughout the New Year. Merry Christmas!
____________________________
Jeconiah had Shealtiel,
Shealtiel had Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel had Abiud,
Abiud had Eliakim,
Eliakim had Azor,
Azor had Zadok,
Zadok had Achim,
Achim had Eliud,
Eliud had Eleazar,
Eleazar had Matthan,
Matthan had Jacob,
Jacob had Joseph, Mary’s husband,
the Mary who gave birth to Jesus,
the Jesus who was called Christ.
17 There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David,
another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile,
and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
The Birth of Jesus
18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
Scholars from the East
2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
Micah 5:2-4 But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,
the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.
Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes
until the birth pangs are over and the child is born,
And the scattered brothers come back
home to the family of Israel.
He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength,
centered in the majesty of God-Revealed.
And the people will have a good and safe home,
for the whole world will hold him in respect—
Peacemaker of the world!
Reflection Questions:
“Christ” was a title, not a personal name. The Greek word “christos” meant “anointed one,” the same meaning as the Hebrew word “mashiach,” or “Messiah.” Matthew said Jesus is called “the Christ”—that is, the anointed king. Israel loved the hope of God sending a ruler born in Bethlehem. The “chief priests and legal experts” knew Micah 5 when King Herod asked them. But it was the foreign magi who spoke of the infant as Israel‘s ultimate king.
• Matthew used the Greek word "magoi" (English “magi”) to describe the visitors from the East. Picture the scene in your mind's eye: these wise men, often honored and respected themselves, honored the young child Jesus and named him “king.” What did this say about their hopes for who Jesus was and would become? What do you hope Jesus, the king, will do in your life?
• The Magi didn’t say, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We have come to make a treaty with him,” or “We have come to attend one of his meetings.”
Scholar William Barclay noted that the magi had “the reaction of adoring worship, the desire to lay at the feet of Jesus Christ the noblest gifts they could bring.” As you plan for Christmas, how will you honor Jesus’ birth through “adoring worship” this year?
Prayer: King Jesus, amid all of the holiday hoopla, help me to find a place of inner stillness and peace. And in that space, help me, like the wise men of old, to name you king, and to commit myself anew to serve you. Amen.
Insight from Chris Holliday
Rev. Chris Holliday serves as the associate minister at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West.In the wake of Black Friday and in the midst of Cyber Monday, I found today’s GPS prayer especially helpful. I invite you to pray it again.
“King Jesus, amid all of the holiday hoopla, help me to find a place of inner stillness and peace. And in that space, help me, like the wise men of old, to name you king, and to commit myself anew to serve you. Amen.”
As we make a conscious decision to move away from our society’s consumerism and chaos, may we discover times and places of inner stillness and peace so that we might truly center ourselves on the Christ child this season. Here are some ways that help me experience the Prince’s peace.
- Enjoying the warmth and beauty of a Christmas tree in silence or while listening to soft music.
- Breathing the crisp night air while gazing at the star-filled sky and marveling at the awesomeness and majesty of God’s creation.
- Working or resting on the couch with one of my puppy dogs sleeping to my right and one to my left.
- Singing a song in worship and getting that tingly feeling, which reminds me that God loves me and that there’s always hope.
- Listening to someone’s story and seeing them smile a little because they appreciate someone taking the time to care.
- Serving a meal at a soup kitchen or helping to repair a home so that some of those who are in need can have more adequate food and shelter.
- Watching children present a Christmas musical and knowing that we are in good hands, because the next generation is already learning about and reminding us of the true reason for the season.
- Seeing one of my daughters rock a baby in the nursery and watching her face light up as her compassion, gifts, and calling intersect in a moment of sheer joy and peace.
- Knowing I am in the right place at the right time to be used by God to make a positive, Christian difference in someone’s life.
May you take the time to consider when, where, and how you can experience the stillness and peace of Christ in your life; and may the light of His peace shine brightly in and through you during this Advent season and throughout the New Year. Merry Christmas!
____________________________
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