Matthew 2:1

The present day America Christmas Culture, with 25 days of shopping on the TV, and full parking lots at stores, and movies of red-nosed reindeers,  is very much lacking the message of Jesus’s birth.

Who were the Magi?

Wise men, astrologers, probably not really kings although quite wealthy, who left their homes from the far east (likely Persia) to make a very long journey to visit Jesus and give him gifts. This trip would have taken months by camel, and they probably brought a caravan of servants with them. They saw the unusual light in the sky at are referred to as “His star” that moved and pointed the way for them to Bethleham. When they do see the child, they fall down and worship, despite not being of the Jewish faith (astrologers).

Where did they come from?

After the star, likely between 3 months to 2 years after Jesus’ birth, since Herod ordered all boys under 2 be killed. They did not come the night of Jesus’s birth, most likely, despite how we depict it in our culture. Jesus was born in a cave used for sheltering animals, and shepherds came that night. In Matt 2:11 the verbiage for where Jesus was changes to “in the home” and that is where the Magi visit him. Jesus is referred to as a “child” as well, instead of a new born infant.

What did they bring?

Gold – royalty, Jesus being the new “king of kings”, used by Jesus family to travel later to Egypt, to stay safe from Herods persecution.

Frankensceince – used by priests, this to signify Jesus as the great high priest

Myrrh – a spice used for burial, to foreshadow Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

Today, wise men still worship Jesus Christ.

God was quiet for 400 years. During that dark time, there was much corruption but Malachi announces that the Sun will wise again.

When he spoke again, sending Gabriel, it was a message sent to Elizabeth’s husband Zachariah, announcing the birth of John the Baptist, the one to announce the coming of the savior. Following that was the message to Mary, and then Joseph about the virgin birth of Jesus.

Herod was ruler, claiming the title “King of the Jews.” He was a cruel, jealous and wicked man, killing his sons for fear of losing the throne. He did refurbish the temple with beautiful, expensive details.

Zachariah was a country priest, married to the daughter of a priest, from the line of Aaron. Elizabeth had been barren…which indicated sin to the community, although the Bible, Luke 1:7, describes them as blameless. They were fairly old, in their 80′s, making this news of a coming baby all the more hard to believe.

Zachariah means “God remembers”
Elizabeth means “Promise of God”

For many years they waited and waited for a child, and at a time when they would have given up on the hope of children, one comes.

Luke 1:8, Zachariah is called in to do his duty of watching over the holy place inside the temple. Frankensense would have been offered over the fire, producing a sweet cloud, rising as prayer to God. Same spice offered to Jesus at s birth. This is when God sends Gabriel to speak, telling Zacharias that his son would be coming. John means “the grace of God.”

1621: First Thanksgiving, William Bradford, institution of Thanksgiving Holiday for thanking God
1863: Lincoln makes Thanksgiving an official holiday, ratified by congress in 1943

Thanksgiving mindset, remember God this holiday

Luke 17:11
Ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one returns to give thanks to God/Christ, a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other nine are.

Not only did leprosy cause extreme pain, lose of extremities and disfigurement, there was humiliation, as they were forced to leave others to live in a separate leper colony. They were thought to be unclean and not liked by God, hence why they say “Have mercy on us” to Christ.

We are to:

1) Recognize what God has done in our lives, as all the lepers did

2) But also, express gratitude to God, as the one leper did

The leper yelled out in glory to God. Do others know why we, as Christians, give glory to God?

Esther 9:17 – 10

1) The providence of God reflects his grace. A commoner could become a queen. We, fallen sons and daughters are born again by the grace of God (adopted by Him through Christ.)

2) All humanity is under an edict of death. Just like the on Haman sentenced the Jews to. Not because of something they did but who they are.

3) Edict of life – Esther fasted and prayed for 3 days, like Jonah in the whale, or like Jesus in the tomb. Esther’s actions save the Jews, just as Christ’s actions saves us all. The Gospel redeems life – it reverses edicts. Rom 6:23

4) Esther 9:26 – Jewish Holiday Purim made to remember this saving of the Jews.

After this, Esther 10:1, King Xerxes returns back to business. No conversion to Esther’s God. He’s assassinated a year later in his bed, brining his son to the throne, who experiences a similar situation, but this time with Nehemiah. He gives permission for Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, at the expense of the King.

I hate that the Steelers game wasn’t televised today. Allowed me to get a nap and some yard work done though. At least they won! With how well the Bengals have been playing lately, I wasn’t sure how the game was going to turn out.

Mordecai is given the king’s ring in place of Haman, who was hanged for his attempt to exterminate the Jews.

Esther pleas for the king to cancel the edict sent out to kill the Jews.

V11 – Mordecai writes a new decree that gives the Jews the same rights to kill and plunder from anyone who attempts to kill them. This is how he counterbalanced the first edict. (edicts could not be repealed as that would admit that the king was wrong)

Matt 16:24-26
Mark 8:34-36
Luke 9:23-25

11 of 12 disciples martyred for the Gospel

Check out this link: persecution.com

How often do we let stuff get in the way of our pursuit of our Father in Heaven? Christ gave EVERYTHING up for us.

In market downturn at Apple in the nineties, to survive, Steve Jobs paused all charitable donations made by Apple for several years.

How committed are we to others? To Christ? Would we deny ourselves?

There are 168 hours in a week, how many do you spend with (or for) the Lord?

The loss to Baltimore last week really hurt. It was a hard fought game on both sides, but I really thought Pittsburgh had it. Oh well, there’s always the rematch in postseason!

Okay, so I haven’t touched my website pretty much since I stopped teaching, so it was time to update. My goals with the new website is to be a one-stop place for my info, photos, tweets and a new blog. So stay tuned!