Found notes…4…preparing for Christmas…9

 Found notes….4…preparing for Christmas…9…

Wisemen… 

Yet another group was prepared for Christ…the wisemen, magi…

They not only came a great distance, but brought expensive gifts…gold, frankincense and myrrh…

Some have said, gold for wealth and power…

Frankincense for perfume, healing….

Myrrh for anointing a king, painkiller, embalming…

Whatever the reason or symbolism, I imagine that Joseph and Mary, a trusted father and mother, used the gifts wisely in the later sojourn/escape to Egypt…

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.’” 

After listening to the king, they went on their way. 

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. 

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matt.2.1-2, Matt.2.5,Matt.2.6,9-11

“We know that the magi were wise men from "the East," most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. Most likely, the magi knew of the writings of the prophet Daniel, who in time past had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24-27 includes a prophecy which gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Also, the magi may have been aware of the prophecy of Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17. Balaam’s prophecy specifically mentions a “star coming out of Jacob.” 

The wise men were guided to look for the King of the Jews by a miraculous stellar event, the “Star of Bethlehem,” which they called “His star” (Matthew 2:2). They came to Jerusalem and asked concerning the birth of Christ, and they were directed to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4–8). They followed God’s guidance joyfully (Matthew 2:10). When they arrived in Bethlehem, they gave costly gifts to Jesus and worshiped Him. God warned them in a dream against returning to Herod, so, in defiance of the king, they left Judea by another route (Matthew 2:12).

So, the magi were men who

 1) read and believed God’s Word, 

2) sought Jesus, 

3) recognized the worth of Christ, 

4) humbled themselves to worship Jesus,

5) obeyed God rather than man. 

They were truly wise men!”

Gotquestions.com

I like this list of character qualities of the wisemen….their character prepared them for Christ, Christmas…are these character qualities mine?

Thank YOU….

Are we wise, following after Christ?

Do we obey God ?

Do we read and obey God’s Word?

 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Ps.107.43

To know wisdom and instruction,to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing,in righteousness, justice, and equity; 

to give prudence to the simple,knowledge and discretion to the youth— 

Let the wise hear and increase in learning,and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying,the words of the wise and their riddles. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov.1.2-7

We three kings ….

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujf1-flrTm4