Begin by reading the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
Give us today our daily bread…
At first reading this probably sounds like the most straightforward and easy to understand line in the whole prayer. But let’s consider a few things about this specific prayer…
We are told to pray, Give us today…All that we have is a gift given by God! This is not an excuse to do nothing but wait for God to give us what we want. It is meant to remind us that apart from God, we would have nothing at all.
We are to pray give us today our daily bread, not give me today my daily bread.
This is not a selfish, me-centered request, we must not pray about our needs without caring at all about the needs of others.
We are to pray for our daily bread. We should not look fearfully too far into the future and worry over what will happen – read Matthew 6:25-34. The God who created the day is our Father and He will provide what we need in the day He created.
We are told to pray for our daily bread… Was Jesus referring to physical bread (food) or spiritual food, or both? Jesus did after all call Himself the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). Perhaps then it is a prayer for Jesus himself!
Clearly Jesus is urging us to pray about more than just our daily meals here, but that does not mean we are not to pray about our basic needs and concerns at all.
What troubles you today? What do you worry about? What do you have trouble trusting God with or trusting Him for?
Remember…He is your Father! His name is Holy! He is your King! He loves with an everlasting love!!
Pastor Jeff Frazier
Wednesday, December 30
Begin by reading the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
Your Kingdom come…
The announcement and inauguration of the Kingdom of God was the primary message of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God” occurs over 100 times in the Gospels. But what is the Kingdom? Curiously, we are never given a concise definition of it. Instead we are given descriptions in metaphors, images and analogies. Most of the parables begin with the phrase “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
Essentially, the Kingdom of Heaven is a world that operates in perfect accordance with God’s will. This is the meaning of the second phrase, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We don’t have to look very far to in our world to see that His Kingdom is not yet fully realized. War, disease, disaster, corruption, oppression are all around us. It would be easy to dismiss this part of the Lord’s Prayer as a kind of spiritual wishful thinking.
But, the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed was not something that began with nations, countries, or social structures. The Kingdom of God is something that begins in the individual human heart. The kingdom of God begins with me…with you!
When you pray for His Kingdom to come, you are not just praying for wars and hunger to cease, a kind of peace on earth in a general way, you are praying foryour life to operate in accordance with God’s will. You are praying for His Kingdom to rule and His will to be done in your heart!
It is often much easier to pray for God’s Kingdom to come “out there” in the world than it is to pray for it to come “in here” in my own heart.
Spend some time with your King asking Him to show you where your heart and life need some “Kingdom realignment”…
Pastor Jeff
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
Your Kingdom come…
The announcement and inauguration of the Kingdom of God was the primary message of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God” occurs over 100 times in the Gospels. But what is the Kingdom? Curiously, we are never given a concise definition of it. Instead we are given descriptions in metaphors, images and analogies. Most of the parables begin with the phrase “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
Essentially, the Kingdom of Heaven is a world that operates in perfect accordance with God’s will. This is the meaning of the second phrase, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We don’t have to look very far to in our world to see that His Kingdom is not yet fully realized. War, disease, disaster, corruption, oppression are all around us. It would be easy to dismiss this part of the Lord’s Prayer as a kind of spiritual wishful thinking.
But, the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed was not something that began with nations, countries, or social structures. The Kingdom of God is something that begins in the individual human heart. The kingdom of God begins with me…with you!
When you pray for His Kingdom to come, you are not just praying for wars and hunger to cease, a kind of peace on earth in a general way, you are praying foryour life to operate in accordance with God’s will. You are praying for His Kingdom to rule and His will to be done in your heart!
It is often much easier to pray for God’s Kingdom to come “out there” in the world than it is to pray for it to come “in here” in my own heart.
Spend some time with your King asking Him to show you where your heart and life need some “Kingdom realignment”…
Pastor Jeff
Tuesday, December 29
Begin by reading the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
Hallowed be your name…
We have to be honest here that this word hallowed is not one we use much outside of this prayer. However, if we are going to pray it, then we should understand what we are praying, so what does it mean?
Some translators have used phrases like, revered, kept sacred, honored, and keep holy to convey the meaning of this word.
Let’s go with the idea of “keep holy”, because this is probably closest to the meaning. But keep what holy? The name of God!
(Faithful Jews would not speak the sacred name of God aloud for fear of unintentionally mispronouncing it and thus blaspheming God.)
We must keep in mind that a name was much more than a name in the Biblical view. A name signified the character, nature and personality of an individual. The name of God (YHWH) given to Moses at Mt. Sinai is the character, nature and personality of God as He has revealed Himself to us in Scripture. So…when you pray Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, you are essentially saying; God, may You be given the unique honor and reverence that only Your nature and Character deserve.
But what does it mean for us to keep the name of God holy?
Did your parents ever say anything to you like this, “We don’t talk or act like that in this family.” You carry your family name with you for good and for bad. You represent your family even in how you live.
You carry/bear the name of your Heavenly Father on your life!!
How does your life represent the name of your Father in Heaven?
In what way(s) do you find it difficult to honor, revere or keep holy the name of God?
Spend some time “hallowing” His name in your heart…
Pastor Jeff
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
Hallowed be your name…
We have to be honest here that this word hallowed is not one we use much outside of this prayer. However, if we are going to pray it, then we should understand what we are praying, so what does it mean?
Some translators have used phrases like, revered, kept sacred, honored, and keep holy to convey the meaning of this word.
Let’s go with the idea of “keep holy”, because this is probably closest to the meaning. But keep what holy? The name of God!
(Faithful Jews would not speak the sacred name of God aloud for fear of unintentionally mispronouncing it and thus blaspheming God.)
We must keep in mind that a name was much more than a name in the Biblical view. A name signified the character, nature and personality of an individual. The name of God (YHWH) given to Moses at Mt. Sinai is the character, nature and personality of God as He has revealed Himself to us in Scripture. So…when you pray Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, you are essentially saying; God, may You be given the unique honor and reverence that only Your nature and Character deserve.
But what does it mean for us to keep the name of God holy?
Did your parents ever say anything to you like this, “We don’t talk or act like that in this family.” You carry your family name with you for good and for bad. You represent your family even in how you live.
You carry/bear the name of your Heavenly Father on your life!!
How does your life represent the name of your Father in Heaven?
In what way(s) do you find it difficult to honor, revere or keep holy the name of God?
Spend some time “hallowing” His name in your heart…
Pastor Jeff
Monday, December 28
Begin by reading the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
This prayer of Jesus was essentially his answer His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1) You will begin each morning reciting this prayer and then meditating on a different aspect of it. In this way you will pray your way through it over the next five days.
Our Father in Heaven…
Perhaps you grew up in a tradition where this prayer was referred to as “The Our Father”. Perhaps you did not have the best earthly father growing up. Perhaps you are a father yourself.
Let’s reflect on this word father for a moment…
What kinds of images come into your mind when you think of a Father?
Father may mean simply the biological or paternal father; the person responsible for the birth of a child.
Father might also be used to refer to the source or beginning of something; as in Albert Einstein is the Father of modern physics.
Father can also be used to describe the relationship between father and child – fatherhood. In this sense, Father describes a relationship of love, trust and intimacy between a father and his child.
The Bible understands God as Father in each of these ways. He is the author of your life, the person responsible for your very being. He is also the beginning and originator of all life. But beyond this, He is Our Father…He is to us a loving, protecting, guiding, disciplining Father in whom we can place all our hope and trust.
In what way is it most difficult for you to think of God as your Father?
In what way(s) do you most need god to be your Father?
Thank God that He is Your Father!
Jeff Frazier
This then is how you should pray:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
(this last phrase is actually not in the oldest manuscripts of the Bible, but was added from later tradition)
This prayer of Jesus was essentially his answer His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1) You will begin each morning reciting this prayer and then meditating on a different aspect of it. In this way you will pray your way through it over the next five days.
Our Father in Heaven…
Perhaps you grew up in a tradition where this prayer was referred to as “The Our Father”. Perhaps you did not have the best earthly father growing up. Perhaps you are a father yourself.
Let’s reflect on this word father for a moment…
What kinds of images come into your mind when you think of a Father?
Father may mean simply the biological or paternal father; the person responsible for the birth of a child.
Father might also be used to refer to the source or beginning of something; as in Albert Einstein is the Father of modern physics.
Father can also be used to describe the relationship between father and child – fatherhood. In this sense, Father describes a relationship of love, trust and intimacy between a father and his child.
The Bible understands God as Father in each of these ways. He is the author of your life, the person responsible for your very being. He is also the beginning and originator of all life. But beyond this, He is Our Father…He is to us a loving, protecting, guiding, disciplining Father in whom we can place all our hope and trust.
In what way is it most difficult for you to think of God as your Father?
In what way(s) do you most need god to be your Father?
Thank God that He is Your Father!
Jeff Frazier
Friday, December 25
Matthew 2:1-12
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 Christ was 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.’” 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.
How did the Magi find the Christ child? My guess is that you probably answered by saying that they followed the star, but this is only half right. There’s a great deal of discussion over this star, some scholars believe it was an ancient appearance of Haley’s comet, some claim it was an unusual alignment of Jupiter and Saturn, others claim it was a supernova in about 11 B.C., but as far as I can tell, this account gives me the impression that whatever it was, it was a miraculous occurrence.
It seems evident from the story in Matthew that this star was a miracle, because a star that was seen in the sky in Bethlehem would be seen in the same way in Jerusalem or any other town in the region of Judea, for they were so close together. But apparently they could sense that this star was moving, and they could sense when it came and stood just over the place where the young child was. So evidently it was a very low-moving star, something very unusual.
The star of Bethlehem does play an important role, but it does not bring the Magi all the way to Jesus. We tend to think of the Magi as just traipsing along through the desert following a bouncy bright star in the sky. But a careful examination of the story in Matthew will help us see it a bit differently.
Notice what the Magi actually say to Herod, they say that they saw His star in the east, but they do not say that they have been following the star. Additionally, the Magi show up first in Jerusalem (not Bethlehem) and ask where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? If they had been following the star all along, why wouldn’t they have just followed it on to Bethlehem? Finally, when the Magi ask where the child is, Herod has to ask the Jewish scholars and priests, and they go to the Word of God for the answer.
In his commentary on Matthew called The Christ Book, Frederich Dale Bruner puts it this way, “The star brings us to Jerusalem; only Scripture brings us to Bethlehem. Creation can bring us to the church; the church’s Bible brings us to Christ. To be sure, the star reappears, but, significantly, only after the Scriptures say ‘Bethlehem!’ God’s revelation in creation raises the questions and begins the quest; God’s revelation in Scripture gives a preliminary answer and directs the quest toward the final goal. Finally, God’s revelation in Christ satisfies the quest.”
For this reason, when the star reaches the place where the child is, it stops. It stops right there, and its history ends, for it has reached the Lord Jesus. When the star reaches Bethlehem, when it has brought a man to the place of Jesus Christ, then its ministry is over. It does not go beyond Christ, and it does not reappear in the story because once it has brought them to Christ, it has fulfilled its divine purpose!
Jeff Frazier
Thursday, December 24
Matthew 2:1-6
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 Christ was 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.’”
Isn’t it beautiful the way the Old Testament gives us the details of the coming of the king? It begins in the broadest possible way by saying the Messiah shall come of the seed of the woman. And then we have all types of limitations. He is limited to a certain line. He is limited to a certain kind of birth. And finally, he is limited to a certain place: the city of Bethlehem. The prophecies of Scripture are not prophecies that are given in ambiguous, loose language so that they might be fulfilled in several ways. The prophecies of Scripture are not like the Delphic Oracle, not like the words given to King Croesus when he asked if he should attack in order to win a victory. And the reply comes back to him, if you cross the river, a great empire shall be destroyed. Now the prophecy is so worded in ambiguity, that if he crossed and won, the prophecy would be right, and if he crossed and lost, the prophecy would still be right. For in one case, it would be the empire that he attacked that fell, and in the other, it would be his own empire. Scripture is no Delphic Oracle!
Scripture does not just say “in Bethlehem” but “in Bethlehem Ephrathah.” Did you know that there were two Bethlehems in the Old Testament record. There is one in Judea (that is Ephrathah), and there is one in Zebulon. And so we read in the Old Testament book of Micah, “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”
The mysterious Magi set out from some distant country in the east and they ended up in the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “the house of bread.” It was an ancient city with a beautiful history. I think one of the most striking things about Bethlehem is one that we rarely recognize - it was at Bethlehem that the first announcement of the Temple was made. And it is at Bethlehem in the New Testament that we read of the birth of him who was the true Temple of God. It was in the Bethlehem that Jacob buried Rachel. It was at Bethlehem that Ruth and Boaz met, and above all, it was at Bethlehem that king David lived and reigned. It is no coincidence that David’s greater son should be born in Bethlehem in accordance with the teaching of the word of God.
Jeff Frazier
Wednesday, December 23
Matthew 2:1-6
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 Christ was 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.’”
Isn’t it beautiful the way the Old Testament gives us the details of the coming of the king? It begins in the broadest possible way by saying the Messiah shall come of the seed of the woman. And then we have all types of limitations. He is limited to a certain line. He is limited to a certain kind of birth. And finally, he is limited to a certain place: the city of Bethlehem. The prophecies of Scripture are not prophecies that are given in ambiguous, loose language so that they might be fulfilled in several ways. The prophecies of Scripture are not like the Delphic Oracle, not like the words given to King Croesus when he asked if he should attack in order to win a victory. And the reply comes back to him, if you cross the river, a great empire shall be destroyed. Now the prophecy is so worded in ambiguity, that if he crossed and won, the prophecy would be right, and if he crossed and lost, the prophecy would still be right. For in one case, it would be the empire that he attacked that fell, and in the other, it would be his own empire. Scripture is no Delphic Oracle!
Scripture does not just say “in Bethlehem” but “in Bethlehem Ephrathah.” Did you know that there were two Bethlehems in the Old Testament record. There is one in Judea (that is Ephrathah), and there is one in Zebulon. And so we read in the Old Testament book of Micah, “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”
The mysterious Magi set out from some distant country in the east and they ended up in the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “the house of bread.” It was an ancient city with a beautiful history. I think one of the most striking things about Bethlehem is one that we rarely recognize - it was at Bethlehem that the first announcement of the Temple was made. And it is at Bethlehem in the New Testament that we read of the birth of him who was the true Temple of God. It was in the Bethlehem that Jacob buried Rachel. It was at Bethlehem that Ruth and Boaz met, and above all, it was at Bethlehem that king David lived and reigned. It is no coincidence that David’s greater son should be born in Bethlehem in accordance with the teaching of the word of God.
Jeff Frazier
Tuesday, December 22
Matthew 2:1-12
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 Christ was 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.’” 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.
I once had a debate with a man who was a self-professed “Christian Skeptic” about the reliability of the story of the Magi in Matthew’s gospel. He told me that no rational thinking person could accept such a story. One of the reasons for his skepticism was that he claimed it was preposterous to believe that ancient pagan scholars from the east would ever come looking for a Jewish Messiah. I tried to show him that there are solid historical reasons to believe that this story is not really all that far fetched.
There was a common ancient belief that the birth and death of kings were marked by signs in the heavens. In 44 B.C. in one of the great flukes of history, Julius Caesar had been murdered and over his funeral pyre was seen a supernova that amazed everyone who saw it.
We also know from many historical documents that there was a shared belief among ancient people in the notion that someday a great human ruler would come out of the region of Judea. In 60 A.D. the Roman general Vespasian returned to Rome after conquering Jerusalem claiming to be the long awaited ruler out of Judea. In addition, we know that right around the time of Jesus’ birth, there was an unusual conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that astounded ancient scholars. (Jupiter is referred to as the “King Planet” and Saturn is the “Sabbath Planet”)
In light of all of this; the idea that ancient astrologers from the east, believing that great events like the birth of kings were marked in the stars, and knowing about the rumors of a ruler out of Judea, and seeing the planets align in the heavens…it makes perfect sense that they would actually show up and ask, “where is he?”
This is, I think, the real power of the story of the Magi - they showed up looking for the King! While most of the world went about it’s business oblivious to what God was doing, these pagan scholars from a distant land came to find Jesus. While we don’t know much at all about these strangers from the east, there are three significant lessons about them and their search that are important for us to remember.
First – They were looking for something. The Magi saw the star. This was their first hint about the baby to be born Savior and King. This means that they were watching and looking for something. They may not have known exactly what they were looking and waiting for, but at least they were searching.
Second – They were willing to follow. Once the Magi saw the star, they did not just sit around debating it’s meaning, they followed it. They were willing to take a step of faith in order to find what they were looking for. I have known many people who say that they are seeking the truth, but when the moment comes for them to move beyond all of the philosophizing and debating about the truth, they are unwilling to commit.
Jeff Frazier
Monday, December 21
Matthew 2:1-2
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 I was a kid, every year around Christmas time, my mother would have us put out the family manger scene in the family room and my favorite figures were the three “wise men”. They were taller, they had cooler clothes, and they were more exotic looking than any of the other figures in the scene. Each year, as we approach the Christmas season, our preparations for Christmas usually include revisiting the events surrounding the birth of our Lord. Bethlehem, the shepherds, and the angels are familiar to us all. But not much is generally known about the mysterious "Magi" who came to worship the infant Jesus.
Most of what we associate with the "Magi" is from early church traditions. Most of us assume there were three of them, since they brought three specific gifts (but the Biblical text doesn't number them). They are called "Magi" from the Latinized form of the Greek word magoi, transliterated from the Persian, for a specific sect of priests. (Our English word "magic" comes from the same root.)
As the years passed, the traditions became increasingly embellished. By the 3rd century they were viewed as kings. By the 6th century they had names: Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar. A 14th century Armenian tradition identifies them as Balthasar, King of Arabia; Melchior, King of Persia; and Gaspar, King of India.
So let’s take a few moments to be clear about what is myth or legend and what is Biblical regarding the Magi…
Were the Magi kings?
There is no conclusive evidence that they were kings, Isaiah 60:1-7 and favorite Christmas carols notwithstanding. However, as mentioned above, they might have been kings.
How many Magi were there?
We don't know. Matthew 2:1-16 simply uses the plural. We know there were two or more. Christian art from the first centuries of the Church shows various numbers of Magi, ranging from 2 to 8.
Where did they come from?
The only thing we can say with certainty is "from the east" (Matthew 2:1). Our best knowledge is that they were members of the Magian priesthood in the Medo-Persian empire east of the Roman Empire.
Did the Magi visit baby Jesus while He was still in the manger?
No. Despite the fact that every manger scene comes with three “wise men” (and sometimes even their camels) the Biblical account shows us that the Magi would have arrived sometime later.
How old was Jesus when the Magi visited Him?
Several Bible passages help us make an educated guess. We know from Luke 2:21 that Jesus was circumcised at 8 days old. We also know from Luke 2:22-24 that when the 40 days of Mary's "uncleanness" had passed, [Mary and Joseph] presented Jesus, their firstborn son, in the temple in Jerusalem according to God's Law. Herod asked the Magi when they had first seen the star (Matthew 2:7) and then later killed all of the male children in Bethlehem, age two and under (Matthew 2:16). On this basis we can lay out the following with a fair amount of certainty: (1) Jesus was between 41 days and 2 years old when the Magi arrived.
Why are the Magi included in the story of Jesus’ birth?
The account of the Magi is told to show us that from the very beginning of Christ’s coming, God has intended His salvation to be for all people. In other words, the main significance of this account is that God wonderfully revealed the identity of Jesus as Messiah and King of the Jews to these Gentile Magi. It is a wonderful fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy, that Jesus would be "a light of revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:31).
Jeff Frazier
Friday, December 18
Luke 2:20
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I have read the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke just about every Christmas I can remember for the last 20+ years, but I don’t think that I have ever really noticed the significance of this verse before. The part of this verse that had escaped my attention is really just a single word – it is the word “returned”.
Luke tells us that the shepherds returned, returned where? After visiting the Christ child and spreading the news about him the shepherds returned to being shepherds. They simply went back to the only life they knew, a life of tending sheep. They were shepherds before they met Christ, and apparently they remained shepherds after they met him as well. They didn’t write bestsellers about their angelic vision. They didn’t go on the first century talk show circuit and become rich and famous, in fact we don’t know any of their names or even how many of them there were. They simply returned to the hills around the Judean countryside and faded into history.
These shepherds did return to their ordinary lives, but there was something different about them. Notice that Luke tells us these shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God.” They may have remained shepherds, but they were not the same! Their lives had been radically altered by the encounter they had with Christ. Those two simple words, praising & glorifying, signify a radical shift in their lives. There is no greater evidence of a transformed life than that it is lived in praise to God and focused on his glory.
Most of us (although we would not admit it) are focused on our own glory. We are consumed with ourselves, our desires, our concerns, our happiness (or lack of it), our future, our past, our dreams, our fears, etc. It is a sad and lonely existence to live for your own happiness and your own glory. To live for yourself is, in the words of Ecclesiastes, “a chasing after the wind” you can never quite catch it. The amazing paradox of the gospel message is that when you surrender your life to Christ and live for his glory and for the good of others, you find that your own life has meaning and joy in the process! The radical change that took place in the lives of those common shepherds, and in the heart of everyone who is transformed by the gospel, is that they were liberated from the tyranny of self!
C.S. Lewis called this concept the principle of First Things, he said, “You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first….Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither.” But C.S. Lewis was merely echoing the Master’s teaching: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)
There are many who will tell you that the promise of the gospel is a transformed life, they are right! But that transformation is not necessarily a change in your career, or your material wealth, or your earthly security. It is a transformation of your heart! When you come to Christ it is entirely likely that you will stay in the same job, the same bank account, the same marriage, the same town, and the same network of friendships, but you will not be the same!
I don’t know about you, but I find it oddly comforting to know that while these shepherds stayed shepherds, their lives were given in praise to God and concerned primarily with his glory! The simple point is that you do not have to change careers to glorify God. You do not have to move to the city, or the country or Africa, or anywhere else to live a life for his glory. You simply have to dedicate the life you are already in to him! Your everyday, ordinary, common existence can be for the glory of God!
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Jeff Frazier
Thursday, December 17
Luke 2:8-11
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
At first reading, it might seem curious that the shepherds were apparently comfortable outside in the dark night, but they were afraid when the light came. Of course being shepherds they would have been used to spending nights outdoors with the sheep, so it is not so surprising that they were not afraid of the dark. But why were they afraid of the light?
This was obviously no ordinary light. This was the light of heaven and the glory of the Lord that was shining down on them. I think many of us tend to imagine this scene as something kind of like a lovely renaissance painting; beautiful golden beams coming down out of the night sky and attractive angels with flowing hair descending with serene smiles on their faces (maybe it is just me that pictures that). This is clearly not the scene in that field outside of Bethlehem that night. When the text says that the glory of the Lord shone around them, the implication is that it would have been an absolutely overwhelming sight. It would have been terrifying to say the least.I am sure that for a brief moment before the angel spoke to them, those shepherds thought that they were done for. This, by the way, is how people respond to the light of heaven pretty much throughout the entire Bible.
In Isaiah ch. 6, Isaiah gets a vision of the glory of the Lord, and he responds with these words; “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Isa. 6:5)
Exodus 34 tells the story of how Moses saw just a glimpse of the glory of God on Mt Sinai and afterward his face was so radiant that the Israelites were afraid to look at him. Just the reflection of the Lord’s glory was too frightening to them!
In Luke ch. 5, Peter encounters the glory of God in person (Jesus Christ) and this is his response, “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8)
Why do we respond this way? Why should the glory of God make us afraid and want to hide? Simply put, it is because we are sinful. This goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 3. Adam & Eve experienced the glory and presence of God in the garden every day, yet they were not afraid and they did not hide. Until one day when everything changed. Once sin entered their lives, they had something to hide and a reason to be afraid of the Light.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. - John 3:20
Which one of us would not squirm a bit if all of the darkest thoughts we have had over the last 24 hours were somehow texted to 50 of our close friends and family members?
This is not a very popular concept in our culture and it is not preached in many churches today. We want to skip over this part and go straight to the part where the angels say they have brought “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” But to skip over this is to miss the whole point of the gospel message. In his book Telling the Truth; The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale, author Frederich Buechner writes, “The gospel is bad news before it is good news. It is the news that man is a sinner, to use the old word, that he is evil in the imagination of his heart.” Buechner is right. Without the recognition and acceptance of the bad news, there can be no good news.
Remember the words of that wonderful old hymn Amazing Grace…
Somehow the shepherds out in those fields got this - do you?
Has the light of Christ shown into your heart? Have you felt the holy fear that comes from recognizing how unfit and unworthy you are? Grace will never truly be amazing to you until you do.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
Has the light of Christ shown into your heart? Have you felt the holy fear that comes from recognizing how unfit and unworthy you are? Grace will never truly be amazing to you until you do.
Jeff Frazier
Wednesday, December 16
Luke 2:8-15
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11 NIV)
Thus the birth of God's long-awaited redeemer was introduced to a darkened, weary, and exhausted world. History tells us that the time of our Lord's birth was indeed a time of weariness and widespread despair among men and among the nations of the earth.
It is striking that the human emotion that was first encountered by the angelic messenger was that of fear. Men were afraid in that day. They were afraid of many things, as they are today. There was Herod the Great on the throne. Herod was cruel, and he had personally put to death many, even in his own family, because of their antagonism to his plans. There were the Romans, with their proud legions, marching up and down across the face of the earth, exacting taxes, demanding worship of Caesar as Lord, holding everything and everyone under the iron will of Rome. Many wars broke out and the economy was uncertain. The people were afraid.
Perhaps the most striking thing to us about this story is that we can so easily put ourselves back into that situation of fear, for by far the dominant mood of the hour today is that of fear.
The third verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" says,
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Every Christmas season we remind each other that it is not enough for Christ to have been born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. What really counts is Christ being born in the human heart. Your Bethlehem is when Christ came to you and was born in your heart. What a remarkable truth that Jesus can be born in us as certainly as he was born in Bethlehem. Therefore, to us, the angel stands to make his welcome announcement: "Fear not. Fear not, for unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
I don't know what the angels look like. Scripture does not give us precise descriptions of what angels look like. The best description we have of the appearance of angels says that they are like young men dressed in white garments. Those were the angels that appeared outside of the tomb of Jesus at the resurrection. For these shepherds in Luke 2, an angel suddenly appeared out of the darkness of the night. Around him shone the radiance of glory, as the glory of the Lord shone round about the shepherds. And as the King James Version puts it, "they were sore afraid."How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Jeff Frazier
Tuesday, December 15
Luke 2:8-9
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.”
No Christmas program is complete without its little band of gunnysack shepherds. Frightened by the angel’s sudden appearance, they marvel at the good news from the angel and rush to Bethlehem to see the Savior-King. As they return to their flocks, they praise God and tell all who will listen about the birth of the chosen Child. They finish spreading the good tidings, leave the stage, and we hardly give them another thought.
In Christ’s day, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They shared the same unenviable status as tax collectors and dung sweepers. Only Luke mentions them.
Some shepherds earned their poor reputations, but others became victims of a cruel stereotype. The religious leaders maligned the shepherd’s good name; rabbis banned pasturing sheep and goats in Israel, except on desert plains.
The Mishnah, Judaism’s written record of the oral law, also reflects this prejudice, referring to shepherds in belittling terms. One passage describes them as “incompetent”; another says no one should ever feel obligated to rescue a shepherd who has fallen into a pit. There are also documents indicating that shepherds were deprived of all civil rights. They could not fulfill judicial offices or be admitted in court as witnesses. Jewish Rabbinic writings indicate that even to buy wool, milk or a lamb from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property.
Into this social context of religious snobbery and class prejudice, God’s Son stepped forth. How surprising and significant that Father God handpicked lowly, unpretentious shepherds to first hear the joyous news: “It’s a boy, and He’s the Messiah!” What an affront to the religious leaders who were so conspicuously absent from the divine mailing list!
Why did the announcement come to them at all? Why not to priests and kings? Who were they that they should be eyewitnesses of God’s glory and receive history’s greatest birth announcement? I have to admit that if it were left up to me, I would probably have chosen a different group to be the very first recipients of this message. I might have even sent the angels to Rome, to the very palace of Caesar himself. I mean from the world’s perspective, who better to carry message of a Savior to the entire world than the ruler of the most powerful nation in that world?
But that is not how God chose to do things. In fact, God has never operated according to the conventions of human wisdom. The Apostle Paul makes this point clear in 1 Corinthians when he wrote, But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. - 1 Corinthians 1:27
The message of God sending His son into the world to save hopeless sinners is not to be accepted or rejected on the basis of the social status of those who proclaim it! You cannot be coerced or manipulated into trusting in Jesus, because the power of the gospel is not in the strength of the messenger, but in the transforming grace of the message!
Jeff Frazier
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.”
Jeff Frazier
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