Matthew – Arrival of the Magi
Searching, Finding and Returning changed
It’s a story to hang some Christology on!!
Understanding Jesus leads to mission and mission leads to the re-organisation of the church
Context and Background
Matthew’s Gospel
Context and background, 2000 years ago, 3000 miles away, by people who spoke Hebrew and wrote in Greek.Diferent view of the world and a lot of symbolism that we are not used to.
NT itself draws on nearly 2000 years of tradition.
Written for a community to help it understand faith and help with worship.
Written for a Judaic tradition
This reading - Jews rejected offer of salvation but gentiles will accept it. Herod and court represent the Jews, Magi the gentiles
Bethlehem
Birthplace of Bethlehem establishes Jesus credentials as relative to King David
The Star
The star Num 24:17, “I see him, but not now;I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;a scepter will rise out of Israel.
The miraculous nature of its movement means it’s a symbolic star and astronomical investigation is unnecessary
The Magi
Magi – from the East of Jordan perhaps Babylon
Magi perhaps knew through connection to exile and large numbers Jews remained in Babylon Three names derives from 6th Century tradition, three because three gifts
The gifts in ANET show allegiance and submission
Worship of Jesus, common theme in Matthew’s gospel – no one worships a teacher!!!
Hinting at worship / submission of the Gentiles to Christ
Herod
Herod the new Pharoah.
Herod and court are troubled – a word stemming from fear through unbelief
Herod calls the Sanhedrin reflecting Ps2:2 ‘The kingsof the earth rise up and the rulers band togetheragainst theLordand against his anointed’
and later returns in passion narrative
Herod and court fail by being passive, they don’t investigate, search.
Don’t forget they are waiting for the Messiah, think they are doing the right thing.
Jesus
Jesus the expected Messiah, Son of David, son of Abraham 1:1
Jesus born among the Jews but they are not aware of their privilege
Jesus is the new Moses, Deut 18:15, greater than Moses see also Heb 3.
THIS IS ABOUT SEEKING, FINDING AND RETURNING CHANGED
Seeking
How is it to be Seeking, how does seeking come about?
Something unusual made the Magi start searching, something beyond or outside of themselves DO YOU RECOGNISE THAT?
Went together help each other, don’t give up, teamwork brings vision to realityRIFF
Sometimes a moment of clarity,sometimes niggling feeling DO YOU RECOGNISE THAT?
The scripture told them where to lookRIFF
Who is seeking? Us to find God or for others to find him?
Finding
‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.’ V11
Did the Magi find what they were looking for or something else?
What did they find?
Jesus is not an establishment figure – that would be those in Jerusalem, the religious people.
Jesus is King – not one of many, not first among equals, the King, uniquely King
Jesus is Priest – between us and God, mediator, advocate, communicator, no one else is priest
Jesus is Saviour – death and resurrection, our saviour, because they were gentiles, everyone’s saviour
Returning changed
Jesus is a game changer – God with us
He changes our identity – a new creation in Christ 2 Cor 5:17 ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, thenewcreationhas come: The old has gone, thenewis here!’
He changes our priorities- Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ andInolongerlive, but Christlivesin me. The lifeInowlivein the body,Iliveby faithin the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
He changes our institutions and establishments
Conclusion
Are you seeking Jesus for the first time, are you seeking Him for something specific, what’s prompting you?
Have you found Jesus, do you understand Him
Are you being changed or open to being changed by Him
If most of what happens in 2015 already happened in 2014 then we missed Jesus
Final question
What have we found in Jesus in 2014 that spurs mission in 2015 and the inevitable reorganization of St Tim’s church?