Embracing Christ: Lessons from Herod and the Magi

Devotional

Day 1: The Destructive Nature of Clinging to Power

Herod the Great was a ruler whose reign was marked by fear and paranoia. His desperate attempts to maintain power led to brutal actions, including the execution of his own family members. This fear-driven leadership style highlights the destructive nature of clinging to earthly power. Herod's reaction to the birth of Jesus, whom he saw as a threat to his throne, serves as a stark reminder of how fear can lead to devastating consequences. In contrast, surrendering to God's sovereignty brings peace and freedom from the chains of fear. [08:48]

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you clinging to control out of fear? How can you begin to surrender these areas to God's sovereignty today?

Day 2: The Depth of Our Pursuit of Christ

The Magi, often misunderstood as three wise men, were actually a powerful group of leaders who traveled with a large entourage. Their journey to worship Jesus was not a simple one; it involved traveling over a thousand miles with military protection. This demonstrates the lengths to which true seekers of God will go to honor Him. The Magi's determination challenges us to consider the depth of our own pursuit of Christ. Are we willing to make sacrifices and go the extra mile to seek Him wholeheartedly? [20:45]

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered." (1 Chronicles 16:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can deepen your pursuit of Christ this week? Consider a tangible step you can take to seek Him more earnestly.

Day 3: The Multifaceted Nature of Christ's Mission

The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the Magi were not just valuable items but held deep symbolic meaning. Gold represented Jesus' kingship, frankincense his priestly role, and myrrh foreshadowed his suffering and death. These gifts underscore the multifaceted nature of Christ's mission and invite us to reflect on how we honor Him in our lives. Recognizing Jesus as King, High Priest, and Savior calls us to a deeper understanding of His divine purpose and our response to it. [36:37]

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." (Colossians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: How do you currently honor Jesus in your daily life? What is one new way you can acknowledge His kingship, priestly role, or sacrificial love this week?

Day 4: Resisting or Embracing Jesus' Lordship

Herod's desire to eliminate Jesus contrasts sharply with the Magi's desire to worship Him. This dichotomy challenges us to examine our own hearts and consider whether we are resisting or embracing Jesus' lordship in our lives. Herod's actions were driven by fear and a desire to maintain control, while the Magi's journey was motivated by a genuine desire to honor the true King. This invites us to reflect on our own motivations and the extent to which we allow Jesus to reign in our hearts. [41:03]

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8a, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are resisting Jesus' lordship? What steps can you take to fully embrace His reign in your heart today?

Day 5: Offering Our Best in Worship

The Magi's journey and their gifts exemplify true worship, which involves giving our best to God. Their willingness to travel great distances and present lavish gifts to Jesus challenges us to consider what we are offering to Him. This Christmas, we are invited to offer our hearts to Christ, recognizing Him as the King of Kings and the Savior who redeems us. True worship is not just about what we give but the heart with which we give it. [41:03]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can offer your best to God this week, whether through your time, resources, or talents? How can you ensure that your worship is heartfelt and genuine?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the often misunderstood elements of the Christmas story, focusing on the figures of Herod and the Magi. We began by examining the historical context of Herod the Great, a ruler known for his architectural achievements and brutal reign. Herod's paranoia and ruthless actions, including the execution of his own family members, painted a picture of a man desperate to maintain power at any cost. This backdrop set the stage for understanding Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth and the arrival of the Magi.

The Magi, often depicted as three wise men, were actually a powerful and wealthy group of leaders from the East. They traveled in large caravans with military protection, which explains why Herod was so intimidated by their presence. Contrary to popular belief, the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger but arrived later when Jesus was a young child in Nazareth. Their journey of over a thousand miles was driven by a desire to worship the new King, bringing lavish gifts that symbolized Jesus' roles as King, High Priest, and Savior.

The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not just valuable items but held deep symbolic meaning. Gold represented Jesus' kingship, frankincense his priestly role, and myrrh foreshadowed his suffering and death. These gifts underscored the Magi's recognition of Jesus' divine mission and their willingness to honor him with their best.

The message concluded with a challenge: to consider whether we are more like Herod, clinging to our own power and resisting Jesus, or like the Magi, who sought him out and worshiped him wholeheartedly. The invitation was extended to embrace the true spirit of Christmas by giving our hearts to Christ, acknowledging him as the King of Kings and the Savior of the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Herod's Fear and Paranoia: Herod the Great was a ruler consumed by fear of losing power, leading to brutal actions against even his own family. His reaction to the birth of Jesus highlights the threat he felt from the true King of the Jews. This serves as a reminder of the destructive nature of clinging to earthly power and the peace that comes from surrendering to God's sovereignty. [08:48]
2. The True Identity of the Magi: The Magi were not just three wise men but a powerful group of leaders who traveled with a large entourage. Their journey to worship Jesus demonstrates the lengths to which true seekers of God will go to honor him. This challenges us to consider the depth of our own pursuit of Christ and the sacrifices we are willing to make. [20:45]
3. Symbolism of the Gifts: The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the Magi were deeply symbolic, representing Jesus' kingship, priestly role, and sacrificial death. These gifts remind us of the multifaceted nature of Christ's mission and invite us to reflect on how we honor him in our lives. [36:37]
4. The Contrast Between Herod and the Magi: Herod's desire to eliminate Jesus contrasts sharply with the Magi's desire to worship him. This dichotomy challenges us to examine our own hearts and consider whether we are resisting or embracing Jesus' lordship in our lives. [41:03]
5. The Invitation to Worship: The Magi's journey and their gifts exemplify true worship, which involves giving our best to God. This Christmas, we are invited to offer our hearts to Christ, recognizing him as the King of Kings and the Savior who redeems us. [41:03]
** [41:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:40] - Introduction to Herod and the Magi
[05:54] - The Historical Context of Herod
[08:48] - Herod's Paranoia and Brutality
[10:39] - The Magi's Role in History
[11:29] - Herod's Political Maneuvering
[13:12] - Herod's Family and Power Struggles
[14:10] - Herod's Death and Legacy
[17:08] - Misconceptions About the Magi
[18:10] - The True Nature of the Magi
[20:45] - The Magi's Journey and Purpose
[22:30] - The Magi's Influence in Rome
[24:36] - The Magi's Arrival in Jerusalem
[25:32] - The Magi's Worship and Gifts
[30:54] - The Symbolism of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh
[36:37] - The Spiritual Significance of the Gifts
[41:03] - The Call to Be Like the Magi

Sermon Clips

The magi were an elite, powerful, and fabulously wealthy group of political, spiritual, scientific leaders who were dedicated. To the study of dreams and the constellations. This is what they were, all right? Listen to this. A little bit more history on this. The magi preferred to be close to the places they lived. Because of their wealth, they wanted to be close to the places they were ruling. These were rulers. [00:18:25] (28 seconds)

These were wealthy, rich leaders of Jesus' time period. Now watch this. Look at this. They traveled with servants to set up and tear down their tents with all the accommodations of home, along with their own massive military army for protection and security. Massive. Group of people. Watch this. And we got this more than just one occasion. Check this out. [00:19:19] (25 seconds)

The gift of gold. Why? Well, if you go back into the Old Testament, you'll find this is not the best picture, but everything in the Old Testament tabernacle was gold. Everything. Even on the inner circle, like the Ark of the Covenant, gold. Wood overlaid with gold. The altar of incense, gold. Wood overlaid with gold. The menorah, gold. Hammered gold. The table of showbread, gold. [00:36:00] (31 seconds)

Gold is the, is the, is the material of kingship. And that's what it represents in the Bible, and that's what it means still to this day. Gold. Now, what was the next one? Frankincense. What's so important about this one? Now listen, if you grew up Catholic, you've probably seen it before, but you didn't connect all the dots. But I'm going to give it to you this way. [00:36:36] (22 seconds)

Frankincense represents Jesus as our high priest who hears our prayers and represents them before the Father. Pretty powerful. Now, what about myrrh? If you haven't heard this, it's from resin derived from an exotic tree in the eastern lands. It was the high demand, very high demand and very costly in Jesus' day. It was used as a perfume, but most known for. [00:38:24] (25 seconds)

Gold declares Jesus as our king. Frankincense, why did they bring that? They declares Jesus as our great high priest that we worship. Watch this. Myrrh. Jesus is our suffering Savior who will redeem us and bring us back to God. That's what that represents, praise God. Amen? Amen. So then, last week I couldn't do this, but this week I can. [00:40:22] (26 seconds)

Herod didn't want, he inquired of Jesus, but was not willing to lay it down for Jesus. He would actually, didn't want to give up his power so that Jesus could rule his heart. So because of that, he tried everything he could to get Jesus away from him. And there are people today, this day, that are the same way. I don't want nothing to do with you. [00:40:54] (24 seconds)

But yet, there's the Magi, the wise men, who they chased him down 1,200 miles, gave him gifts, worshiped him, honored him, and said, you are, watch this, the King of Kings. You are the high priest of the earth and you know what you are the redeemer who's come to rescue us. I'm here to tell you I want to be known as one of the wise men. [00:41:47] (22 seconds)

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