Journey of Faith: Lessons from the Magi

Summary

As we gather at the start of a new year, we reflect on the journey of the Magi, whose story is celebrated during Epiphany. This moment in the Christian calendar marks the arrival of the Magi to encounter Jesus, a journey that changed the course of their lives. The Magi, often thought to be wise men or astrologers from the East, embarked on a long and arduous journey, driven by a star that led them to the newborn King. Their story is a powerful metaphor for our own spiritual journeys, highlighting the commitment and persistence required to seek and find Christ.

The Magi's journey was not a simple one. It required careful planning, perseverance, and a willingness to follow a path that was not always clear. They traveled a great distance, likely from Persia, navigating through deserts and foreign lands, driven by the hope of finding the one born King of the Jews. Their journey reminds us that our own paths to Christ may be long and challenging, but they are filled with purpose and divine guidance.

Herod's reaction to the Magi's quest underscores the tension between earthly power and divine purpose. Herod, a ruler known for his paranoia and ruthless hold on power, was threatened by the news of a new king. In contrast, the Magi's humble and sincere quest to worship Jesus stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith. Their journey culminates in an encounter with Christ, leading them to return home by a different route, symbolizing the profound change that occurs when we truly meet Jesus.

As we reflect on the Magi's journey, we are invited to consider our own spiritual paths. Whether our journey to Christ has been long or short, we are called to be persistent and committed, resisting the temptations of power and comfort. Our faith journey requires us to seek guidance, to ask for directions, and to be open to the unexpected ways God leads us. As we embark on this new year, may we be inspired by the Magi to pursue Christ with dedication, allowing our lives to be transformed by His presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Journey of Faith Requires Commitment: The Magi's long and arduous journey to find Jesus illustrates the commitment required in our spiritual journeys. Just as they planned and persevered, we too must be dedicated to seeking Christ, even when the path is challenging. [08:03]

2. Divine Guidance in Unexpected Ways: The Magi were guided by a star, a symbol of divine direction. In our lives, God often leads us in unexpected ways, using circumstances and people to guide us toward Him. We must remain open to His guidance, trusting that He knows the way. [12:10]

3. Transformation Through Encounter: The Magi's encounter with Jesus changed their course, leading them to return home by a different route. When we truly meet Christ, our lives are transformed, and we are called to walk a new path, leaving behind old ways. [15:01]

4. The Tension Between Earthly Power and Divine Purpose: Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth highlights the conflict between earthly power and God's divine plan. We are reminded to resist the allure of power and to align our lives with God's purpose. [10:49]

5. The Universal Call of the Gospel: The journey of the Magi, who were Gentiles, emphasizes that the Gospel is for all people, regardless of background or status. We are called to share the message of Christ with the world, recognizing that His love knows no boundaries. [16:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:11] - The Arrival of the Magi
- [04:25] - Gifts and Worship
- [06:01] - The Mystery of the Magi
- [08:03] - The Long Journey
- [10:49] - Herod's Fear
- [12:10] - Divine Guidance
- [15:01] - A New Path
- [16:19] - Indifference and Faith
- [18:30] - Our Spiritual Journey
- [20:45] - Commitment and Perseverance
- [23:00] - The Call to Guide Others
- [26:42] - The Price of Faith
- [29:15] - Embracing the New Year

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 2:1-13

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#### Observation Questions

1. What motivated the Magi to embark on their journey to find Jesus, and how did they know where to go? [03:11]

2. How did King Herod react to the news of the Magi's quest, and what does this reveal about his character? [10:49]

3. What gifts did the Magi present to Jesus, and what might these gifts symbolize? [04:25]

4. After their encounter with Jesus, what decision did the Magi make regarding their return journey, and why? [15:01]

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#### Interpretation Questions

1. The Magi's journey was long and challenging. What does this suggest about the nature of spiritual journeys and the commitment they require? [08:03]

2. Herod's fear of losing power led him to deceitful actions. How does this reflect the tension between earthly power and divine purpose? [10:49]

3. The Magi were guided by a star. In what ways might God provide guidance in unexpected forms in our lives today? [12:10]

4. The Magi's encounter with Jesus led them to take a different path home. How might a true encounter with Christ transform one's life direction? [15:01]

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#### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a time when you had to commit to a challenging journey or task. How did your faith play a role in your perseverance? [08:03]

2. Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth was one of fear and insecurity. Are there areas in your life where fear of losing control affects your decisions? How can you align these areas with God's purpose? [10:49]

3. The Magi were open to divine guidance through a star. How can you remain open to God's guidance in your life, especially when it comes in unexpected ways? [12:10]

4. After meeting Jesus, the Magi chose a different route home. Is there a "different path" you feel called to take in your life after encountering Christ? What steps can you take to pursue this new direction? [15:01]

5. The Magi's journey was one of seeking and worship. How can you incorporate more intentional seeking and worship into your daily routine this year? [16:19]

6. The Gospel is for all people, as demonstrated by the Magi's journey. How can you actively share the message of Christ with those from different backgrounds or beliefs? [16:19]

7. Reflect on the people who have guided you in your faith journey. How can you be a guide or mentor to someone else in their spiritual journey this year? [26:42]

Devotional

Day 1: Commitment in the Journey of Faith
The journey of the Magi to find Jesus is a profound illustration of the commitment required in our spiritual journeys. These wise men, likely from Persia, embarked on a long and challenging journey, driven by the hope of encountering the newborn King. Their path was not straightforward; it required careful planning, perseverance, and a willingness to follow a star that led them through deserts and foreign lands. This journey serves as a metaphor for our own spiritual paths, reminding us that seeking Christ often involves dedication and persistence, even when the way is difficult.
In our lives, we are called to emulate the Magi's commitment, understanding that the journey to Christ is filled with purpose and divine guidance. As we face challenges and uncertainties, we must remain steadfast in our pursuit of Jesus, trusting that our efforts will lead us to a transformative encounter with Him. The Magi's story encourages us to remain committed to our faith, even when the path is long and arduous. [08:03]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual journey where you feel challenged to remain committed? How can you take a step today to renew your dedication to seeking Christ in that area?

Day 2: Embracing Divine Guidance
The Magi were guided by a star, a symbol of divine direction that led them to Jesus. In our own lives, God often guides us in unexpected ways, using circumstances and people to direct us toward Him. This divine guidance requires us to remain open and attentive, trusting that God knows the way even when it is not clear to us.
As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we must be willing to follow God's lead, even when it takes us through unfamiliar or challenging terrain. The Magi's willingness to follow the star, despite the uncertainties of their journey, serves as a reminder that God's guidance is always present, even if it comes in unexpected forms. By remaining open to His direction, we can trust that He will lead us to where we need to be. [12:10]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt uncertain about the direction to take. How can you seek God's guidance in this situation and remain open to His unexpected ways of leading you?

Day 3: Transformation Through Encounter
The encounter of the Magi with Jesus was a transformative moment that changed the course of their lives. After meeting Christ, they returned home by a different route, symbolizing the profound change that occurs when we truly encounter Jesus. This transformation is a central aspect of the Christian faith, as meeting Christ calls us to leave behind old ways and walk a new path.
In our spiritual journeys, we are invited to experience this transformation by opening our hearts to Jesus and allowing His presence to change us. The Magi's story reminds us that encountering Christ is not a passive experience; it requires us to actively embrace the new path He sets before us. As we seek to meet Jesus in our lives, we are called to let go of what holds us back and embrace the transformative power of His love. [15:01]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent encounter with Christ that has challenged you to change. What is one old way you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new path Jesus is calling you to walk?

Day 4: Resisting Earthly Power for Divine Purpose
Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth highlights the tension between earthly power and divine purpose. Herod, threatened by the prospect of a new king, represents the allure of power and control that often conflicts with God's plan. In contrast, the Magi's humble quest to worship Jesus underscores the transformative power of faith and the importance of aligning our lives with God's purpose.
As we reflect on this tension, we are reminded to resist the temptations of power and comfort that can distract us from our spiritual journeys. Instead, we are called to align our lives with God's divine purpose, seeking to serve His kingdom rather than our own ambitions. The Magi's story encourages us to prioritize our faith over earthly power, trusting that God's plan is greater than any worldly pursuit. [10:49]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are tempted to seek power or control. How can you surrender this to God and align your actions with His divine purpose today?

Day 5: The Universal Call of the Gospel
The journey of the Magi, who were Gentiles, emphasizes the universal nature of the Gospel. Their story highlights that the message of Christ is for all people, regardless of background or status. This universal call invites us to share the love of Jesus with the world, recognizing that His grace knows no boundaries.
As we reflect on the Magi's journey, we are reminded of our responsibility to spread the Gospel and extend Christ's love to those around us. The Magi's willingness to seek Jesus despite their differences serves as an example of the inclusivity of the Gospel message. We are called to embrace this inclusivity, sharing the hope of Christ with everyone we encounter, and recognizing that His love is for all. [16:19]

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV): "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Reflection: Who in your life might feel excluded from the message of Christ? How can you reach out to them today and share the inclusive love of the Gospel?

Quotes

But when we think about an epiphany, and certainly in a spiritual context, it is a Sunday school class. It is kind of an aha moment. It's a eureka moment where something clicks for us that may not have clicked before. We read a passage of scripture and went, wow, I never saw it in this light before. I never understood it in this way before. And we're going to see that's exactly what Epiphany is all about. It is the arrival of the Magi, their encounter with Jesus, and how it changes the course of their life. [00:01:55]

Some scholars think that these were Persians who came from the land of Persia. Some traditions say that they were kings, but most likely these were astrologers, people who were considered to be wise men or Magi more appropriately, who watched the heavens and tried to, uh, keep up to date on what was happening in the spiritual realm. [00:06:37]

This is not something unusual. We see this all the way back in Daniel, in the book of Daniel, where the people who were the antagonists of Daniel were the Magi or the court wise men of the Persian king. So maybe they did come from Persia. Maybe they also came from Babylon or that area. We are only told they came, came from the east and what we can glean from the text is that they traveled a great distance from the east from Persia. You had to actually head north because there was a great desert in between that area and where Jesus was in Bethlehem. You couldn't go straight through because there was not enough water for you to be able to make it not to mention probably the great caravan. [00:07:05]

It's a trip where careful planning had to take place where you had to plan stops along the way to rest and to camp. It likely didn't take just a couple of days, but perhaps months to be able to travel that distance with what is most likely a great deal of people in tow. [00:08:03]

He did many other building projects such as Masada. Building Fortresses all over the land so that he could retreat to them and safety should his reign be threatened. He was a puppet King. And yet he had a great deal of power in the land. King. He was murderous not hesitating to kill family members to secure his power. In fact, when Herod was on his deathbed, he gave orders that all of the males in heirs and in all of the Royal family were to be killed upon his death so that they might truly mourn for him and what he caused a sick man. [00:09:52]

He sees impostors and he sees the usurpers around every corner. And so when these Magi appear when they come from this Eastern place and they begin to ask not where the one who was born who will become King but the one who was born a king already. Herod is probably thinking maybe someone in the line of David. [00:10:58]

The Magi move on they they move and find the child having to stop along the way. They were persistent. As they crossed over the desert. It took months. It took a great deal of time to arrive. They had to be committed to the journey. [00:11:48]

At the end they arrive and find Jesus that they were overjoyed. The text says they had arrived and found the thing they were looking for this person. This one had been born. They paid homage to this child and then having been. Warned in a dream. About what Herod was up to they went to their country by different route. They chose a different road to go back. [00:15:01]

They almost give up this information willingly, but they're kind of like almost, well, we don't believe it ourselves. This is what it says, but we're not going to go investigate this. We're happy to remain almost indifference to what they have found. You have a monarch who seeks Jesus to kill him. You have... religious leaders his people who are indifferent to the birth of messiah and it takes people from a faraway land by the grace of god that come to bow down and worship the one born king of the jews take all of those players and all of those things take the magi's journey and let let's maybe parallel our own journey of faith maybe we came from a far away place when i asked the children in children's time how far they thought it was one kid said gosh it must have been a whole hour [00:16:27]

maybe we come from afar maybe our life has taken quite a turn and it took us a great many years to find the king of kings maybe it's recent maybe it's only been in the last 10 years or five years or two years maybe our baptism is a year old or two years old whatever it is from great distance or close by we've all been on a journey to find christ but i'd rather like what the apostle paul says in one of his letters he says to the to his listeners if they asked if they have found christ or rather been found by him one of my favorite things is to say that in college that my wife had to chase me until i found her it's rather like that in this idea of faith that that these magi as they were traveling over a great distance were pursuing one whom they didn't fully know but who fully knew them who drew them to that place who sent them a star to guide them who understood all of these things and yet matthew wants us to see that it was gentiles who made the great journey to find jesus not politicians not governments not rulers nor jesus own people as john's gospel tells us in the first chapter but it was these people from far away matthew wants us to see that the gospel is not just for jesus's people but for people all over the world in all places of life from all backgrounds that jesus is not simply lord and king of the jews but of the world and all the people [00:17:37]

we had several stops hard stops along the way maybe we took a few wrong turns maybe we had to ask for directions in fact i'm almost certain that all of us on the journey of faith had to ask for directions even this morning a former student reached out to me asking for direction as i have done with others as perhaps you have done or others have done with others as i have done with others as perhaps you have done or others have done with others having to ask to see where we need to go next to understand what comes next to have people walk with us through life we have to take a great journey we have to be persistent in that journey and committed to it resisting the allure of power resisting the temptation to turn back to say i am not about to travel this great distance it's too hard it's too difficult i i just i'm not i don't think i can make it takes commitment in the journey of faith because once we have found christ a new journey has begun a new time of discovery where people will be needed to help us along the way where we will need others to walk beside us in difficult times in deep suffering and loss and also people to walk with us in the journey of faith because once we have found christ a new journey has begun a new time of discovery in our triumphs and celebrations people to encourage us but people to hold us accountable it will take commitment on this journey of faith that we've begun once we have found the child because we too have gone back by a different road my life was never really the same after 1988 my it took a different trajectory there could have been all different roads that i had taken but instead i had to take a different path and i had to take a different path and i had to take a different path and i responded to the call of grace and it forged my path going forward i'd like to tell you i knew that my path would lead exactly to this moment but i didn't i wasn't sure what i would find at the end of the journey i wasn't sure what would happen as i progressed along or how i'd get where i needed to go in fact the people who talked to me the people who uh who guided me many times would say i didn't know what i was going to do i didn't know what i was going to do i didn't know say you need to trust where god is leading you and i remember thinking in a couple of times of that what does that even mean can't you just give me a map can't you highlight the steps i need to take can't you do all of those things but it's not that simple we know generally where we're going but we need people to help us along the way to guide us speaking of which who helped you who pointed you to jesus who took you by the hand who saw something in you that you did not see in yourself god blessed those people because i've seen some pictures of me when i was younger there wasn't much to work with [00:19:48]

encouraged me in fact if we were to sit down you and i i could almost map out entirely all the different people who've played such instrumental roles in my life at different periods in turning points and and things that have happened and now i find that i am at a new place and maybe you are there too now it's my turn to help others along the way now it's my turn to guide them as i've been guided now it's my turn to walk with people and encourage them to see things in them that they don't see in themselves maybe that's the journey we're all being called to in this new year maybe it truly is an epiphany moment and i'm going to tell you a story that i'm going to tell you today that i'm going to tell you today this christmas we had our family in as many of you have it was a wonderful time it was great it was chaotic all of the things and it dawned on me that my cousins and i were now the heads of the family what does that mean it means we all went into a study and i sat down and they all came and kissed me on the hand no that's not what it means it just means that we were the people driving things now because our parents are older it means we're the ones that have to make sure they're taken care of it means that we are the people now who encourage our children and nephews and nieces we're the ones who have to do that because our parents did that for us and now that time is drawn to a close i remember talking with carra mullen a few years back and her talking about all the pillars of this congregation over the years the great men and women of faith the people who poured into them who made a place for them who encouraged them to step into leadership and she she was lamenting a period of time where our next group of leaders where are they going to come from like the ones we did before and she stopped and she went oh wait that's us [00:23:18]

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Transcript

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