Journey of Worship: The Magi and Herod's Contrast
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound journey of the Magi and the contrasting response of King Herod to the birth of Jesus. The Magi, often referred to as wise men, were influential figures known for their wisdom, astrology, and advisory roles to kings. Despite their pagan background, they embarked on a long and arduous journey to worship the newborn King, Jesus, driven by a prophecy that likely stemmed from the influence of Daniel during his time in Babylon. This journey was not just a physical one but a spiritual pilgrimage of worship, demonstrating their willingness to sacrifice time, resources, and comfort to honor Jesus.
In stark contrast, King Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus' birth was one of fear and paranoia. Herod, known for his architectural achievements and ruthless control, was deeply troubled by the prospect of another king. His pride and desire for power led him to commit heinous acts, including the massacre of innocent children, in an attempt to eliminate any threat to his throne. Herod's response serves as a cautionary tale of how pride and the refusal to surrender to Jesus can lead to destruction and chaos.
The Magi's journey culminated in an act of worship, where they presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each symbolizing different aspects of Jesus' identity and mission—His kingship, priesthood, and sacrificial death. Their story challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our own lives as an act of worship to Jesus. It prompts us to reflect on whether our worship still brings us joy and how we can center our lives around Christ, rather than fitting Him into our busy schedules.
As we move forward, let us be inspired by the Magi's dedication and the joy they found in worshiping Jesus. May we strive to live lives that are fully surrendered to Him, using our time, talents, and treasures to glorify God and serve others.
Key Takeaways:
- The Magi's journey was a profound act of worship, demonstrating their willingness to sacrifice time and resources to honor Jesus. Their pilgrimage challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our own lives as an act of worship. [38:52]
- King Herod's response to Jesus' birth highlights the destructive power of pride and the refusal to surrender to God. His actions serve as a warning of how clinging to control and power can lead to chaos and destruction. [39:36]
- The gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolize Jesus' kingship, priesthood, and sacrificial death. These gifts affirm His identity and mission, reminding us of the depth of His love and sacrifice for us. [40:41]
- Worship should be a source of joy and fulfillment in our lives. The Magi's joy in worshiping Jesus challenges us to reflect on whether our worship still brings us joy and how we can deepen our relationship with Him. [41:50]
- As we enter a new year, we are called to examine our lives and identify any idols or distractions that hinder our worship of Jesus. Let us strive to center our lives around Him, using our gifts and resources to serve and glorify God. [44:56]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[38:52] - Communion and Thanksgiving
[39:36] - The Power of Christ's Sacrifice
[40:41] - Unity in the Body of Christ
[41:50] - Worship and Connection
[44:56] - Introduction to the Magi
[45:50] - The Magi's Journey
[46:54] - Herod's Troubled Heart
[47:56] - The Magi's Gifts
[48:32] - Daniel's Influence on the Magi
[49:22] - The Magi's Faithful Journey
[50:48] - Herod's Fear and Paranoia
[52:01] - The Magi's Worship
[55:14] - The Joy of Worship
[59:09] - A Call to Sacrifice and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 2:1-12
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Observation Questions:
1. What motivated the Magi to embark on their journey to find Jesus, and what does this reveal about their understanding of His significance? [45:50]
2. How did King Herod react to the news of Jesus' birth, and what actions did he take as a result? [01:03:58]
3. What were the gifts presented by the Magi, and what did each gift symbolize in relation to Jesus' identity and mission? [01:09:06]
4. How did the Magi's journey and actions contrast with King Herod's response to Jesus' birth? [01:05:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the Magi's willingness to travel a great distance to worship Jesus suggest about the nature of true worship and sacrifice? [01:11:07]
2. In what ways does King Herod's fear and paranoia serve as a warning about the dangers of pride and the refusal to surrender to God? [01:06:42]
3. How do the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh reflect the different aspects of Jesus' role and mission? What might this teach us about recognizing and honoring Jesus' multifaceted identity? [01:10:05]
4. How can the joy experienced by the Magi in worshiping Jesus challenge us to evaluate the joy and fulfillment we find in our own worship practices? [01:13:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the Magi's journey. What are some specific ways you can prioritize worship in your life, even when it requires sacrifice of time, resources, or comfort? [01:11:07]
2. Consider King Herod's response to Jesus. Are there areas in your life where pride or a desire for control might be hindering your relationship with God? How can you address these areas? [01:06:42]
3. The Magi's gifts were symbolic of Jesus' kingship, priesthood, and sacrificial death. How can you use your own gifts and talents to honor and serve Jesus in your daily life? [01:09:06]
4. Worship should be a source of joy and fulfillment. Does your current approach to worship bring you joy? If not, what changes can you make to deepen your relationship with Jesus and find joy in worship again? [01:13:27]
5. As we enter a new year, what specific idols or distractions might be hindering your worship of Jesus? How can you work to remove these obstacles and center your life more fully around Him? [01:12:51]
6. The Magi's journey was a spiritual pilgrimage. What steps can you take to embark on a spiritual journey this year that draws you closer to Jesus? [01:11:07]
7. Reflect on the joy the Magi experienced upon finding Jesus. How can you cultivate a sense of joy and gratitude in your spiritual life, even amidst challenges and busy schedules? [01:13:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Sacrificial Worship as a Spiritual Journey
The Magi's journey to worship Jesus was not merely a physical trek but a profound spiritual pilgrimage. Despite their pagan background, they were drawn by a prophecy, likely influenced by Daniel's time in Babylon, to seek out the newborn King. Their willingness to sacrifice time, resources, and comfort to honor Jesus challenges us to reflect on our own acts of worship. Are we willing to make sacrifices in our lives to truly honor and worship Jesus? The Magi's journey is a testament to the joy and fulfillment found in worshiping Christ wholeheartedly. [38:52]
Isaiah 60:3-6 (ESV): "And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can make a sacrifice to deepen your worship of Jesus today?
Day 2: The Destructive Power of Pride
King Herod's response to the birth of Jesus was marked by fear and paranoia. His pride and desire for power led him to commit heinous acts, including the massacre of innocent children, in an attempt to eliminate any threat to his throne. Herod's actions serve as a stark warning of how pride and the refusal to surrender to God can lead to chaos and destruction. This narrative challenges us to examine our own hearts and consider how pride might be affecting our relationship with God and others. [39:36]
Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."
Reflection: Identify a situation where pride has caused tension or conflict in your life. How can you choose humility and surrender to God in this area today?
Day 3: The Symbolism of the Magi's Gifts
The gifts presented by the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—each hold deep symbolic meaning, representing Jesus' kingship, priesthood, and sacrificial death. These gifts affirm His identity and mission, reminding us of the depth of His love and sacrifice for us. As we reflect on these gifts, we are invited to consider how we can offer our own gifts and talents to honor Jesus and further His mission in the world. [40:41]
Matthew 2:11 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What unique gifts or talents do you possess that you can offer to Jesus in service to His kingdom today?
Day 4: The Joy of Worship
The Magi's journey culminated in an act of worship that brought them great joy. Their story challenges us to reflect on whether our worship still brings us joy and how we can deepen our relationship with Christ. Worship should be a source of joy and fulfillment in our lives, not just a routine or obligation. As we seek to center our lives around Jesus, we are encouraged to find joy in His presence and in the act of worship itself. [41:50]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and connection with Jesus in your worship today?
Day 5: Centering Our Lives Around Christ
As we enter a new year, we are called to examine our lives and identify any idols or distractions that hinder our worship of Jesus. The Magi's dedication to their journey and their joy in worshiping Jesus inspire us to strive for a life fully surrendered to Him. By using our time, talents, and treasures to glorify God and serve others, we can center our lives around Christ and experience the fullness of life He offers. [44:56]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What is one specific distraction or idol in your life that you need to let go of to center your life more fully around Jesus? How can you take a step towards doing that today?
Quotes
"We thank you, Jesus, that on the cross, you took the blood of Jesus Christ, and you took the blood of Jesus Christ, and you took the blood of Jesus Christ, and you took our sin, and we received your righteousness so that when the Father sees us, he doesn't see our shame, our guilt, our regrets. He sees the righteousness of Christ." [00:39:48] (17 seconds)
"Father, as we look into your word today, we just ask that your word would be seed that is deposited into fertile soil, that Lord, our hearts would be ready to receive not only what you have to say to us, but how we can apply it to our life. Lord, we thank you for your word. We ask that you would lead us during this next few moments. In Jesus' name. Amen." [00:47:36] (19 seconds)
"The magi, or wise men, were highly educated and influential men who were known as astrologers, dream interpreters, kingmakers, and advisors. See, the magi were those that were known for charting the stars. They were known for ones to watch for signs on the stars. They were known to interpret the dreams of kings. They were kingmakers." [00:47:56] (25 seconds)
"And throughout history, again, we see that magi, we even see it in the word, the word of God, that magi advised kings in many ways and in many spiritual matters. They were known to be wise men. They were known to be people to give advice, to give kings guidance when they make decisions." [00:48:46] (20 seconds)
"And so I began, as I was studying for this message and learning about the magi, I was learning about the God of the Bible. And I was learning about the magi. I began to ask the question, like, if these guys, they, you know, they didn't believe and follow God, the God of the Bible, why would they come traveling for some of them, maybe up to a thousand miles for several months to see this new king, but not only to see this new king, but to worship this new king? Like, how did we get to that point?" [00:50:15] (27 seconds)
"Man, what an awesome testimony that even though Daniel was in captivity, I don't know about you guys, but sometimes when you go through hard situations, don't you just kind of want to dig a hole and just sit there and just be like, this is really hard. I don't like this. I don't want to do anything. Like, Daniel could have been like that, but he used his power to do this. And he used his influence, and he used the time where he was in captivity to influence and draw others to God." [00:59:09] (24 seconds)
"Now, with some of this background in mind about the Magi, let's go back to Matthew chapter 2. Now, I'm sorry for those of you that still have your manger scene up in your house. And my wife, you know, she usually sets up a manger scene, but I may ruin your manger scene today, so I apologize ahead of time. You may have to go take it back to the store and say, my manger scene is defected." [00:59:52] (24 seconds)
"See, he knew about this baby. He knew this baby was prophesied about. He knew this baby was meant to be a Messiah, a Savior, a King. And he could have used that opportunity to bow down and to worship. But instead, he has it. He has that desire for control and for power so much so that he kills all the babies two years and younger to not take any chance that Jesus could still be around." [01:06:05] (30 seconds)
"Your next point this morning is this. The arrival of King Jesus caused the Magi to be overjoyed as they fell on their faces to worship. Can you remember a time when you were overjoyed about something? I remember a couple years ago when the Cubs won the World Series, Pastor Day was overjoyed. He was overjoyed until the next season started, and I think they just went downhill from there." [01:07:12] (28 seconds)
"And then we see that these magi offered Jesus three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And the gifts that were offered by the magi affirmed Jesus as king, priest, and sacrificial lamb. If you think about the gold today, gold was the most valued commodity in ancient times and still is today. Because of its rarity and value, it's commonly associated with nobility and with kingship." [01:08:22] (34 seconds)
"Now, as we close today, I want to reflect on this journey that the Magi took. This journey of worship. This was a journey of worship, church. They didn't just show up at the very end and decide, hmm, we're here. What do we do? Oh, let's worship. The entire journey was a journey of worship." [01:10:12] (22 seconds)
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