A. Herod and the Magi

1. The Magi believed and started their journey (1-2)

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

2. Herod feared (3)

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

3. The Magi rejoiced and were protected (7-12)

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

4. Herod resented and destroyed (16-18)

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

B. What was changed by the birth of Jesus

1. Bethlehem is no longer the smallest (4-6, Micah 5:1)

4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’”

“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, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

2. The mysterious “Magi from the east” are now…

Summary

The Magi from the east and the king Herod took completely opposite attitudes toward the news of Jesus’ birth. While one was joyful and started the journey of finding Jesus without knowing the way, the other was fearful of losing his status and became a destroyer. We all have the nature of Herod, but are guided by a wonderful way just as the Magi from the east were. God never forgets those who are trying to live with Jesus.

For Discussion

1. What do we share in common with the Magi from the east?
2. What changed in you before and after you met Jesus?