In a humble house, nestled near the valley where King David himself once herded sheep, the King of Kings is adorned with gifts. Each gift is a symbol of his identity and prophecy of his fate.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 6:21, from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1: For where your treasure is, there, your heart will be
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Speaker 1: also Matthew six twenty one. Dear heavenly Father, help us
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Speaker 1: to examine our hearts and our priorities to recognize what
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Speaker 1: we truly value and treasure. May our desires align with
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Speaker 1: your kingdom and your righteousness, so that our hearts will
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Speaker 1: be firmly anchored in You. Keep us from being swayed
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Speaker 1: by the fleeting treasures of this world, which can never satisfy.
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Speaker 1: Teach us to invest our time, energy, and resources in
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Speaker 1: what matters Eternally, fill our hearts with a longing for
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Speaker 1: your presence and your ways, knowing that the true treasure
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Speaker 1: is found in a relationship with you. May our lives
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Speaker 1: be a reflection of where our treasure lies. May we
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Speaker 1: find joy and contentment in pursuing you above all else.
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Speaker 1: In the name of Jesus, our greatest treasure, we pray, Amen,
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Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned
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Speaker 1: now for another episode of Stories of the Messiah.
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Speaker 2: Sh Sweet Child, I'm here. Mary's voice was a reassuring
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Speaker 2: balm to the child's cries. Her hands were gentle as
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Speaker 2: she wrapped Jesus in her arms and swayed him back
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Speaker 2: and forth. Her voice hummed alongside the crackling fire in
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Speaker 2: their humble home. Jesus's tiny eyes glistened in the warm glow.
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Speaker 2: Joseph was by the fire, his eyes dancing with the flames,
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Speaker 2: a momentary refuse from the labors of life. He had
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Speaker 2: toiled all day with the Stonemasons while marrying Jesus walk
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Speaker 2: through the marketplace. Their single room was a sanctuary for
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Speaker 2: all of them, a refuge from the cold night outside,
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Speaker 2: filled with the.
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Speaker 3: Warmth of love.
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Speaker 2: Joseph's eyes found Mary's and he approached her, gently kissing
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Speaker 2: her forehead before touching his lips to the baby's nose.
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Speaker 2: A coop escaped Jesus's lips, and the new parent's faces
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Speaker 2: lit up with joy. In the chaotic storm of parenting,
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Speaker 2: these tranquil moments were a glimpse of Heaven's peace.
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Speaker 4: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham. With today's episode of the
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Speaker 4: Bible and a year podcast, it's been a joy following
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Speaker 4: the highs and lows of this renowned Christmas tale with you. Today,
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Speaker 4: we glimpse an intimate scene between the Magi and Jesus.
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Speaker 4: The story of the Magi visiting Jesus is more than
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Speaker 4: a picturesque scene. It's a spiritual lesson on true royalty,
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Speaker 4: meaningful words, and heartfelt giving. The Magi have followed the
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Speaker 4: star gotten word that the child must be in Bethlehem
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Speaker 4: and are about to behold the majesty of Jesus. In
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Speaker 4: case any of you were curious about the timeline of
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Speaker 4: these events, the magi most likely visited Jesus when he
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Speaker 4: was between six and eighteen months old. No doubt, Joseph
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Speaker 4: procured a job in town, waiting for the right moment
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Speaker 4: to return to Nazareth. This episode is quiet, warm and profound,
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Speaker 4: but make no mistake, it is the calm before the
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Speaker 4: final storm.
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Speaker 2: Let's begin, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus shared a tender moment
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Speaker 2: in the warmth of their humble home, the crackling of
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Speaker 2: fire intermixed with the chirping of crickets outside.
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Speaker 3: Jesus was calling now, eyes fixed on his mother.
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Speaker 2: Mary and Joseph were in constant awe of him. His
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Speaker 2: eyes reflected promise, hope, and love. He was only an infant,
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Speaker 2: but their knowledge of who he was caused them to
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Speaker 2: look at him differently. Although they occasionally forgot when it
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Speaker 2: was time to feed him. Change him, or remain up
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Speaker 2: all night with him, son of God or not? An
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Speaker 2: infant was an infant. But for now all was quiet
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Speaker 2: and peaceful. Suddenly a knock jarred them from their moment
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Speaker 2: of bliss. Joseph's eyes narrowed, his hands reaching instinctively for
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Speaker 2: his chisel, a.
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Speaker 3: Who would be visiting at this hour.
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Speaker 2: The knocking grew insistent, and Joseph's heartbeat quickened, a drum
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Speaker 2: of war. Readying him to protect his family. He gestured
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Speaker 2: for Mary to step back as he approached the door,
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Speaker 2: the chisel hidden and ready to strike. He opened the
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Speaker 2: door and immediately cocked his head in confusion. Three men
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Speaker 2: adorned in rich and resplendent robes stood before him. The
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Speaker 2: jewels from their head dresses gleamed like stars. May I
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Speaker 2: help you, Joseph asked, confused and off kilter. We have
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Speaker 2: journeyed far. Caspar smiled with his eyes. To worship the king,
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Speaker 2: he said, with his grizzled and low voice. Joseph's breath
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Speaker 2: caught in his throat. He glanced back at Mary, his
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Speaker 2: eyes wide with disbelief, before gesturing for the men to
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Speaker 2: step in. The child was cradled in Mary's arms. Hand
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Speaker 2: firmly grasping her finger. The magi entered slowly and with
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Speaker 2: great respect. Their grandeur and extravagant clothes starkly contrasted Joseph
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Speaker 2: and Mary's humble home. But as their eyes fell on Jesus,
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Speaker 2: all sense of status and wealth faded. These three men,
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Speaker 2: who bowed to no one, fell prostrate on to the
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Speaker 2: floor before him, their faces pressed to the ground, voices
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Speaker 2: quivering with awe.
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Speaker 3: It is an honor, our, King.
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Speaker 2: Caspa whispered, his voice, a gentle breeze.
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Speaker 3: We have followed the star, and it led us to you.
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Speaker 2: Marry and Joseph exchanged glances, their hearts pounding with wonder.
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Speaker 2: These were not mere men, but rulers and kings in
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Speaker 2: their own right, and yet they bowed before their child.
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Speaker 2: We have brought gifts, Melchia announced, in reverence. Caspar brought
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Speaker 2: out a small wooden chest with silver engravings. He opened
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Speaker 2: the chest to reveal dozens of gold pieces shimmering in
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Speaker 2: the firelight.
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Speaker 3: Gold for a king, he said.
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Speaker 2: Softly, laying it at Mary's feet. Melchia brought out a
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Speaker 2: glass flask of refined oil frankncense, he said, with reverence
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Speaker 2: for the divine Boushassar brought out a linen bag of
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Speaker 2: resin glimmering nearly as bright as the gold and muh.
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Speaker 2: He concluded with a soft voice. The three magile lingered
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Speaker 2: there for a while. Words failed them, for they had
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Speaker 2: a sain that this moment was more profound than they
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Speaker 2: would ever realize. After a final bow, the men rose,
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Speaker 2: their faces etched with reverence and gratitude. We must go,
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Speaker 2: Bauschassar said, his voice heavy with reluctance. They departed, their
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Speaker 2: souls forever changed, leaving behind a blessing that lingered in
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Speaker 2: the air. Joseph and Mary retreated to their bed, their
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Speaker 2: hearts heavy with awe. They watched Jesus sleep, his face
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Speaker 2: a picture of serenity, a reflection of God's grace. The
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Speaker 2: magi returned to their caravan with sober reflection on the
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Speaker 2: tip of their tongues. What have we just witnessed, Melchia
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Speaker 2: asked with a sigh. Caspar shook his head in disbelief.
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Speaker 2: A God's chosen king in a small home tucked in
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Speaker 2: the hills of Bethlehem. Was not King David such a
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Speaker 2: child too? He hailed from Bethlehem and see how great
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Speaker 2: he became, Melchia replied, Buchazzar was more serious, keeping his
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Speaker 2: eyes fixed on Jerusalem. He had a pit in his
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Speaker 2: stomach ever since leaving Herod's palace.
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Speaker 3: He will become greater than David, Balchazzar said.
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Speaker 2: That night, the men slept soundly in the ornate tents
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Speaker 2: pitched outside Bethlehem. The entire caravan was at peace, except Balchazzar.
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Speaker 2: He tossed under the blankets, tormented by visions of fire
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Speaker 2: and blood. The sound of infant screams surrounded him. Before
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Speaker 2: he woke up in a panic. Sweat beat down his forehead.
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Speaker 2: He lit his torch and woke his confanions. We must
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Speaker 2: go now, he insisted, Erd can never know of what
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Speaker 2: we have witnessed. We must leave before he has the
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Speaker 2: chance to follow us. The magi agreed to travel into
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Speaker 2: the night, retreating far away from Herod's sight. Something sinister
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Speaker 2: was at work, but they knew they had witnessed the
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Speaker 2: beginning of a story that would change the word world,
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Speaker 2: a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption. In the quiet
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Speaker 2: of the night, they felt the hand of God guiding them,
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Speaker 2: assuring them that they were a part of a grand design.
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Speaker 2: A tapestry woven with threads of gold, frankincense, and mrh.
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Speaker 4: The story of the Magi's visitation to the infant Jesus
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Speaker 4: is a profound reminder of the nature of true royalty.
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Speaker 4: It's not in the splendor of garments or the accumulation
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Speaker 4: of wealth, but in righteousness. The magi, adorned with jewels
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Speaker 4: and dressed in royal robes, journeyed far to bow before Jesus.
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Speaker 4: These were wise men, kings in their own right, who
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Speaker 4: recognized a king and a child wrapped in swaddling clothes
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Speaker 4: in a humble dwelling. They found a royalty that surpassed
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Speaker 4: all the worldly riches they possessed. Jesus, the King of kings,
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Speaker 4: was born in a stable, not a palace. His throne
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Speaker 4: was a manger, not a seat adorned with gold and
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Speaker 4: precious stones. This story invites us to reflect on our
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Speaker 4: own perception of greatness and success. Are we captivated by
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Speaker 4: the glitter of worldly success or the true royalty found
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Speaker 4: in righteousness, humility, and service to others. Jesus's kingship challenges
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Speaker 4: the world's understanding of power and prestige, leading us to
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Speaker 4: a new way of living. The magi, filled with awe
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Speaker 4: and reverence, give three famous gifts to Jesus. The gifts
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Speaker 4: that the magi presented to Jesus were not arbitrary. Each
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Speaker 4: had a symbolic significance. First, gold, symbolizing Jesus's royalty. Gold
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Speaker 4: reminds us that Christ is the king of all creation.
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Speaker 4: Gold as a royal medal, pointed to Jesus's dominion and reign.
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Speaker 4: Gold is a pure metal and is valued above all others. Frankencense,
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Speaker 4: representing Jesus's divinity. Frankencense was used in worship and portrayed
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Speaker 4: Jesus as God incarnate. It speaks of his heavenly origin
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Speaker 4: and his role as our eternal high priest. Mr alluding
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Speaker 4: to Jesus's eventual death. Muhr was used for embalming bodies.
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Speaker 4: Even at his birth, the shadow of the cross loomed,
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Speaker 4: and this gift prophetically pointed to his sacrificial death. These
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Speaker 4: gifts were not just valuable, but full of meaning, connecting
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Speaker 4: with the identity and mission of Jesus. They remind us
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Speaker 4: that our worship and gifts to him should be thoughtful
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Speaker 4: and profound, reflecting our understanding of who He is. We
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Speaker 4: are reminded of the Magi's offerings to Jesus as we
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Speaker 4: exchange gifts during Christmas. Our gifts are symbols of love, kindness,
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Speaker 4: and joy. But let's also remember the true gift of Christmas,
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Speaker 4: Jesus Christ. The connection between the Magi's gifts in our
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Speaker 4: Christmas presence lies in the heart behind the giving. Let
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Speaker 4: our gifts be expressions of our love for one another,
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Speaker 4: mirroring the love God showed us by sending his son,
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Speaker 4: Whether richly adorned like the Magi or simple and humble.
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Speaker 4: Let our giving be sincere, reflecting the values and virtues
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Speaker 4: of Christ's kingdom. As we celebrate Christmas, May we bow
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Speaker 4: before Jesus, our righteous King, with hearts full of worship
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Speaker 4: and hands filled with love. May our gifts reflect his love,
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Speaker 4: his sacrifice, and his redemption. Jesus said in Matthew chapter six,
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Speaker 4: verse twenty one, for where your treasure is, there, your
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Speaker 4: heart will be also. The Magi story invites us to
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Speaker 4: treasure Jesus above all else. May this Christmas season be
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Speaker 4: a time to draw near to Him, to discover his
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Speaker 4: love anew, and to share it with those around us.
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