the myrrh of joy

The Myrrh of JoyThe Myrrh of Joy

Matthew 2:10-11Matthew 2:10-11

Speaker: Ben PehrsonSpeaker: Ben Pehrson

11stst Sunday of Advent Sunday of Advent

• Celebrate the coming of our Messiah

• Prepare for his coming again

• Living between two ages

• Preaching series on the gifts of the magi

Matthew 2:10-11Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell to the ground and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

I. A Busy SeasonI. A Busy Season

II. What do we know II. What do we know about the magi?about the magi?

• The number “three”

• “Kings”?

• “Magi” referred to various roles at different times and places

Numbers 24:17Numbers 24:17

“I see him but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

Genesis 49:9-10Genesis 49:9-10

“You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness — who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.”

Matthew 2:1a-2Matthew 2:1a-2

“Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’”

Psalm 19:1-4Psalm 19:1-4

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Genesis 1:14Genesis 1:14

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.’”

III. What did the magi see?III. What did the magi see?

• Not a shooting star (too brief)

• Not a comet (none during this time)

• Not merely a convergence of stars (doesn’t do everything Matthew records)

III. What did the magi see?III. What did the magi see?

From “The Star of Bethlehem” DVD…

• Computer software to map the night sky

• Wandering stars (planets)

• Herod’s death in 1 B.C., not 4 B.C.

Jupiter & Venus Rising in EastJupiter & Venus Rising in East

Jupiter crowns Regulus in LeoJupiter crowns Regulus in Leo

Sun in Virgo, New Moon at FeetSun in Virgo, New Moon at Feet

Jupiter & Venus over IsraelJupiter & Venus over Israel

Jupiter Stopped over BethlehemJupiter Stopped over Bethlehem

IV. Did the Magi know all that IV. Did the Magi know all that Matthew tells about Jesus in Matthew tells about Jesus in

chapters. 1-2?chapters. 1-2?

Matthew 1:20-21Matthew 1:20-21

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:22-23Matthew 1:22-23

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’”

Luke 2:30-32Luke 2:30-32

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

V. What did the gifts mean?V. What did the gifts mean?

• Gold, frankincense and myrrh

• Myrrh used for different purposes (embalming dead bodies, beauty treatment, holy annointing oil, perfume, anesthetic)

Mark 15:22-24Mark 15:22-24

“They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him.”

John 19:38-40John 19:38-40

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus…. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus.... Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”

Luke 2:34-35Luke 2:34-35

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’”

Philippians 2:6-8Philippians 2:6-8

“[Christ Jesus] being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!”

VI. Where are you today?VI. Where are you today?

• Like the magi in Babylon?

• Like the magi in Jerusalem?

• Like the magi in Bethlehem?

Matthew 6:19-21Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Revelation 2:8b-10Revelation 2:8b-10“These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Wherever you are today…Wherever you are today…

Jesus offers the myrrh of JOY,

experienced through God’s PRESENCE,

in his GRACE and MERCY for SIN,

true LIFE,

that OVERCOMES suffering and death.