Advent means “arrival.” Advent Season happens during the fall, and it is a celebration of the arrival of Jesus on earth; for four weeks, during December, we remember the birth of Jesus. The season starts the fourth Sunday from Christmas, December 1st this year and continues through December 24th. It is a celebration of the hope, joy, love, and peace Jesus brings us.
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw a star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
Matthew 2:1-2 NIV
The Greek word for Magi is “magos” and it means sorcerer. Tradition calls them wise men, though we don’t know anything about them. They are thought to be Jewish men of high ranking that were still living in Babylon. They are thought to have come from all around the world, representing Jesus coming to save everyone. They are thought to be astrologist that had access to the Old Testament scripture. Whoever they were, they traveled hundreds of miles to worship Baby Jesus. This is proof that God gives us just enough information to follow Him. We never get the whole story.
“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:
‘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.’ ”
Matthew 2:3-6 NIV
” ‘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 NIV
The chief priests and teachers of the law quoted scripture from Micah. They were the experts of The Law. They knew how the Messiah would be born. Yet, they didn’t recognize God, because of their expectations. They expected Jesus to come as this mighty warrior that would free them from Rome. They not only did not recognize Jesus, they also were responsible for his death.
What can we learn from this?
“How great is God- beyond our understanding!
the number of his years is past finding out.”
Job 36:26 NIV
We don’t have the capacity or time to understand the vastness of God. This truth demands that we operate in humility. There will always be something new to learn about God.
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
Galatians 4:4-5 NIV
For centuries, the Jewish people had been wondering when the Messiah would come. Micah’s prophesy was hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. God’s timing is not our timing. We shouldn’t assume that because it has not happened, it will not happen. “When the set time had fully come,” is God’s perfect timing and according to His Will.
“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.”
Matthew 2:9 NIV
Matthew is the only gospel that mentions the star. It’s called the “Star of Bethlehem,” and we symbolically place a star on our Christmas trees. It is a symbol of Jesus being the light of the world and our hope.
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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.”
Matthew 2:10-11 NIV
We give gifts in remembrance of the birth of Jesus. However, they gave gifts back to God; and the biggest thing is they worshipped God. They worshipped him for the hope, joy, love, and peace that His birth represented. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas!
