from the mouth of my son
"This is the part where Baby Jesus is on the rocket ship."
12/14/2002
12/13/2002
a word or two on m&ms
I wasn't planning on blogging any more today, but I read this, and I was inspired (or maybe you should be the judge of that).
I play a game with candy. I will put two differently colored m&ms in my mouth and see which color's "hard candy shell" lasts longer. It becomes the winner. Then, I take another of that winning color and introduce it to the challenge of a new color. The final color to win is the grand champion. I've been told that all the brain power wasted on this diversion could light a 100 watt bulb for approximately 7 1/2 minutes.
other thoughts about m&ms
-- Kaylyn & I have an ongoing debate. She, a traditionalist, calls them m&ms. I believe they should only be called ms. There is only one m stamped on the shell. It is an m. Where two or more are gathered, they are m & ms.
-- m &ms are best when added to a freshly popped bag of microwave popcorn. We thank my parents for this discovery. Try it. In a bowl -- not the bag (too messy). Especially when watching a movie.
-- the official m&m candy website is hard to find. It's not this or this or this
-- m&ms are not just a tasty treat, they are also offer a wdie variety of non-caloric enjoyment, too.
-- you can special order m& ms. Orange and blue for the Broncos. Red, white & Blue for America. Red & Green for Christmas. but be prepared to pay a pretty penny.
wow. I didn't know had had so much to say on this issue.
I play a game with candy. I will put two differently colored m&ms in my mouth and see which color's "hard candy shell" lasts longer. It becomes the winner. Then, I take another of that winning color and introduce it to the challenge of a new color. The final color to win is the grand champion. I've been told that all the brain power wasted on this diversion could light a 100 watt bulb for approximately 7 1/2 minutes.
other thoughts about m&ms
-- Kaylyn & I have an ongoing debate. She, a traditionalist, calls them m&ms. I believe they should only be called ms. There is only one m stamped on the shell. It is an m. Where two or more are gathered, they are m & ms.
-- m &ms are best when added to a freshly popped bag of microwave popcorn. We thank my parents for this discovery. Try it. In a bowl -- not the bag (too messy). Especially when watching a movie.
-- the official m&m candy website is hard to find. It's not this or this or this
-- m&ms are not just a tasty treat, they are also offer a wdie variety of non-caloric enjoyment, too.
-- you can special order m& ms. Orange and blue for the Broncos. Red, white & Blue for America. Red & Green for Christmas. but be prepared to pay a pretty penny.
wow. I didn't know had had so much to say on this issue.
a holiday thought sponsored by lifeway christian resources
from Dr. Jimmy Draper, Lifeway president, in his weekly email letter
***
In many ways, the wise men are the most interesting characters of the Christmas story. They were not Jews. They hailed from the East and they were students of the stars. They had seen a new star in the sky which they understood symbolized the presence of a child born to be king of the Jews and they had come to worship him. They had traveled a great distance and brought valuable gifts. Theirs was a clear vision of Christmas.
The wise men followed the star because they believed the vision they had been given. They were willing to follow the star, whatever the cost. They believed their purpose was to find this King.
Like the wise men, we must have such a purpose. We know the King for whom the wise men searched and Christmas tells us there is a purpose worth living for. That worthy purpose is called the Kingdom of God. We can join in that vision by following the Christ of Christmas.
When the wise men began their journey, they may have had little understanding of their purpose beyond following the star. But I believe their convictions grew as they traveled. They came to understand that they were truly following a vision that would change their lives forever. The trip was long. They grew tired and weary. They stopped in Jerusalem to find out where the baby was. Drawing on the writings of prophecy, the chief priests and teachers of the law directed the wise men to Bethlehem.
As we live our lives always seeking to grow more like Christ, we must remember that we follow a vision that will not die. We serve a risen Savior and we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Finally, the wise men knew that if they persevered they would find the child. And when they found Him they worshipped Him and presented their gifts. They had been warned in a dream not to follow King Herod's instructions to come back to Jerusalem and tell them where the child and his parents were living, so they returned to their country by another route.
If we stay in close communication with the Christ of Christmas, our vision will remain clear. God will walk ahead of us, beside us and behind us to the end of our journey. Praise the Lord!
***
In many ways, the wise men are the most interesting characters of the Christmas story. They were not Jews. They hailed from the East and they were students of the stars. They had seen a new star in the sky which they understood symbolized the presence of a child born to be king of the Jews and they had come to worship him. They had traveled a great distance and brought valuable gifts. Theirs was a clear vision of Christmas.
The wise men followed the star because they believed the vision they had been given. They were willing to follow the star, whatever the cost. They believed their purpose was to find this King.
Like the wise men, we must have such a purpose. We know the King for whom the wise men searched and Christmas tells us there is a purpose worth living for. That worthy purpose is called the Kingdom of God. We can join in that vision by following the Christ of Christmas.
When the wise men began their journey, they may have had little understanding of their purpose beyond following the star. But I believe their convictions grew as they traveled. They came to understand that they were truly following a vision that would change their lives forever. The trip was long. They grew tired and weary. They stopped in Jerusalem to find out where the baby was. Drawing on the writings of prophecy, the chief priests and teachers of the law directed the wise men to Bethlehem.
As we live our lives always seeking to grow more like Christ, we must remember that we follow a vision that will not die. We serve a risen Savior and we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Finally, the wise men knew that if they persevered they would find the child. And when they found Him they worshipped Him and presented their gifts. They had been warned in a dream not to follow King Herod's instructions to come back to Jerusalem and tell them where the child and his parents were living, so they returned to their country by another route.
If we stay in close communication with the Christ of Christmas, our vision will remain clear. God will walk ahead of us, beside us and behind us to the end of our journey. Praise the Lord!
12/12/2002
this blessed me
I got this e-card e-card from a dear family in our former church. I smiled. And prayed for them.
a web gem
this interesting site has a wealth of information for those who'd like to learn just a little bit more....
one unbiased opinion
Kaylyn gave her first performance last night. An emotionally moving piece entitled "The Littlest Christmas Tree." She was part of a larger troupe known as The Eastern Fremont County Kindergarten Classes Performers. Now, while she was on the playbill as "One of the Trees in the North Pole Christmas Tree Lot," she really did steal the show. She knew all the words to all the songs, and virtually all of the choreography as well. I'm still working through my discontent that the casting agents didn't recognize her obvious acumen for the craft, but there was a sweet sense of justice when Kaylyn just offered a virtuoso chorale rendition of The Christmas Tree Rap while unnamed 'headliners" kept begging for cues like pigeons after breadcrumbs. Auditions for "Have a Hoppity Easter" begin shortly after Christmas break, so we've already started on Babsy Bunny's motivation for painting and hiding eggs. We'll let you know how it goes!
I give her performance
I give her performance
continuing the discussion
I've decided to reprint my ongoing discussion begun at the journey simply because if I'm going to type this much, I may as well do it here.
Brett wrote:
I'm a little surprised at the cynical tone over your assessment of the SBC statement on racial reconciliation. I'm not so much of a pollyanna to believe that it was unilaterally genuine. But this is impossible to quantify since the SBC is a collection of autonomous churches. LIke on any matter, you're going to have a wide range of opinions or 'degrees of backing on this issue.' But are you qualified to discern the collective brokenness of those we have entrusted with our denominational leadership? Am I? ISn't the fact that SBC leadership even offered a statement compelling, when there was no real motivation to, coupled with the fact that the SBC has more black leaders in all its agencies than at any point in its history? What does 'true brokenness' look like on this matter? Even your worship gatherings at RBC remain predominantly white. While RBC has started many ethnic churches, the regular worship times for each of those tend to be primarily ethnically unmixed. And RBC does it better than most, in terms of 'getting the picture' that heaven's going to be a colorful place, racially speaking. Even so, we must understand that worship tends to remain segregated (for the most part) not because of church-imposed restrictions, but because people -right or wrong - will migrate to worship where they feel comfortable and familiar.
last -- your last words are a pretty harsh blanket condemnation on 16 million people. I can't speak for all 16 mil, but I know many who are trying hard to live right and close the gap of incongruity through the grace and mercy of the One who saved them.
Brett wrote:
Our denomination may have issued an apology but we sure have not repented. Repentance involves brokenness and hatred for sin. Southern Baptist are not broken over our role in slavery. In many of our churches people of different ethnicities are still not welcome. Go to our convention and look at the percentage of people of color. I have heard pastors in our denomination use the word "nigger." DO NOT confuse a politically motivated letter of apology with repentance.
Our denomination's own past is a prime example that our words can be deconstructed, and even valued, without a lifestyle to back them up. If this were not the case then not only should we disregard Stonewall Jackson and Hitler's nuggets of truth but we must also avoice our own denominational founder's nuggets of truth, since their lives were probably very close to Stonewall's.
And one more thing, Southern Baptists know nothing about "the incongruence of words vs.deeds."
I'm a little surprised at the cynical tone over your assessment of the SBC statement on racial reconciliation. I'm not so much of a pollyanna to believe that it was unilaterally genuine. But this is impossible to quantify since the SBC is a collection of autonomous churches. LIke on any matter, you're going to have a wide range of opinions or 'degrees of backing on this issue.' But are you qualified to discern the collective brokenness of those we have entrusted with our denominational leadership? Am I? ISn't the fact that SBC leadership even offered a statement compelling, when there was no real motivation to, coupled with the fact that the SBC has more black leaders in all its agencies than at any point in its history? What does 'true brokenness' look like on this matter? Even your worship gatherings at RBC remain predominantly white. While RBC has started many ethnic churches, the regular worship times for each of those tend to be primarily ethnically unmixed. And RBC does it better than most, in terms of 'getting the picture' that heaven's going to be a colorful place, racially speaking. Even so, we must understand that worship tends to remain segregated (for the most part) not because of church-imposed restrictions, but because people -right or wrong - will migrate to worship where they feel comfortable and familiar.
last -- your last words are a pretty harsh blanket condemnation on 16 million people. I can't speak for all 16 mil, but I know many who are trying hard to live right and close the gap of incongruity through the grace and mercy of the One who saved them.
12/11/2002
commenting on the comment on the statement previously stated
the following is my rebuttal to hippocrit's reply to my comment to Brett's post over at the journey. I've put it here because Brett's comments have a 2500 character limit, and I just barely missed it by, ohh, about a thousand characters. And, If you are completely uninterested in this, I understand.
***
One of the frustrations of text communication is the inability to communicate tone or inflection. I actually am not disagreeing with the statement made by Jackson. Nor, by my own question generated by Jackson's disclaimer, was I implying that Jackson himself was incapable of such wisdom or truth. Your commentary to my post appears to be based upon such an inaccurate conclusion. Furthermore, your reply, while itself a bit idealistic, is a bit of a straw man argument, in that it likens an extreme example (Hitler) with the generalities of an 'everyman' comparison. Understanding that we’re all just struggling through this experience called life, and that from time to time God chooses us to bless us, undeservedly, with thoughts of brilliance (or merely supernaturally profound insight), does not permit us to use those experiences to think too highly of ourselves. None of us should claim infallibility. That said, I'm an 'everyman.' Hitler was not. Jackson was not. So, the question is still valid – how much of a disparity must exist between one’s words and one’s actions before one’s actions discredit one’s words? Isn’t ‘what is said’ weighted by the baggage of the one who said it?
For Example:
“The theory of communism may be summed up in one simple word – abolish all private property.”
Who said it? Ronald Reagan or Karl Mark? Well, your understanding of a quote (especially a printed quote) is vastly different depending upon the source. If it were Reagan, we’d read the quote as a condemnation. If it were Marx, as a ‘selling point.’ BTW, it was Marx, along with Engels who said this.
"That is the mightiest thing which our movement must create: for these widespread, seeking and straying masses a new faith which will not fail them in this hour of confusion, to which they can pledge themselves, on which they can build so that they may at least find once again a place which may bring calm to their hearts."
Who said it? Hitler, in regard to the Nazi movement or Bill McCartney, in regard to the Promise Keeper’s movement? Hitler, of course. But if McCartney had said it, it might be something around which Christian men would rally today.
You stated that Hitler did at times speak with wisdom and simplicity. Perhaps. But do we have the luxury to use his profundity at our leisure? Or is it worth the risk of our true message being confused and combined with the rest of his message that isn’t so “wise and simple?” Hitler isn’t readily accepted as a man who dispensed love, compassion, simplicity and wisdom to the Jews. Probably not the most effective source of wisdom to a Jewish audience. Jackson – probably not the most effective source of wisdom to those impacted (even generations later) by his less-than-godly actions. The only way this is overcome these barriers is repentance (or in the words of Jim Bakker, "I was wrong"). Hitler didn’t bring that to the table. And I really don’t know that Jackson did either. The denomination that I am a member of was partially founded over the issue of slavery, yet just a few years ago offered a statement of apology and repentance because it collectively saw the incongruence of words vs.deeds.
I’ll be the first to acknowledge your right to use Hitler as a quotation source, and Brett’s to use Stonewall. And mine to use Satan if necessary to illustrate a point. But just because we can doesn't mean we should. But why say in 30 words what I can say in 650?
***
One of the frustrations of text communication is the inability to communicate tone or inflection. I actually am not disagreeing with the statement made by Jackson. Nor, by my own question generated by Jackson's disclaimer, was I implying that Jackson himself was incapable of such wisdom or truth. Your commentary to my post appears to be based upon such an inaccurate conclusion. Furthermore, your reply, while itself a bit idealistic, is a bit of a straw man argument, in that it likens an extreme example (Hitler) with the generalities of an 'everyman' comparison. Understanding that we’re all just struggling through this experience called life, and that from time to time God chooses us to bless us, undeservedly, with thoughts of brilliance (or merely supernaturally profound insight), does not permit us to use those experiences to think too highly of ourselves. None of us should claim infallibility. That said, I'm an 'everyman.' Hitler was not. Jackson was not. So, the question is still valid – how much of a disparity must exist between one’s words and one’s actions before one’s actions discredit one’s words? Isn’t ‘what is said’ weighted by the baggage of the one who said it?
For Example:
“The theory of communism may be summed up in one simple word – abolish all private property.”
Who said it? Ronald Reagan or Karl Mark? Well, your understanding of a quote (especially a printed quote) is vastly different depending upon the source. If it were Reagan, we’d read the quote as a condemnation. If it were Marx, as a ‘selling point.’ BTW, it was Marx, along with Engels who said this.
"That is the mightiest thing which our movement must create: for these widespread, seeking and straying masses a new faith which will not fail them in this hour of confusion, to which they can pledge themselves, on which they can build so that they may at least find once again a place which may bring calm to their hearts."
Who said it? Hitler, in regard to the Nazi movement or Bill McCartney, in regard to the Promise Keeper’s movement? Hitler, of course. But if McCartney had said it, it might be something around which Christian men would rally today.
You stated that Hitler did at times speak with wisdom and simplicity. Perhaps. But do we have the luxury to use his profundity at our leisure? Or is it worth the risk of our true message being confused and combined with the rest of his message that isn’t so “wise and simple?” Hitler isn’t readily accepted as a man who dispensed love, compassion, simplicity and wisdom to the Jews. Probably not the most effective source of wisdom to a Jewish audience. Jackson – probably not the most effective source of wisdom to those impacted (even generations later) by his less-than-godly actions. The only way this is overcome these barriers is repentance (or in the words of Jim Bakker, "I was wrong"). Hitler didn’t bring that to the table. And I really don’t know that Jackson did either. The denomination that I am a member of was partially founded over the issue of slavery, yet just a few years ago offered a statement of apology and repentance because it collectively saw the incongruence of words vs.deeds.
I’ll be the first to acknowledge your right to use Hitler as a quotation source, and Brett’s to use Stonewall. And mine to use Satan if necessary to illustrate a point. But just because we can doesn't mean we should. But why say in 30 words what I can say in 650?
a thousand words... for Christmas
This was sent to me by....you know who you are (i have decided to protect the guilty!)
signs of the impending apocalypse #!2
no sense in commenting about it, because the author does a fine job of doing so himself.
go and see, how it has begun
go and see, how it has begun
O Tannenbaum, take two
a Christmas devotional, written for the season two years ago
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.
The words are printed plainly enough on my Bible. These words are the third command of God in creating the universe with His spoken word. Yet, they don't stand out from any others spoken in the course of time's first week. Yet, I read the words and they cause me to pause.
I pause because the very next verse of Scripture tells me that after He surveyed the grass and herbs and trees that sprung forth all over the earth, with satisfaction "God saw it was good." I imagine "God saw" thick trunks, abrasive bark, jagged branches, and offered His approval seasoned with an odd mixture of joy and pain. Here, in the white spaces between the letters of Scripture, I envision God looking at the trees He created with a deliberate pause of sentiment and poignancy, He alone knowing the fullness of what He created when He created the trees.
But they're just trees, you might think. Sure, you appreciate shade offered by generous green leaves. You enjoy succulent fruit of various kinds that falls from branches. But the tree wasn't the crowning achievement of creation. The highlight of creation came a mere 72 hours later, when God stirred man from the dust of the earth. Why then would God linger as he affirmed His own leafy creation when humans were still on His creation agenda?
Over 2,000 years ago, a small town farmer chose a few lengths of planked wood, possibly from a rarely used pile of scraps. Hammering them together with crude nails, he fashioned a manger to feed the animals grazing on his land. Little did he know that it would serve as the first bed for a special newborn, an infant of promise.
The baby was of royal lineage and of priestly heritage. He was conceived by a miracle, and would change the course of history. He was the Deliverer, the Redeemer, the Spotless Lamb. He was nothing less than God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Despite this, God Himself ordained that this child would be born in obscurity, on a anonymous hill outside an unremarkable town, wrapped in plain swaddling, bedded in a weathered, worn, and faded animal's wooden manger.
When God created the trees on the third day, He knew those trees would beget the wood that would one day give His Son warm comfort and security, formed as a humble box that would serve as His cradle. Truly, God saw this and "saw that it was good."
Barely more than three decades after that special night, we come to another special time. Again, we are on a hill. Again, we find wood being used for an immensely important purpose. Again, God's Son, Jesus Christ, is here.
Our minds prepare us for a scene of joy, for we remember that Jesus is now the man of promise, the man of deliverance, the man of redemption. He is the Messiah, the High Priest and the King of Kings. Yet what we observe absolutely assaults our senses. It defies logic. It baffles our understanding.
Here, we see Jesus, not in regal gowns, but stripped to a loin cloth. He wears not a crown of gold, but one of thorns. He bears not sashes of proclamation, but gashes of gore. He is not exalted, but shamed, humiliated, mocked, scorned, and ridiculed. We see not a king of victory, but a man of defeat.
And the wood? It's there, too. But rather than being hammered together to make a throne for the lone Son of God, it is being roped together in cruciform for the death of the Son of Man. Large spikes are driven into the logs, but only after each one pierces the flesh of this man Jesus. The abrasive bark opens the whip-induced wounds on His back, and His blood runs freely down the channels on the log's surface. This cross is lifted up, with Jesus nailed upon it, and planted into the ground. Onlookers raise their eyes to this man on this tree, and they weep. Slowly, painfully, but certainly, Jesus dies. God ordained for this to be so. And when He created the trees on the third day, He did so knowing they would one day beget the wood that would be used for the purpose of killing His Son, Jesus. Even so, and perhaps with a pause of poignancy, God saw this and "saw that it was good."
Greater than God's act of creation was God's act of Redemption. Jesus was born to die. He wasn't born to give us an example, or to teach us great lessons. He was born to die. When He died, He died for you, and He died for me. And He died so that we could live. It is only by placing your full faith and trust in Him that His death was sufficient for your eternal life, that you can experience life in the fullness that God intended when He created you.
Amidst the joys and the toys and the noise this Christmas season, take a moment and thank God for His Son. Look at the Christmas tree in your home and remember that "God saw that it was good." Thank Him that the story doesn't end in a manger, or even on a cross. Thank Him for loving you so much that that the story never has to end, and will not if you belong to Him, because of the sacrifice of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.
The words are printed plainly enough on my Bible. These words are the third command of God in creating the universe with His spoken word. Yet, they don't stand out from any others spoken in the course of time's first week. Yet, I read the words and they cause me to pause.
I pause because the very next verse of Scripture tells me that after He surveyed the grass and herbs and trees that sprung forth all over the earth, with satisfaction "God saw it was good." I imagine "God saw" thick trunks, abrasive bark, jagged branches, and offered His approval seasoned with an odd mixture of joy and pain. Here, in the white spaces between the letters of Scripture, I envision God looking at the trees He created with a deliberate pause of sentiment and poignancy, He alone knowing the fullness of what He created when He created the trees.
But they're just trees, you might think. Sure, you appreciate shade offered by generous green leaves. You enjoy succulent fruit of various kinds that falls from branches. But the tree wasn't the crowning achievement of creation. The highlight of creation came a mere 72 hours later, when God stirred man from the dust of the earth. Why then would God linger as he affirmed His own leafy creation when humans were still on His creation agenda?
Over 2,000 years ago, a small town farmer chose a few lengths of planked wood, possibly from a rarely used pile of scraps. Hammering them together with crude nails, he fashioned a manger to feed the animals grazing on his land. Little did he know that it would serve as the first bed for a special newborn, an infant of promise.
The baby was of royal lineage and of priestly heritage. He was conceived by a miracle, and would change the course of history. He was the Deliverer, the Redeemer, the Spotless Lamb. He was nothing less than God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Despite this, God Himself ordained that this child would be born in obscurity, on a anonymous hill outside an unremarkable town, wrapped in plain swaddling, bedded in a weathered, worn, and faded animal's wooden manger.
When God created the trees on the third day, He knew those trees would beget the wood that would one day give His Son warm comfort and security, formed as a humble box that would serve as His cradle. Truly, God saw this and "saw that it was good."
Barely more than three decades after that special night, we come to another special time. Again, we are on a hill. Again, we find wood being used for an immensely important purpose. Again, God's Son, Jesus Christ, is here.
Our minds prepare us for a scene of joy, for we remember that Jesus is now the man of promise, the man of deliverance, the man of redemption. He is the Messiah, the High Priest and the King of Kings. Yet what we observe absolutely assaults our senses. It defies logic. It baffles our understanding.
Here, we see Jesus, not in regal gowns, but stripped to a loin cloth. He wears not a crown of gold, but one of thorns. He bears not sashes of proclamation, but gashes of gore. He is not exalted, but shamed, humiliated, mocked, scorned, and ridiculed. We see not a king of victory, but a man of defeat.
And the wood? It's there, too. But rather than being hammered together to make a throne for the lone Son of God, it is being roped together in cruciform for the death of the Son of Man. Large spikes are driven into the logs, but only after each one pierces the flesh of this man Jesus. The abrasive bark opens the whip-induced wounds on His back, and His blood runs freely down the channels on the log's surface. This cross is lifted up, with Jesus nailed upon it, and planted into the ground. Onlookers raise their eyes to this man on this tree, and they weep. Slowly, painfully, but certainly, Jesus dies. God ordained for this to be so. And when He created the trees on the third day, He did so knowing they would one day beget the wood that would be used for the purpose of killing His Son, Jesus. Even so, and perhaps with a pause of poignancy, God saw this and "saw that it was good."
Greater than God's act of creation was God's act of Redemption. Jesus was born to die. He wasn't born to give us an example, or to teach us great lessons. He was born to die. When He died, He died for you, and He died for me. And He died so that we could live. It is only by placing your full faith and trust in Him that His death was sufficient for your eternal life, that you can experience life in the fullness that God intended when He created you.
Amidst the joys and the toys and the noise this Christmas season, take a moment and thank God for His Son. Look at the Christmas tree in your home and remember that "God saw that it was good." Thank Him that the story doesn't end in a manger, or even on a cross. Thank Him for loving you so much that that the story never has to end, and will not if you belong to Him, because of the sacrifice of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
12/10/2002
i don't get it
in the process of sermon prep, I have this question
why does 'smitten,' which we now understand to mean 'head over heels in love,' come from 'smite,' which means (according to Webster), "1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand
2 a : to kill or severely injure by smiting b : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously
3 : to cause to strike
4 : to affect as if by striking
5 : CAPTIVATE, TAKE
intransitive senses : to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held"
It's the only definition that doesn't seem to fit. And in Isaiah 53, Jesus was smitten by God, and the Hebrew word is nakah, which means 'to strike.'
Here's the etymology, also from Webster (yes, I am a language dork): Middle English, from Old English smItan to smear, defile; akin to Old High German bismIzan to defile
Somewhere through history, we thought it was sweet to basically say, "My dear, I have been smeared and defiled by your beauty."
Can't you just see the Hallmark card now?
why does 'smitten,' which we now understand to mean 'head over heels in love,' come from 'smite,' which means (according to Webster), "1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand
2 a : to kill or severely injure by smiting b : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously
3 : to cause to strike
4 : to affect as if by striking
5 : CAPTIVATE, TAKE
intransitive senses : to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held"
It's the only definition that doesn't seem to fit. And in Isaiah 53, Jesus was smitten by God, and the Hebrew word is nakah, which means 'to strike.'
Here's the etymology, also from Webster (yes, I am a language dork): Middle English, from Old English smItan to smear, defile; akin to Old High German bismIzan to defile
Somewhere through history, we thought it was sweet to basically say, "My dear, I have been smeared and defiled by your beauty."
Can't you just see the Hallmark card now?
O Tannenbaum
From Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?
Evergreen trees, because of their ability to remain green through-out the winter season when most other forms of vegetation are dormant, have long symbolized immortality, fertility, sexual potency, and reproduction, and were often brought into homes and set up as idols.
The full mystical significance of the evergreen can only be understood when one considers the profound reverence the ancient pagans had for all natural phenomena -- "To them, Nature was everywhere alive. Every fountain had its spirit, every mountain its deity, and every water, grove, and meadow, its supernatural association. The whispering of the trees ... was the subtle speech of the gods who dwelt within" (W.M. Auld, Christmas Traditions). This is nothing but nature worship or Animism.
The custom of bringing the tree into the home and decorating it as is done today has legendarily been attributed to Martin Luther. In truth, the modern custom has been lost in obscurity, but almost every culture has some such tradition. For ages, evergreen trees would be brought into the house during the winter as magic symbols of luck and hope for a fruitful year to come, It may also be that the star with which many of today's trees are topped did not originate as a representation of the star that the wise men followed, but rather a representation of the stars to which the ancient Chaldean astrologers looked for guidance.
The first decorating of an evergreen was done by pagans in honor of their god Adonis, who after being slain was brought to life by the serpent Aesculapius. The representation of the slain Adonis was a dead stump of a tree. Around this stump coiled the snake -- Aesculapius, symbol of life restoring. From the roots of the dead tree, then comes forth another and different tree -- an evergreen tree, symbolic to pagans of a god who cannot die! In Babylon, the evergreen tree came to represent the rebirth/reincarnation of Nimrod as his new son (Sun), Tammuz. In Egypt, this god was worshiped in a palm tree as Baal-Tamar. (Heathen people in the land of Canaan also adopted tree worship, calling it the Asherah -- a tree with its branches cut off was carved into a phallic symbol.) The fir tree was worshiped in Rome as the same new-born god, named Baal-Berith, who was restored to life by the same serpent. A feast was held in honor of him on December 25th, observed as the day on which the god reappeared on earth -- he had been killed, and was "reborn" on that day, victorious over death! It was called the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun." Thus, the annual custom of erecting and decorating evergreen trees was brought down to us through the centuries by the pagan Roman Catholic Church -- the paganism of Tammuz and Baal, or the worship of the sun, mingled with the worship of Aesculapius the serpent. Whether erected in private homes or in churches, decorated or not, the evergreen tree is a glaring symbol of this false god.
This issue may be much like the one I commented on regarding Halloween, so I'll defer to the same 1 Corinthians argument. If you can't put up a tree without feeling like you're taking on the mark of the beast, then don't do it. If your conscience is clear before the Lord, go for it.
What do you think God's talking about here?
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. (Jeremiah 10:1-4)
Hmmmm....interesting. Or maybe entirely unrelated.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And our tree is up.
And we celebrate advent nightly using a homemade wreath.
Evergreen garland lines our plant shelf.
And Kelli calls me Father Christmas and I call her Mother Earth until January 6.
Just kidding about that last one(Although we agree that "The Santa Clause 2" movie should have instead been entitled "The Mrs. Clause).
The only unusual thought I've had about Christmas trees is that, if I were a dog, the tree in the house would pretty much be standard furniture. But it'd be in the bathroom instead of the living room. And it probably wouldn't get too fancied up around the holiday season -- its that 'form follows function' thing.
I know, sometimes I can be pretty deep.
At what point do we abandon a tradition due to pagan origins, or reclaim it for the glory of Christ? You see, I never knew of the pagan tie-ins to the numerous traditions of Christmas (wassel, wreaths, mistletoe, until I became a Christian. Does my newfound information invalidate the innocence of the previous Christmas experiences? Of course not. And because God's grace is a liberating gift, rather than a restricting one, I see no justification for throwing the proverbial Baby Jesus out with the bathwater. And this also begs the question that, if indeed pagan influences introduced all these matters (which would cause Satan joy), then doesn't claiming these traditions for Christ frustrate the Adversary?
As far as any Christmas tradition goes, or even the holiday itself -- if people are simply celebrating the birth of Christ, then they're missing the point. Jesus only told us to remember his death. We should always remember that his birth is a celebration only because it marked the initiation of the great sacrificial plan of God, culminating a little more than three decades later on lonely, sin-laden cross at Calvary.
fyi
From Baptist Press
Rick Warren fields Larry King queries for Dec. 25 show on faith amid crisis
By Staff
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (BP)--Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," will appear on CNN's Larry King show Dec. 25.
Warren will be part of a show focusing on Ryan Corbin's miraculous recovery from a brain injury. Corbin is Christian entertainer Pat Boone's 25-year-old grandson and his parents, Lindi and Mike Corbin, are members of Saddleback.
"The entire program is a wonderful witness to Jesus," Warren said after the show was taped Dec. 5. "The Boones shared their moving testimonies about the role of faith and prayer in Ryan's recovery, and Larry [King]
asked me theological questions like, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' 'Why didn't God prevent this accident?' and 'What is the meaning of life?' He was clearly tuned in to the answers I offered."
Rick Warren fields Larry King queries for Dec. 25 show on faith amid crisis
By Staff
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (BP)--Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," will appear on CNN's Larry King show Dec. 25.
Warren will be part of a show focusing on Ryan Corbin's miraculous recovery from a brain injury. Corbin is Christian entertainer Pat Boone's 25-year-old grandson and his parents, Lindi and Mike Corbin, are members of Saddleback.
"The entire program is a wonderful witness to Jesus," Warren said after the show was taped Dec. 5. "The Boones shared their moving testimonies about the role of faith and prayer in Ryan's recovery, and Larry [King]
asked me theological questions like, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' 'Why didn't God prevent this accident?' and 'What is the meaning of life?' He was clearly tuned in to the answers I offered."
a tech question
i have approximately four years of sermons that I'd like to transfer from cassette tape to CD-R. Does someone know how I can transfer teh cassette files to my PC into an MP3 format?
around the horn #2
spudlets started this. I continue it.
my 5 favorite Christmas movies.
1. Its a Wonderful Life
2. Christmas Vacation 
3. Scrooged
4. The Santa Clause 
5. A Christmas Story
how about you?
my 5 favorite Christmas movies.
1. Its a Wonderful Life
2. Christmas Vacation
3. Scrooged
4. The Santa Clause
5. A Christmas Story
how about you?
12/09/2002
signs of the impending apocalypse #11
wow....read this:
ROME, DEC. 8, 2002 (Zenit.org).- During a traditional homage for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, John Paul II entrusted to Mary's hands the peace of the world.
"Pray, O Mother, for all of us. Pray for humanity that suffers poverty and injustice, violence and hatred, terror and war," the Pope said in a strong voice when he delivered the meditation he composed for today's occasion.
Before the 30-meter-high (100 foot) bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, the Holy Father, wearing his red cape, continued praying to the Virgin: "Help us to contemplate with the holy rosary the mysteries of him who 'is our peace,' so that we will all feel involved, in a specific effort of service for peace."
The Pontiff then prayed for the Middle East. "Look with special attention upon the land in which you gave birth to Jesus, a land that you loved together and that is still so tried today."
"Pray for us, Mother of hope! Give us days of peace, watch over our way. Let us see your Son full of joy in heaven," he added.
Later, the Pope made a brief private visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, to venerate the ancient icon of the Blessed Virgin, "Salvation of the Roman People," protectress of the Eternal City.
The Dec. 8 homage in the Roman piazza is a tradition started by Pope Pius XII in 1957. The statue of the Virgin was placed there in 1857 by Pope Pius IX to commemorate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception which he proclaimed three years earlier.
At his Angelus address earlier in the day at the Vatican, John Paul II summed up the sense of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this way: "The humble maiden of Nazareth, who with her 'yes' to the angel changed the course of history, was preserved from her conception from every stain of sin."
He added: "We are invited to imitate her: Mary was pleasing to God because of her docile humility. [...] 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.' It is with these same interior dispositions that believers are called to accept the divine will in every circumstance."
Don't get me wrong -- Mary's a great gal, but this is what God's word tells me:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)" This is a prophecy of the Peace-Bringer. Son. His Government. His shoulders. Everlasting Father. His Kingdom. yeah, this is Jesus we're talking about here. Not Mary.
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.'' He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.'' "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ` `You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.' '' Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2) This is a discussion between the Trinity (can you see where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each talking?) If Mary has a role in world peace, God's forgotten to include her in it here. The Father has said peace will come through Jesus. Not Mary.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.(John 14:27)" Jesus said that. Not Mary.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:11-16)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'' Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.'' And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful.'' And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Rev. 21:1-7) Jesus. Not Mary.
If you want a good read on the heresy of the "Mother of God" doctrine, buy this.
She didn't hear the prayer of the pope. And couldn't have answered it even if she had.
Mary. An ordinary, God-fearing teenage girl who grew to be a wise fortysomething mother who teaches us much by her example. But make no mistake about it. She died. Just like all humans do. But now she's alive. In heaven. Worshipping Jesus. Forever. Just like all faithful believers that Jesus is the Christ. The only One who hears our prayers and intercedes to the Father at His throne of Grace, on our behalf.
To pray for world peace is to pray for Jesus' swift return.
"your will be done...on earth as it is in heaven."
ROME, DEC. 8, 2002 (Zenit.org).- During a traditional homage for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, John Paul II entrusted to Mary's hands the peace of the world.
"Pray, O Mother, for all of us. Pray for humanity that suffers poverty and injustice, violence and hatred, terror and war," the Pope said in a strong voice when he delivered the meditation he composed for today's occasion.
Before the 30-meter-high (100 foot) bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, the Holy Father, wearing his red cape, continued praying to the Virgin: "Help us to contemplate with the holy rosary the mysteries of him who 'is our peace,' so that we will all feel involved, in a specific effort of service for peace."
The Pontiff then prayed for the Middle East. "Look with special attention upon the land in which you gave birth to Jesus, a land that you loved together and that is still so tried today."
"Pray for us, Mother of hope! Give us days of peace, watch over our way. Let us see your Son full of joy in heaven," he added.
Later, the Pope made a brief private visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, to venerate the ancient icon of the Blessed Virgin, "Salvation of the Roman People," protectress of the Eternal City.
The Dec. 8 homage in the Roman piazza is a tradition started by Pope Pius XII in 1957. The statue of the Virgin was placed there in 1857 by Pope Pius IX to commemorate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception which he proclaimed three years earlier.
At his Angelus address earlier in the day at the Vatican, John Paul II summed up the sense of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this way: "The humble maiden of Nazareth, who with her 'yes' to the angel changed the course of history, was preserved from her conception from every stain of sin."
He added: "We are invited to imitate her: Mary was pleasing to God because of her docile humility. [...] 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.' It is with these same interior dispositions that believers are called to accept the divine will in every circumstance."
Don't get me wrong -- Mary's a great gal, but this is what God's word tells me:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)" This is a prophecy of the Peace-Bringer. Son. His Government. His shoulders. Everlasting Father. His Kingdom. yeah, this is Jesus we're talking about here. Not Mary.
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.'' He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.'' "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ` `You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.' '' Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2) This is a discussion between the Trinity (can you see where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each talking?) If Mary has a role in world peace, God's forgotten to include her in it here. The Father has said peace will come through Jesus. Not Mary.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.(John 14:27)" Jesus said that. Not Mary.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:11-16)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'' Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.'' And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful.'' And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Rev. 21:1-7) Jesus. Not Mary.
If you want a good read on the heresy of the "Mother of God" doctrine, buy this.
She didn't hear the prayer of the pope. And couldn't have answered it even if she had.
Mary. An ordinary, God-fearing teenage girl who grew to be a wise fortysomething mother who teaches us much by her example. But make no mistake about it. She died. Just like all humans do. But now she's alive. In heaven. Worshipping Jesus. Forever. Just like all faithful believers that Jesus is the Christ. The only One who hears our prayers and intercedes to the Father at His throne of Grace, on our behalf.
To pray for world peace is to pray for Jesus' swift return.
"your will be done...on earth as it is in heaven."
hmmm....how about that?
my blog is accessible to China. for now. Is your URL accessible?
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11
signs of the impending apocalypse #10
from the Indianapolis Star via Holy Weblog! (just added to my blog roll to the right).
I don't know that I'm horribly offended that cross-dressers would dress up like nuns. I suppose I'm more offended that liars, murderers, philanderers, cheats, and all sorts of sinners dress up like Christians every day.
I don't remember where I first learned it, but I'm encouraged by this:
Paul wrote to Timothy: "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Tim. 1:15)"
If God's Word is truly inspired and God means every word that is written in the Bible, then we must take this declaration at face value. Paul is not just being self-deprecating. God has declared that Paul was chief among sinners. Yet, God was able to extend grace to Paul.
Grace enough to save Paul.
Grace enough to use Paul.
Grace enough to change the world through Paul.
So that means there is hope for me.
I know I'm a sinner. By the standards that Jesus has established in Matthew 5, I'm guilty of virtually sin identifiable to man. But as long as my 'rap sheet' is, I know that if God's grace was sufficient for Paul, then surely it is sufficient for me.
God's grace has saved me.
From death
From a lesser life
From myself
My prayer today is that I recognize my covering of grace, so that when I "dress up like a Christian," I bring honor, and not disgrace (interesting word) to His wonderful name.
I don't know that I'm horribly offended that cross-dressers would dress up like nuns. I suppose I'm more offended that liars, murderers, philanderers, cheats, and all sorts of sinners dress up like Christians every day.
I don't remember where I first learned it, but I'm encouraged by this:
Paul wrote to Timothy: "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Tim. 1:15)"
If God's Word is truly inspired and God means every word that is written in the Bible, then we must take this declaration at face value. Paul is not just being self-deprecating. God has declared that Paul was chief among sinners. Yet, God was able to extend grace to Paul.
Grace enough to save Paul.
Grace enough to use Paul.
Grace enough to change the world through Paul.
So that means there is hope for me.
I know I'm a sinner. By the standards that Jesus has established in Matthew 5, I'm guilty of virtually sin identifiable to man. But as long as my 'rap sheet' is, I know that if God's grace was sufficient for Paul, then surely it is sufficient for me.
God's grace has saved me.
From death
From a lesser life
From myself
My prayer today is that I recognize my covering of grace, so that when I "dress up like a Christian," I bring honor, and not disgrace (interesting word) to His wonderful name.
12/08/2002
signs of the impending apocalypse #9
wasnt' intending to send out a 2-fer today, but this from CNN demanded it.
no, this is not an illustration of earth, but instead of a virtual "earth twin," which is explained by this lead: Biologists, astronomers and computer scientists are working together to construct planets from scratch to explore the variety of physical bodies that could host life. The ingredients for the new world stew will be mixed in a virtual laboratory managed by NASA, which would like to figure out what to look for when it launches planet-finding missions in the coming years.
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. -- Genesis 11:6
(read on in your own Bible, its pretty interesting how God handles this whole "anything God can do, we can do better" mentality.)
an old, but related joke
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. They picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well! How about this? Let's have a man making contest."
To which the man replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go make your own dirt!"
no, this is not an illustration of earth, but instead of a virtual "earth twin," which is explained by this lead: Biologists, astronomers and computer scientists are working together to construct planets from scratch to explore the variety of physical bodies that could host life. The ingredients for the new world stew will be mixed in a virtual laboratory managed by NASA, which would like to figure out what to look for when it launches planet-finding missions in the coming years.
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. -- Genesis 11:6
(read on in your own Bible, its pretty interesting how God handles this whole "anything God can do, we can do better" mentality.)
an old, but related joke
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. They picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well! How about this? Let's have a man making contest."
To which the man replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go make your own dirt!"
signs of the impending apocalypse #8
Barbie has her own blog
for further proof that the world is soon ending, watch her webcam.
maybe perhaps possibly this is why I'm encouraging moving away from Barbie gifts for the girls.
for further proof that the world is soon ending, watch her webcam.
maybe perhaps possibly this is why I'm encouraging moving away from Barbie gifts for the girls.
countdown to Christmas -- three presents
One of the best Christmas movies of all time is called "A Christmas Story" and was produced in 1983. The star of the movie was a child actor named Peter Billingsley, no relation to our brother Al, as far as we know. Anyway, Peter plays a character named Ralphie who spends the entire moving trying to convince his parents that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect gift for a boy in the 1940s. The classic line from the movie is something like, "if you get that gun, you'll put somebody's eye out."
Well, its not very difficult to remember some of the very best gifts you've ever received at Christmas, is it? For me, a couple of gifts really stand out. The first gift that really excited me was a fireman's hat that I got when I was four years old. It had a battery operated flashing siren that used to drive my parents crazy. I'm pretty certain my uncle got that for me, and I'm not certain his motives were all that sweet. I'm also pretty certain my dad had something to do with the siren suddenly not working anymore after about two straight weeks of playing with it. The next year, I got my first bicycle for Christmas. It had these very cool flames painted on the frame. I named it Fireball. The problem was, I wasn't terribly coordinated, and my love for Fireball was quickly extinguished when I managed to crash into a parked UPS truck while learning to ride my bike. I was well on my way to seven before I actually mastered the bike riding challenge of life.
Now, I've received some other fabulous gifts as I've gotten older, ones from my wife that I will cherish forever, gifts from my children that are more valuable to me than a precious gem. A gift is truly wonderful when you who receive can know that thought, care, and planning went into its selection.
I think that's why Kelli and I tend to agonize over gifts that we give, as do many people. We don't want the gifts we give at Christmas to be perceived as trivial or as an afterthought. When thinking about a gift to give, we ask several questions: Does the person need it? Will they like it? Will they use it? Will they repackage it and give it back to us in the future?
Well, as we move ever closer to the big day we call Christmas, we find ourselves undertaking countdown after countdown. Only 16 more shopping days until Christmas! Only 13 more days until the relatives arrive! Only 18 more days until the relatives are gone! Over the next three weeks, we're going to be undertaking a countdown of our own. Today, we'll begin the countdown by looking at three presents. These gifts we'll examine today are the first three presents Jesus received to celebrate His arrival on the earth as the anointed King of the Jews.
The account of this event is found in the book of Matthew, chapter two, verses 1-11. Read them with me now:
Commonly, people will hear or talk of the birth of Christ and the visitation by the Magi and comment that the Christ child received three significant gifts from them - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I want you to know that I agree with that assessment - Jesus did in fact receive the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the Magi. And we'll even look at each of those gifts a little later on as part of our worship today. I would like to suggest, however, that a close reading of the biblical text illustrates that these are not the first three gifts that were given to the Christ child. In fact, I share the theory right now that the only reason that Jesus was given the three gifts we commonly think of when thinking of this account, was because the Magi first gave Him three other gifts that are incredibly important and instructive to us, even today.
One more quick aside - nowhere in the Scripture do we see that there are three Magi - we have only come to infer that because three gifts are mentioned, and later traditions have even named them Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. But there may have been more, or possibly less.
Without further ado, as we look at the text, I believe we'll see that the first gift given to Jesus by the Magi was the gift of their attention. Let's re-read the first six verses of Matthew 2 to observe the attention of the Magi given to the birth of the King of the Jews.
Now, to understand why this is a significant exchange that is taking place here, let's dig a little deeper. First, let's try to understand a little better about the identity of the Magi. Who are the Magi? Well, we don't really know for sure. But we can make some fairly educated determinations about their identity. First of all, the scripture says here that they are "from the East." This word 'magi' is not a Greek word, it is a transliterated word that actually has Babylonian origins. In fact, its from where we get words today like both magician and magistrate. And we can actually observe that there were these magi, these wise men, who were men of significant political and spiritual influence who were responsible for the placing of individuals into positions of power and authority in the pagan lands. We find reference to these wise men throughout the Old Testament - in Job, in Esther, and in the book of Daniel. In fact, if you want to really see something interesting, turn in your Bible to the book of Daniel, chapter 4. Read verses 4-9 with me.
What we see here is that Daniel is identified by Nebuchadnezzar as being the chief of the magicians - he was the leader of these very same wise men! In fact, 2:48 says that the King had made Daniel the chief administrator over all the wise men! Now, if we fast forward approximately 600 years, we find wise men from the east (literally, from the land of the rising) looking for the king of the Jews. Some scholars think that their presence in Jerusalem stems from their reading of a scrap of Scripture -- Numbers 24:17, which states, "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult."
This is pretty amazing - that a centuries-old group of pagan wise men would have traveled great distances to discover the king of the Jews simply because of a scrap of Scripture that had recorded the prophecies of God spoken through one of their own false prophets. But this amazing fact begins to make sense when you realize that they came into possession of this scrap of paper through the faithful service of a god-fearing foreigner named Daniel who, over 600 years ago repeatedly honored God in the context of serving pagan kings as their most trusted wise man.
But let's not be so amazed at their identity that we miss the amazing truth of their investigation. They had this record of prophecy - and they had spent the next 600 years searching the skies for this star that would signal the arrival of the King of the Jews. Can you imagine the faithfulness that is being demonstrated here? For six centuries, they vigilantly watched the skies. For sixty decades, they searched the stars. For six hundred years, for approximately 216,000 nights they peered into the night's sky, waiting, anticipating, hoping, and expecting. And these were pagans! Oh that we would have faith enough to investigate the promises of God as did these wise men. Yet we, the children of God, are so quick to give up on Him, so inclined to disbelieve, to abandon the watch. But they had nothing more than a simple promise from the God they did not know first hand, but had only heard of through generations of story-telling of the man named Daniel. And it was enough to compel them to investigate the promise, without ceasing.
Wow. This story gets more and more amazing as we continue, but let's not move on until we see that this first gift of their attention is only completely wrapped when the final bow is placed upon it. And that bow is the inquiry of the wise men. After their identity has been established, and their investigation has been engaged, now we discover the peak of their attention in the simple inquiry that they pose. They say, "where is He?"
Listen, it makes perfect sense that these three foreigners would come to Jerusalem and to Herod in particular to see the king of the Jews. But when the King is not there, it only makes perfect sense that they would go to those under the King's authority to discover where He could be found. And look what we discover - they didn't have a clue! Verse 3 says that Herod 'was troubled." But do you want to know what else is interesting - all of Jerusalem was troubled, too! I tell you, that Jesus was troublesome to the Jews from the moment of His birth to the very last breath He took! But verse 4 says that Herod had to scramble and gather all the chief priests and scribes together to discover where to find Him. And then, once they had ascertained from the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah had to have been born from Bethlehem, only then could Herod give the wise men the answer.
You know, I really don't mind being caught not knowing something, just so long as everyone knows I wasn't supposed to know it in the first place. But I absolutely cannot stand to look stupid, when it is something that I'm supposed to know. I don't know how to split the atom. But I can live with that. But one of my greatest fears is ever going on to a game show and losing the game because I don't know the answer to a Bible question! So, I can understand Herod being a little edgy when these strangers show up and say, "where is it that you keep your king? Yeah, the one whose been promised for about 3,000 years…yeah, the one we've been watching for for 600 years. Where is He?" And all Herod wanted to say, was, "No, I'm sorry Alex, I said I wanted 'long expected rings' for $2000."
Did these wise men bring a gift? Absolutely they brought the gift of their attention. They demonstrate it through their identity, through their investigation, and through their inquiry.
They also brought with them the gift of their arrival. The gift of their arrival is so important for us to understand because it is in the giving of this gift that we observe the difference between having a 'head knowledge' and an 'experiential knowledge' of Jesus Christ. You see, these three could have been content to have seen the star, put a check mark by the prophecy, and said, 'yep, that one came true, too! Too bad I'm not a Jew. Too bad that's not my God." But that's not what they did. They instead took the perspective, "I have to see this for myself."
We see this gift presented, again, in three different ways that we'll address rather directly. First, we see this presented in their pursuit. The fact that these three guys were here looking for the king of the Jews was a big deal! If these men had originated from Babylon, which is a reasonable expectation, they would have traveled approximately 520 miles, if they had come in a straight shot. In all likelihood, they would have had to take a much more circuitous route, having to travel north around the Euphrates, and then south down to Jerusalem. And according to modern estimates, camels travel an average of 5-8 miles a day, and I would assume that that's because conditions have improved. The fact that they would even undertake this quest is an amazing statement of their desire to arrive in the presence of the King of the Jews.
If you do the math, its not unreasonable at all to see that it could have taken the wise men well over a year to arrive in Jerusalem. In this, we see that their pursuit is only surpassed by their perseverance. They went all the way. They didn't give up. And it didn't stop when they arrived in Jerusalem. When they asked where the King was, and the men who were supposed to be "king-seekers" didn't have a clue, they didn't turn around and go home. They waited until the "experts" figured it out. And they continued their journey!
I think this is amazing - how many of the chief priests and the scribes accompanied the wise men? Zero! Did Herod tag along to get a glimpse at his new boss? Nope! I think this is one of those fascinating places in Scripture where God says something incredibly profound without saying a word! None of "God's people" were even interested in finding out the identity of the Messiah. They weren't looking for a king. They only wanted to eliminate anyone who happened to be a threat to their power, prestige, and prominence.
And their arrival culminates in praise. Verse 9 says they left Herod and his half-hearted holy men behind and once again discovered the star that had led them to this point. And what does verse 10 say? When they saw it, they rejoiced with exceeding joy! These guys were not just on some diplomatic mission. These guys were not doing something dull or routine, they were moment-by-moment experiencing a miracle. They were walking by faith and seeing this strange, foreign God show them merit and favor! They were worshipping! They were rejoicing!
That's what brings us to the third gift - that is the gift of their adoration. And before we get into this, I just want to make it clear that that these three men were only able to give this third gift because they were willing to give the first two gifts. If they hadn't had given this very important matter their attention, and if they weren't so determined to arrive, they'd never have experienced the joy and blessing of giving the gift of their adoration to Jesus, the King of the Jews.
And you should take a moment to understand this important detail as well, because in a moment, we're going to get all caught up in those famous triplets, gold frankincense and myrrh. But before we do, remember and don't forget that the real gift is their adoration. These three items are manifestations of those gifts, but the heart of the gift itself is the adoration they gave to this special, precious God-child.
Verse 11 says that they entered the house (which shows us significant time had passed from the birth in the manger), and when they saw Mary with Jesus, they fell down and worshipped who? Him! That's right, Jesus. And only Jesus. Not Mary. They - these godless pagans fell down and worshipped Jesus! They adored Him.
And they expressed their adoration for Him by giving Him three gifts. We don't know if these are the only three gifts that were given to Him, but we know at least these three were given, and you can be pretty well assured that these three are mentioned because they are spiritually significant and spiritually symbolic and they are also the fulfillment of prophecy. Listen to these promises:
Psalm 72:10-11 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.
Isaiah 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Obviously, these three men showing up on Jesus' doorstep was a lot more than an interesting coincidence. Likewise, that they came with gifts shouldn't simply be dismissed as a nice gesture. So, let's spend the rest of our time looking at these three special gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus.
First, they brought to him gold. No doubt, it makes sense to bring the gift of gold to a King. But gold is important for more than just being 'gold.' It is also very important because of what gold symbolizes. Primarily, gold symbolizes purity. When we look at the various passages in the Bible and learn about the items of the tabernacle, we find something interesting. The ten lavers, the molten sea, and the altar are all brazen - made of bronze - which represents judgment. The high priests are washed clean in judgment and the sins are judged on the altar of sacrifice. These are all the first steps to enter into the tabernacle. After this, though, one would encounter the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Incense Altar, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat, all of which are either made of solid gold, covered in gold, or rest upon gold. Particularly relevant is that the mercy seat, which is much more than simply the lid to the Ark of the Covenant, is fashioned out of pure gold. Gold symbolizes the purity, the holiness, the righteousness of God Almighty.
Gold is also symbolic of the royalty of Jesus. Gold was often understood as the gift most fitting to give a king, a symbol recognizing His royalty and authority. It was a gift of honor and respect. So for the Magi to give this gift to Jesus, they were acknowledging that He was King, that He was the authority, and that He was anointed by God. Their giving of this gift to Him was the demonstration of respect and deference to Him.
The symbolism of purity and royalty in gold is significant in the giving of this valuable gift to Jesus. We don't have any hint that this gift was a "seed gift" to Christ's ministry, especially when we consider later that Jesus had no place to rest his head. This giving of this gift is for our benefit, showing us that the recipient is pure, without sin, without blemish. He is holy, righteous, worthy of glory and honor.
Next, the wise men brought frankincense. Frankincense, as you probably can determine is an incense offering. In the Old Testament, after the priest was washed clean in the brazen lavers, the first act of worship he did was to light incense in the golden incense stand. In this manner, frankincense is symbolic of the priestly nature of Jesus. By placing frankincense before Jesus, it is a symbol of worship, of acknowledgment that Jesus is God.
Certainly, it isn't difficult to understand the significance of this gift. Jesus deserves to be worshipped. It is insufficient to simply study Him, to talk about Him, to try to analyze Him. He is God incarnate. He is divine. He was born of a woman, and of God. He is eternal. He reigns eternally, and He will return again! As such, a gift of incense hails back to the Old Testament practices of lighting incense before God, representing how God receives our prayers, our devotion, our confession, our adoration.
Finally, the wise men brought myrrh. Myrrh is a bitter gum and a costly perfume that was used in funeral preparations. It was expensive, it was used in the anointing oils of the high priests and also in the purification of women. What is interesting about myrrh is that the only way to extract its fragrance is to crush it. Myrrh is symbolic of suffering.
In this regard, it is easy to understand that myrrh is significant because Jesus came to die. He came to suffer. He came to pay the sin penalty for your transgressions and for mine. We see that Jesus is offered, in Mark 15:23, myrrh while still on the cross. We also know that Jesus was embalmed with myrrh. Friends, these Magi came for far greater reasons that to have a baby shower for this infant named Jesus. They were part of a beautiful, prophetic experience that demonstrates that this infant, as Hebrews states, would be both the spotless sacrificial lamb, as well as the sinless high priest.
One more note in closing. Turn in your Bible to the book of Isaiah, chapter 60, verse 6. This verse says that there will be another gathering and another celebration for the Messiah. And some familiar gifts will be given. Gold and frankincense will again be placed at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. But this time, there will be no myrrh, because there will be no more suffering. This infant Jesus already received the myrrh. He already received the suffering. And on the cross, as a man, He said, "It is finished."
Today, recognize that adoring Jesus means bringing him the sacrifice of worship. And to truly worship Jesus, you must submit to His Lordship, you must acknowledge His righteousness, and give thanks for His suffering. But to adore Him, you must first give Him the gifts of your attention and of your arrival in His presence. For truly, Jesus is the gift who keeps on giving.
Well, its not very difficult to remember some of the very best gifts you've ever received at Christmas, is it? For me, a couple of gifts really stand out. The first gift that really excited me was a fireman's hat that I got when I was four years old. It had a battery operated flashing siren that used to drive my parents crazy. I'm pretty certain my uncle got that for me, and I'm not certain his motives were all that sweet. I'm also pretty certain my dad had something to do with the siren suddenly not working anymore after about two straight weeks of playing with it. The next year, I got my first bicycle for Christmas. It had these very cool flames painted on the frame. I named it Fireball. The problem was, I wasn't terribly coordinated, and my love for Fireball was quickly extinguished when I managed to crash into a parked UPS truck while learning to ride my bike. I was well on my way to seven before I actually mastered the bike riding challenge of life.
Now, I've received some other fabulous gifts as I've gotten older, ones from my wife that I will cherish forever, gifts from my children that are more valuable to me than a precious gem. A gift is truly wonderful when you who receive can know that thought, care, and planning went into its selection.
I think that's why Kelli and I tend to agonize over gifts that we give, as do many people. We don't want the gifts we give at Christmas to be perceived as trivial or as an afterthought. When thinking about a gift to give, we ask several questions: Does the person need it? Will they like it? Will they use it? Will they repackage it and give it back to us in the future?
Well, as we move ever closer to the big day we call Christmas, we find ourselves undertaking countdown after countdown. Only 16 more shopping days until Christmas! Only 13 more days until the relatives arrive! Only 18 more days until the relatives are gone! Over the next three weeks, we're going to be undertaking a countdown of our own. Today, we'll begin the countdown by looking at three presents. These gifts we'll examine today are the first three presents Jesus received to celebrate His arrival on the earth as the anointed King of the Jews.
The account of this event is found in the book of Matthew, chapter two, verses 1-11. Read them with me now:
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'' When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.' '' Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.'' When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Commonly, people will hear or talk of the birth of Christ and the visitation by the Magi and comment that the Christ child received three significant gifts from them - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I want you to know that I agree with that assessment - Jesus did in fact receive the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the Magi. And we'll even look at each of those gifts a little later on as part of our worship today. I would like to suggest, however, that a close reading of the biblical text illustrates that these are not the first three gifts that were given to the Christ child. In fact, I share the theory right now that the only reason that Jesus was given the three gifts we commonly think of when thinking of this account, was because the Magi first gave Him three other gifts that are incredibly important and instructive to us, even today.
One more quick aside - nowhere in the Scripture do we see that there are three Magi - we have only come to infer that because three gifts are mentioned, and later traditions have even named them Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. But there may have been more, or possibly less.
Without further ado, as we look at the text, I believe we'll see that the first gift given to Jesus by the Magi was the gift of their attention. Let's re-read the first six verses of Matthew 2 to observe the attention of the Magi given to the birth of the King of the Jews.
Now, to understand why this is a significant exchange that is taking place here, let's dig a little deeper. First, let's try to understand a little better about the identity of the Magi. Who are the Magi? Well, we don't really know for sure. But we can make some fairly educated determinations about their identity. First of all, the scripture says here that they are "from the East." This word 'magi' is not a Greek word, it is a transliterated word that actually has Babylonian origins. In fact, its from where we get words today like both magician and magistrate. And we can actually observe that there were these magi, these wise men, who were men of significant political and spiritual influence who were responsible for the placing of individuals into positions of power and authority in the pagan lands. We find reference to these wise men throughout the Old Testament - in Job, in Esther, and in the book of Daniel. In fact, if you want to really see something interesting, turn in your Bible to the book of Daniel, chapter 4. Read verses 4-9 with me.
What we see here is that Daniel is identified by Nebuchadnezzar as being the chief of the magicians - he was the leader of these very same wise men! In fact, 2:48 says that the King had made Daniel the chief administrator over all the wise men! Now, if we fast forward approximately 600 years, we find wise men from the east (literally, from the land of the rising) looking for the king of the Jews. Some scholars think that their presence in Jerusalem stems from their reading of a scrap of Scripture -- Numbers 24:17, which states, "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult."
This is pretty amazing - that a centuries-old group of pagan wise men would have traveled great distances to discover the king of the Jews simply because of a scrap of Scripture that had recorded the prophecies of God spoken through one of their own false prophets. But this amazing fact begins to make sense when you realize that they came into possession of this scrap of paper through the faithful service of a god-fearing foreigner named Daniel who, over 600 years ago repeatedly honored God in the context of serving pagan kings as their most trusted wise man.
But let's not be so amazed at their identity that we miss the amazing truth of their investigation. They had this record of prophecy - and they had spent the next 600 years searching the skies for this star that would signal the arrival of the King of the Jews. Can you imagine the faithfulness that is being demonstrated here? For six centuries, they vigilantly watched the skies. For sixty decades, they searched the stars. For six hundred years, for approximately 216,000 nights they peered into the night's sky, waiting, anticipating, hoping, and expecting. And these were pagans! Oh that we would have faith enough to investigate the promises of God as did these wise men. Yet we, the children of God, are so quick to give up on Him, so inclined to disbelieve, to abandon the watch. But they had nothing more than a simple promise from the God they did not know first hand, but had only heard of through generations of story-telling of the man named Daniel. And it was enough to compel them to investigate the promise, without ceasing.
Wow. This story gets more and more amazing as we continue, but let's not move on until we see that this first gift of their attention is only completely wrapped when the final bow is placed upon it. And that bow is the inquiry of the wise men. After their identity has been established, and their investigation has been engaged, now we discover the peak of their attention in the simple inquiry that they pose. They say, "where is He?"
Listen, it makes perfect sense that these three foreigners would come to Jerusalem and to Herod in particular to see the king of the Jews. But when the King is not there, it only makes perfect sense that they would go to those under the King's authority to discover where He could be found. And look what we discover - they didn't have a clue! Verse 3 says that Herod 'was troubled." But do you want to know what else is interesting - all of Jerusalem was troubled, too! I tell you, that Jesus was troublesome to the Jews from the moment of His birth to the very last breath He took! But verse 4 says that Herod had to scramble and gather all the chief priests and scribes together to discover where to find Him. And then, once they had ascertained from the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah had to have been born from Bethlehem, only then could Herod give the wise men the answer.
You know, I really don't mind being caught not knowing something, just so long as everyone knows I wasn't supposed to know it in the first place. But I absolutely cannot stand to look stupid, when it is something that I'm supposed to know. I don't know how to split the atom. But I can live with that. But one of my greatest fears is ever going on to a game show and losing the game because I don't know the answer to a Bible question! So, I can understand Herod being a little edgy when these strangers show up and say, "where is it that you keep your king? Yeah, the one whose been promised for about 3,000 years…yeah, the one we've been watching for for 600 years. Where is He?" And all Herod wanted to say, was, "No, I'm sorry Alex, I said I wanted 'long expected rings' for $2000."
Did these wise men bring a gift? Absolutely they brought the gift of their attention. They demonstrate it through their identity, through their investigation, and through their inquiry.
They also brought with them the gift of their arrival. The gift of their arrival is so important for us to understand because it is in the giving of this gift that we observe the difference between having a 'head knowledge' and an 'experiential knowledge' of Jesus Christ. You see, these three could have been content to have seen the star, put a check mark by the prophecy, and said, 'yep, that one came true, too! Too bad I'm not a Jew. Too bad that's not my God." But that's not what they did. They instead took the perspective, "I have to see this for myself."
We see this gift presented, again, in three different ways that we'll address rather directly. First, we see this presented in their pursuit. The fact that these three guys were here looking for the king of the Jews was a big deal! If these men had originated from Babylon, which is a reasonable expectation, they would have traveled approximately 520 miles, if they had come in a straight shot. In all likelihood, they would have had to take a much more circuitous route, having to travel north around the Euphrates, and then south down to Jerusalem. And according to modern estimates, camels travel an average of 5-8 miles a day, and I would assume that that's because conditions have improved. The fact that they would even undertake this quest is an amazing statement of their desire to arrive in the presence of the King of the Jews.
If you do the math, its not unreasonable at all to see that it could have taken the wise men well over a year to arrive in Jerusalem. In this, we see that their pursuit is only surpassed by their perseverance. They went all the way. They didn't give up. And it didn't stop when they arrived in Jerusalem. When they asked where the King was, and the men who were supposed to be "king-seekers" didn't have a clue, they didn't turn around and go home. They waited until the "experts" figured it out. And they continued their journey!
I think this is amazing - how many of the chief priests and the scribes accompanied the wise men? Zero! Did Herod tag along to get a glimpse at his new boss? Nope! I think this is one of those fascinating places in Scripture where God says something incredibly profound without saying a word! None of "God's people" were even interested in finding out the identity of the Messiah. They weren't looking for a king. They only wanted to eliminate anyone who happened to be a threat to their power, prestige, and prominence.
And their arrival culminates in praise. Verse 9 says they left Herod and his half-hearted holy men behind and once again discovered the star that had led them to this point. And what does verse 10 say? When they saw it, they rejoiced with exceeding joy! These guys were not just on some diplomatic mission. These guys were not doing something dull or routine, they were moment-by-moment experiencing a miracle. They were walking by faith and seeing this strange, foreign God show them merit and favor! They were worshipping! They were rejoicing!
That's what brings us to the third gift - that is the gift of their adoration. And before we get into this, I just want to make it clear that that these three men were only able to give this third gift because they were willing to give the first two gifts. If they hadn't had given this very important matter their attention, and if they weren't so determined to arrive, they'd never have experienced the joy and blessing of giving the gift of their adoration to Jesus, the King of the Jews.
And you should take a moment to understand this important detail as well, because in a moment, we're going to get all caught up in those famous triplets, gold frankincense and myrrh. But before we do, remember and don't forget that the real gift is their adoration. These three items are manifestations of those gifts, but the heart of the gift itself is the adoration they gave to this special, precious God-child.
Verse 11 says that they entered the house (which shows us significant time had passed from the birth in the manger), and when they saw Mary with Jesus, they fell down and worshipped who? Him! That's right, Jesus. And only Jesus. Not Mary. They - these godless pagans fell down and worshipped Jesus! They adored Him.
And they expressed their adoration for Him by giving Him three gifts. We don't know if these are the only three gifts that were given to Him, but we know at least these three were given, and you can be pretty well assured that these three are mentioned because they are spiritually significant and spiritually symbolic and they are also the fulfillment of prophecy. Listen to these promises:
Psalm 72:10-11 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.
Isaiah 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Obviously, these three men showing up on Jesus' doorstep was a lot more than an interesting coincidence. Likewise, that they came with gifts shouldn't simply be dismissed as a nice gesture. So, let's spend the rest of our time looking at these three special gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus.
First, they brought to him gold. No doubt, it makes sense to bring the gift of gold to a King. But gold is important for more than just being 'gold.' It is also very important because of what gold symbolizes. Primarily, gold symbolizes purity. When we look at the various passages in the Bible and learn about the items of the tabernacle, we find something interesting. The ten lavers, the molten sea, and the altar are all brazen - made of bronze - which represents judgment. The high priests are washed clean in judgment and the sins are judged on the altar of sacrifice. These are all the first steps to enter into the tabernacle. After this, though, one would encounter the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Incense Altar, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat, all of which are either made of solid gold, covered in gold, or rest upon gold. Particularly relevant is that the mercy seat, which is much more than simply the lid to the Ark of the Covenant, is fashioned out of pure gold. Gold symbolizes the purity, the holiness, the righteousness of God Almighty.
Gold is also symbolic of the royalty of Jesus. Gold was often understood as the gift most fitting to give a king, a symbol recognizing His royalty and authority. It was a gift of honor and respect. So for the Magi to give this gift to Jesus, they were acknowledging that He was King, that He was the authority, and that He was anointed by God. Their giving of this gift to Him was the demonstration of respect and deference to Him.
The symbolism of purity and royalty in gold is significant in the giving of this valuable gift to Jesus. We don't have any hint that this gift was a "seed gift" to Christ's ministry, especially when we consider later that Jesus had no place to rest his head. This giving of this gift is for our benefit, showing us that the recipient is pure, without sin, without blemish. He is holy, righteous, worthy of glory and honor.
Next, the wise men brought frankincense. Frankincense, as you probably can determine is an incense offering. In the Old Testament, after the priest was washed clean in the brazen lavers, the first act of worship he did was to light incense in the golden incense stand. In this manner, frankincense is symbolic of the priestly nature of Jesus. By placing frankincense before Jesus, it is a symbol of worship, of acknowledgment that Jesus is God.
Certainly, it isn't difficult to understand the significance of this gift. Jesus deserves to be worshipped. It is insufficient to simply study Him, to talk about Him, to try to analyze Him. He is God incarnate. He is divine. He was born of a woman, and of God. He is eternal. He reigns eternally, and He will return again! As such, a gift of incense hails back to the Old Testament practices of lighting incense before God, representing how God receives our prayers, our devotion, our confession, our adoration.
Finally, the wise men brought myrrh. Myrrh is a bitter gum and a costly perfume that was used in funeral preparations. It was expensive, it was used in the anointing oils of the high priests and also in the purification of women. What is interesting about myrrh is that the only way to extract its fragrance is to crush it. Myrrh is symbolic of suffering.
In this regard, it is easy to understand that myrrh is significant because Jesus came to die. He came to suffer. He came to pay the sin penalty for your transgressions and for mine. We see that Jesus is offered, in Mark 15:23, myrrh while still on the cross. We also know that Jesus was embalmed with myrrh. Friends, these Magi came for far greater reasons that to have a baby shower for this infant named Jesus. They were part of a beautiful, prophetic experience that demonstrates that this infant, as Hebrews states, would be both the spotless sacrificial lamb, as well as the sinless high priest.
One more note in closing. Turn in your Bible to the book of Isaiah, chapter 60, verse 6. This verse says that there will be another gathering and another celebration for the Messiah. And some familiar gifts will be given. Gold and frankincense will again be placed at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. But this time, there will be no myrrh, because there will be no more suffering. This infant Jesus already received the myrrh. He already received the suffering. And on the cross, as a man, He said, "It is finished."
Today, recognize that adoring Jesus means bringing him the sacrifice of worship. And to truly worship Jesus, you must submit to His Lordship, you must acknowledge His righteousness, and give thanks for His suffering. But to adore Him, you must first give Him the gifts of your attention and of your arrival in His presence. For truly, Jesus is the gift who keeps on giving.
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