Matthew 2:1-2,11 (NKJV) 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.”…. 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.
The wise men (or Magi in some translations) were astrologers who believed that the movement of the stars indicated the movement of kings and leaders. Their act of falling and worshipping Jesus was not a normal civil homage to a petty Jewish king, but rather a spiritual homage as proven by their actions of opening their treasures and presenting them rather than offering gifts to Jesus. When they found Him, they knelt in worship.
Revelation 17:14 (NKJV) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
The wise men showed us the way to honour and worship the King is through gifts, and what was befitting for a king was gold. Therefore, we are to worship God with our tithes and offerings. Are we honouring and worshipping the Lord with what He has blessed us with?
They presented frankincense which was an aromatic that was often used in sacrificial offerings by the priest in the temple. Jesus is our great High Priest who offered up His blood the ultimate sacrifice in the heavenly Tabernacle to bring about reconciliation between God and men.
They also presented myrrh which was used in perfuming ointments and the embalmment of the dead. The intent of Jesus’ birth was to be the ultimate sacrifice through His death on the cross.
In these three gifts, we see who He is, what He came to do, and what it cost Him.
Psalm 95:6 (NKJV) Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
The wise men did not come in search of favour or to obtain something from Jesus, but to worship Him for who He is. God is looking for worshippers, and worship is a place of intimacy with God. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. We need to have a heart of worship just like the wise men.
Sermon Series: His Name is Jesus
一颗敬拜的心
马太福音2:1-2,11当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说： “那生下来作犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。”…进了房子，看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。
“博士”（有些翻译为贤士）是占星家，他们相信星体的活动象征着王和领袖的活动。他们俯伏拜耶稣的行为不是对犹太王的惯常礼仪，而是一个属灵的致敬，他们的动作证明了这一点，他们揭开宝盒并托举礼物献上，而不是单单的将礼物给耶稣。他们找到耶稣时，就跪下来敬拜。
启示录17：14 14 他们将与羔羊交战，但羔羊必胜过他们，因为羔羊是万主之主，万王之王。那些跟随羔羊的是被呼召、蒙拣选、忠心耿耿的人。
这几位博士让我们看到尊荣和敬拜王的方法是藉着礼物，而适合赠送给王的礼物是黄金。因此，我们要以真诚敬拜的心灵和什一奉献来敬拜上帝。我们是否是用主所赐福给我们的东西来尊荣和敬拜祂呢？
他们献上了乳香，这是一种祭司通常在圣殿里用来献祭的芳香剂。耶稣是我们尊荣的大祭司，祂在天上的会幕里献出了祂的宝血成就了最后的献祭，带来了上帝与人之间的和好。
他们也献上没药，就是用来包裹死去的人的防腐剂和香料。耶稣降生的目的正是藉着祂在十字架上的死成为最终的献祭。
从这三份礼物我们看到祂的身份，祂来做什么，以及祂为之所付出的代价。
诗篇95:6 来 啊 ， 我 们 要 屈 身 敬 拜， 在 造 我 们 的 耶 和 华 面 前 跪 下 。
博士们来不是为了寻求恩惠，也不是为了从耶稣那里得到什么。他们是因为寻求上帝去敬拜祂。上帝正在寻找敬拜者，而敬拜是与上帝亲近的方式。上帝希望我们尽心、尽性、尽意地去爱祂。我们需要像博士一样有一颗敬拜的心。
讲章系列：衪的名字是耶稣！
Image Source: pixabay.com