Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 10

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE MAGI

THE MAGI

The story of the Magi - wise men from the East - visiting the Christ Child after His birth, is one of the most enduring stories of the Christmas season that we have. This is documented in only one place in the Bible - in the book of Matthew. Here it states:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 

…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.” 

(Matthew 2:1-2)

When reading these stories it is important to distinguish what is related in the Bible to what is not; even though some of the other material may be ancient, they are non-biblical sources. For example, we often refer to the three kings but the Bible mentions neither the number of visitors nor that they were kings. We commonly see illustrations of these wise men coming to the stable where Jesus lay but the Bible clearly states that:

…when they [the wise men] had come into the house, 

they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, 

and fell down, and worshiped Him… 

(Matthew 2:11)

If we truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that:

 

…the word of God is living and powerful…

…which lives and abides forever…

(Hebrews 4:12 & 1 Peter 1:23)

and comes from a God…

 

…who cannot lie… 

(Titus 1:2)

…then we must be careful to state what the Bible relates and not change it to suit what we think it should say. Mixing falsehoods with the truth does not enhance the truth but only tends to enforce more of that which is false. The wise men were not at the stable as depicted by so many stories, nativity scenes, and songs but came sometime later, perhaps up to two years, after Christ’s birth.

In focusing only on the time of the visit, we often miss the other implications that the coming of these men may mean. For instance, they were Gentiles, probably Zoroastrian in religion, who came to worship a God unknown to them. They were the first gentiles who reached out to Christ and gave the indication that Christ would be for everyone.

They bowed and worshiped at the sight of Christ. They did not do the same at the kingship of Herod and so did not give homage to worldly authority but did at the Godly Kingship of Christ.

They gave their time to come to a king they did not know nor to whom they owed allegiance. Not only did they give of their time, they gave generously with their wealth and delight, bringing expensive presents and with exuberant joy, just the way we should do to the God we know and to whom we do owe allegiance.

They were obedient to what they had been taught or told. They knew about the coming of the Messiah and were willing to follow what they had come to believe. In addition, they were obedient to the angel who told them not to return to Herod. We must also decide whether to believe God or honour the world.

Lastly, they would have had many of their own beliefs and traditions and what they did would have gone outside their own culture and faith. Are we willing to do the same when we see the truth in front of us?

By realizing all of what we can learn from the Magi gives us again something else to think about.

*Writing adapted from Who Were the Magi and Why do They Matter by Brian Barrineau 

 

Pastor Dave McLean Nov. 17, 2024

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 9

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - A MAN OF FAILURE?

 

A MAN OF FAILURE?

Looking at the church today and comparing it with the church of old it may appear as if the church is failing in its’ message. The number of people attending church appears to be lessening and churches all over seem to be closing. But is it the same all over the world? Perhaps God is not interested just in numbers of people but in the dedication of those people who are involved. The Bible does say:

 

“…whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(Romans 10:13)

However, it seems that fewer people are doing that each year. Perhaps we should not be surprised at that, as the Bible also states that:

…narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, 

and there are few who find it. 

(Matthew 7:14)

It implies that many who should be saved may not be and perhaps we should expect this considering Jesus spoke to thousands during His time on earth but, in the end, there seemed to be only about 120 true disciples left.

And in those days Peter stood in the midst of the disciples 

(altogether the number of names was about one hundred and twenty)… 

(Acts 1:15)

It would seem that Jesus Himself was a man of failure at the time but look what happened when those disciples became excited, invigorated, and energized. They changed the world.

Often we look at ourselves and feel as if nothing of importance is being done. Too often people feel as if they accomplish little and give up - often turning to unhealthy or harmful means to try and console themselves and forget their failure. Too many accept this as their fate and refuse to continue trying to see if they can, as Robert Schuller used to say, turn their “scars into stars.” These people also seem to give up on God as well, believing that He has given up on them.

The disciples of Christ did not give up when they were only few and the rest is history. By giving up too easily, in many cases, people often miss out on what God may have had in store for them. We should try to avoid becoming men (and women) of failure as the following illustrates. One person in:

• 1831 - failed in business
• 1832 - was defeated for the legislature
• 1833 - failed in business again
• 1834 - was elected to the legislature
• 1835 - suffered the death of his sweetheart 
• 1836 - suffered a nervous breakdown
• 1838 - was defeated for speaker of the legislature
• 1840 - was defeated for elector
• 1848 - was defeated for congress 
• 1855 - was defeated for Senate
• 1856 - was defeated for Vice-President 
• 1858 - was defeated for Senate
• but in 1860 was elected for President of the United States

The man? Abraham Lincoln* 

The disciples did not give up even when some may have felt their cause a failure. God did not give up on them and he doesn’t give up on us even when we may consider ourselves to be less than successful. It is God’s will that all should be saved and unless we ourselves will it otherwise no person should be a “man of failure” and be lost.

The Lord…not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should reach repentance 

(2 Peter 3:9)

If everything is not now as it should be, we need to keep trying. It is not God’s desire that we should fail - it should not be ours.

Something to think about. 

*Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, 1987

Pastor Matthew Trott Nov. 10, 2024

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 8