One for All
Opening Prayer
Jesus, Messiah, thank You for becoming the greatest gift of all. Show me who You are today.
Read Matthew 2:1–12
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come…” How will you celebrate Jesus today?All over the world today people will be celebrating. For some it will just be a holiday, family time, presents and eating. But for many, in towns and villages, in freezing temperatures and stifling heat, in wealth, in poverty and on every continent, there will be genuine celebration of God coming to us in Jesus.
Today’s reading gives us a glimpse of what is to be. We don’t know exactly who these Magi were; possibly part of the religious system in Persia, using the stars to obtain guidance. They demonstrate that Jesus is for the whole world, the first of many outside the Jewish faith to recognize and worship him. Look at the reactions of the Magi (10,11) and of Herod (7,8,12). The Magi are overjoyed and worship; Herod, in his jealousy, misses the new thing that God is doing and plots to destroy Jesus.
Today is a day to join the Magi. To celebrate with God’s worldwide church the reality of God’s love shown to all humanity in the person of Jesus. To bear witness to that love in all that we do, showing his love to those who do not yet know him.
Apply
God spoke to the Magi in a way they could understand: a star. How could you use something simple to share the truth of Jesus?
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for an opportunity to speak sensitively about Jesus today to someone who does not yet know him.
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