A Different Perspective on the 3 Wise Men

The 3 wise men, or Magi as they were called, were a priestly class that had existed in various empires in the Middle East. They were astrologers, magicians and king makers. They had been around throughout the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, the Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire.

The Roman Empire had been at war with the Parthians for some time and Judea was the buffer state between the two empires. Rome backed Herod as governor of Judea, a move the Jewish Sanhedrin did not like because Herod was not a Jew, he was an Edomite.

Herod and the Romans fled in 40 BC when Antigonus, with the help of the Parthians, took the throne as king. In Rome the Roman Senate elected him as king of Judea and in 37 BC he returned to claim the throne. Herod exiled his wife and child to take a new bride that was Jewish in order to gain favor amongst the Jews. After capturing Jerusalem Antigonus was put to death.

Herod did not gain much acceptance from the Jews as he claimed to be Jewish but lived a very decadent and hedonistic lifestyle. He even expanded the Temple complex in order to foster the lagging support of the Jewish population.

Herod was a foreign non-Jewish king, claiming to follow the Jewish law while living a sin filled lifestyle. He was appointed by Rome, an Empire Jews did not care one bit for. Add to that he had been sent packing by the Parthians once before. Add to that, at that time the Jews were looking for a Messiah savior who would over through Rome and Herod and restore the Davidic Kingdom.

Now image you were Herod and along comes a military envoy with Parthian Magi looking for the King of the Jews. Mind you, the enemies of the Romans, the ones who put you on the throne, are asking to see the legitimate king. The Bible records Herod’s reaction, Matthew records that he was “disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3). The Greek word translated “disturbed” is etarachtha which means “to shake violently.” I think I might react the same way.

Knowing this I think you will get a different appreciation for the historical context of the biblical account and perhaps see how historical context makes the story deeper and richer. I think we now have an idea of why Herod felt threatened enough to kill all the children under two in Bethlehem.

Note: Legend has it that there were 3 wise men, but there is not historical record of how many. It is often offered that the number of 3 comes from the number of gifts they brought.

(RePost)

1. Get baptized by the craziest guy in town.
2. Say and do things that are guaranteed to make religious people want to kill you. Repeat again, and again, and again, and again, and again - don't stop unless forced.
3. Do amazing things for people and ask them to not tell anyone.
4. Hang out with the most despised, marginalized, looked down upon, and shunned people you can find.
5. When possible, forgive and restore people, even if they betrayed you.
6. Live in a way that provokes gossip.
7. Win the most grace competition.
8. Keep the party going.
9. Serve people (note: nose plugs may be required).
10. If you're sad cry.
11. Empower people to do the extraordinary.
12. Act like a rock star in a hotel temple.
13. Radically simplify theology.
14. Break human-made religious laws. Repeat consistently.
15. Prioritize the most important over the important.
16. Let women with "questionable" backgrounds pay your bills.

Is Jesus peripheral to your life or does He permeate your life? I am using these words advisedly, because I want to be precise in what I think is an important truth.

What is your goal in life? Think about it for a bit. Is your goal to get a good job, finish school, or simply have fun? Or do you seek to do God’s will in every aspect of your life? Do you only go to Church once or twice a year? What about your prayer life? Do you pray for others or yourself? Is Christ relevant in your life? In other words, does the fact that you have a relationship with Christ affect your life in any way? Think about what you spend your time on each day. How much time do you spend on a hobby, on sports, on TV, on video games, or on Facebook? Now compare that with the amount of time that you spend with God. Does it turn out that the amount of time you spend with God is relatively minor compared to other things in your life?

Dictonary.com defines peripheral as “concerned with relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question.”

If someone was to look at your life, would they say that Jesus is a relatively minor aspect of your life? Would they say that Jesus is irrelevant to your conduct and decisions?

Have you ever seen a diehard NASCAR fan? They will have stickers all over their cars like a NASCAR; they will watch all the races; they will have a Dale Earhart flag on their house, and they wear a Jeff Gordon jacket. What about a Raiders fan? They will paint their face, go to all the home games, and watch all the away games. They will buy silver and black cars and plaster a Raiders logo on the back windshield. How about a true Star Wars or Star Trek fan? They will dress up as that character, wait all night in line to see the next movie, buy all the collectable toys and trinkets, and maybe even speak Klingon.

You know the people I am talking about. Their fandom pervades and saturates every aspect of their lives. If there was a toilet seat cover with their favorite thing on it, they would buy it.

Dictonary.com defines permeate as “through every part of… to penetrate through… pervade; saturate.”

Is Jesus in every part of your life, or is Jesus more of just a Sunday thing?

Sidebar
One objection to my post might be that you do volunteer time or give money here or there. Those are for sure good things to do. However, ask yourself this, “Do I do these things for myself or to earn salvation or to get a pat on the back?” Or do you do them to bring glory to God?

I will admit that I don’t always volunteer to bring glory to God; often I want credit or praise for my deeds. I realize that I do that from time to time, and I also realize that I am wrong when I seek my own praise.

On my recent trip to Atlanta, Georgia, a friend and I were walking around exploring the city. Our walk took an unexpected turn when a Good Samaritan requesting spare change asked us if we were going to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. We had not planned to because, for some reason, I thought the memorial was in Alabama. I am not really even sure why I thought it was in Alabama. At any rate, we found out it was there and we decided it was a must-see. It seems that divine providence guided our path.

As I passed through what appeared to be a rundown part of town, we happened upon a pan handler whose only request was food. I always feel hesitant to help out aggressive pan handlers, especially when they open with the line, “Don’t worry, I ain’t going to mug you.” We know he would not be buying booze if we bought him the food rather than give him cash. We obliged his request and went to a little chicken restaurant and bought him food. He led us to the restaurant and, for that reason I did sense danger and was wary. I am in security and I was calculating my risk, continuously. However, with a little prayer and thinking thoughts like Matthew West's song "The Motions" or Josh Wilson's song "I Refuse," we proceeded to serve our fellow man, my neighbor.

After we completed the purchase, we left the restaurant and reentered the rundown neighborhood. In less than a block, the neighborhood changed dramatically. As I entered into the National Park and Preservation area I felt as if I was moving from hostility to a place of peace. The pot-holed, dirty streets and rundown buildings were replaced with well-trimmed lawns, maintained buildings and clean streets. The symbolism of that place and my soul were in sync.

We were exploring the grounds when I saw a very recognizable blue and white sign with the words Ebenezer Baptist Church. I couldn’t wait any longer; I eagerly made my way to the church. I was taken aback when I entered the church. It was such a humble place, simple and small. It had decorations such as stained glass however, the overriding aspect was functionality. It was a humble building that you might otherwise take as run-of-the-mill, yet this church was the epicenter for the civil-rights movement.

I walked into the church and took a seat on one of the pews. I sat there in quiet reflection. Yes, it is a simple building. Then, I realized it is not the building that made a difference, it was a man with a dream that made all the difference in the world. I sat that and wondered what it would have been like one Sunday morning listening to a man with a dream some said was too big.

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve… You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve… You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I realized this place and, more importantly, a poor preacher from Atlanta are significant to African American history, United States history and Church history. How many people can you say that about? I know Protestants don't have saints, but if they ever do, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. needs to be on the top of the list. I have to admit that I am happy to see that our government recognizes the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.

For me, I won’t forget the day I sat where he once preached the true Christian principles of love and peace instead of hate and revenge. When I see him in heaven someday, I will thank him for his service. He has inspired me, I hope he inspires you.

When we think about our Redeemer do we see Him as our Savior who gets us into heaven or do we see Him as the one who takes what is broken and uses it for ultimate good? Intellectually I have always agreed that it is more than a ticket to heaven but practically I did not know how that worked out in my own life. Recently at a men's retreat I get a fresh and vivid look out how Jesus does more than redeem me, He redeems my past. When Paul's tells us the God causes all things to work out for good for us (Rom 8:28) does he really mean it? I have things in my past, skeletons in the closet, which I thought were better of left buried in the past and forgotten. However, our Savoir wants to redeem those past events, mistakes, pains and our current troubles. He wants to turn them into good. God can use those incidents for good, redeeming the broken and using it for a good purpose that ultimately shows His glory.

We are not the only people on the planet who have had to deal with those same issues. People struggle with them all the time. The question is will we allow God to use our struggles to help others? If we allow Him to use our past failings to draw people to Him, He takes a bad situation and redeems it for good. If we sit back ignore or pretend everything is ok He can't redeem those situations.

Kenny Luck, the guest speaker at the men's retreat said, "no risk without loss, no loss without pain and no pain without purpose." It is the hard and narrow road. People may wonder why I would want to drudge up past. Especially mistakes or painful memories that most people think are better left deep and forgotten. This is a valid question. With mistakes and memories come the emotions that are tide to them. Avoid the pain, right? Our Redeemer will redeem those situations. Our Redeemer will see us through the loss and the pain and will ultimately show us the purpose. I would like to think my mistakes have a purpose other than my failure.

Opening ourselves up like this is a big risk. Are we willing to take the risk? Do we trust our Redeemer? Yes it is a leap of faith. I am ready to jump, hesitant but ready.

This is a continuation of my ongoing report. I recently decided to listen to the Bible in an effort to gain a closer relationship with God. I purposefully listen not with the intent to study. I have a hard time reading the Bible I just start looking things up and I don't make much progress. I am listening to the Bible Experience (http://www.inspiredby.com/) which is a dramatized NIV version with many famous African American leaders, singers, actors and artists. (Even Samuel L. Jackson) As I listen through the Bible, hopefully I will make it all the way through, I will post notes and thoughts I have.

 

 

I was in the car driving near Washington DC when on heard a statement on the radio that got me thinking. The statement was, 'You won't be at Peace if you are in rebellion against God.' That statement is one thing but it got me thinking does it also mean that if you don't have peace you are in rebellion against God and if you have peace you are not in rebellion against God?  

For those of you that are not Christian

Hey you get a day off or spring break. Maybe you have to work but little gets done. Plus, tomorrow is Saturday, so Friday is good. Or you may go out for drinks and get sloshed. However, Good Friday represents the sacrifice of love for you by the Creator of the Universe. I don't know if you noticed or have compared Christianity with any other religion. (Not that I would call Christianity a religion.) In no other religion do you have the supreme being sacrifice him or herself for you! All other religions consist of you working toward goodness, heaven, nirvana etc...

This is a continuation of my ongoing report. I recently decided to listen to the Bible in an effort to gain a closer relationship with God. I purposefully listen not with the intent to study. I have a hard time reading the Bible I just start looking things up and I don't make much progress. I am listening to the Bible Experience (http://www.inspiredby.com/) which is a dramatized NIV version with many famous African American leaders, singers, actors and artists. (Even Samuel L. Jackson) As I listen through the Bible, hopefully I will make it all the way through, I will post notes and thoughts I have.

What is Palm Sunday all about anyway? Many know it is the beginning of the holy week (passion week) but not the significance of what happened on the 10th of Nisan.

“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household." - NASB (Ex 12:3)

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord" - NASB (Lk 19:38 & Ps 118:26)

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” - NASB (Mt 21:4-5,Is 62:11; Zech 9:9)

"Amazing love, How can it be, That You, my King, would die for me?" - Chris Tomlin, 'Amazing Love'

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” - NASB (Lk 19:41-44)

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. - NASB (Zec 14:3-4)

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” - NASB (Re 19:11-16)

And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. - NASB (Zec 14:9)

 

This statement may be a surprise for most people. Christianity is not about you. That's right Christianity is not about you. Heck it's not about me either. I am not saying that God does not love you. He does love you individually. However the bad things that happen in your life are not always about you. Our ego, the thing that is responsible for most of the sin in our lives, does not want to hear that. We selfishly assume that if something bad happens in our lives it is about us. It might be, and it might not be about you. If you think it should be about you, that is your selfishness talking. 

Is the Christianity we have today what it was 2000 years ago? The barnacles of time have changed how we view Christianity. I have wanted to discuss this topic for some time now. I am just getting to the point where I am getting around to it.

"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” St. Augustine

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." NASB Galatians 5:1

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” NLT John 3:16-21

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus." ISV Romans 8:1

I was on FaceBook the other day trying to group my friends into some type of logical order. While I trying to figure out an easy way to group them, by the way the controls in FaceBook for grouping friends needs help, I can across Dave’s profile and under religious views, he has “Jesus has set me free from religion”.

 

I wonder, how many times in my life, I have missed an opportunity to do something good. I can remember times when an opportunity has presented itself and I remember rationalizing why I should not help or get involved. I think that I have become very adept at rationalizing why I should not help or get involved. I wish God would take my excuses away. I can remember at the time thinking I should have helped. Should of… I remember it happening all too often. I think I have become too comfortable with non-involvement.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

 

This is a continuation of my ongoing report. I recently decided to listen to the Bible in an effort to gain a closer relationship with God. I purposefully listen not with the intent to study. I have a hard time reading the Bible I just start looking things up and I don't make much progress. I am listening to the Bible Experience (http://www.inspiredby.com/) which is a dramatized NIV version with many famous African American leaders, singers, actors and artists. (Even Samuel L. Jackson) As I listen through the Bible, hopefully I will make it all the way through, I will post notes and thoughts I have.

"...severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out…" NASB (2 Ch 21:15)

"He also said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel. " NASB (2 Ch 35:3)

This is a continuation of my ongoing report. I recently decided to listen to the Bible in an effort to gain a closer relationship with God. I purposefully listen not with the intent to study. I have a hard time reading the Bible I just start looking things up and I don't make much progress. I am listening to the Bible Experience (http://www.inspiredby.com/) which is a dramatized NIV version with many famous African American leaders, singers, actors and artists. (Even Samuel L. Jackson) As I listen through the Bible, hopefully I will make it all the way through, I will post notes and thoughts I have.