1.  The Magi brought gifts for a King.

¹ 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.” . . . ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.   Matthew 2:1-2; 11 

 

-  Jesus is the Messiah, the King of Kings, and is due honor and worship from every person, Jew or Gentile.

 

2.  The Magi didn’t keep quiet about Christmas.

³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  Luke 19:38-40

 

- Worshippers will encounter two types of responses to Jesus this Christmas:  indifference and hostility.

 

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16

 

 

3.  The Magi gave expecting nothing in return.

 

-  Worshippers honor Jesus with sacrificial gifts. 

 

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”   Matthew 25:40

 

A Worshippers Guide to Giving Gifts:

• Give more than you expect to receive.

 

• Give out of love, not out of obligation.

⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  II Corinthians 9:7-8

 

• Give costly treasures money can’t buy.