Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview. This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “A Regal Response to Holy Light” and is found in Matthew 2:7-15.
Jupiter and Saturn are the largest planets in our solar system. On or about December 21 of this year, they will be the closest to each other as they ever are. When this very rare event happens, those of us on earth can see them in the sky in what appears to be a special light or star in the heavens.
The last time they were this visible according to astronomers was almost 800 years ago. Some say this phenomenon could have been the “Christmas Light or Star” mentioned in the bible that appeared when Jesus was born.
Today’s lesson is about what the bible called a “star” that certain men called “magi or magos” followed to locate Jesus. The lesson title refers to them as “regal” and in some Christian traditions they are referred to as kings. There is even a song called “We Three Kings of Orient” we often sing about them.
But the word used in the bible to describe them doesn’t mean “king” nor does it give the number of them. The number three was mostly likely arrived at because the bible mentions three gifts that they presented to the child. But this does not in any way definitively mean there were only three magi.
The lesson title uses the word “regal”. Regal implies royalty, majesty or something related to a monarchy. However, the word magi is more closely related to magicians, wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers and the like. In fact, it is the same word used to describe those who asked Paul to sell them the power of the Holy Ghost in Acts 13:6-8. So, there is not anything really “regal” that would properly characterize them.
But they were men of inquiry and wanted to find out the meaning of the “star” they saw and followed it to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. They sought help to locate the newborn child who they called “King of the Jews” from the king Herod in Jerusalem. The king couldn’t help them, but told them to let him know where to find him if they locate him.
Exactly how the “star” appeared and led them to Jesus is a mystery. Nevertheless, by following the star they found Him and presented Him with their gifts and returned without revealing the location to the king after being warned not to by God in a dream.
Through another dream, an angel instructed Joseph to flee to Egypt to escaped those who wanted to kill Jesus which also fulfilled a prophesy concerning Jesus. The family stayed in Egypt until it was safe to return to Nazareth. Yes, the response was indeed “regal” but not because of the magi, but because of Jesus who was born to be King of Kings and Lord or Lords.
Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday. Invite someone to come and share your thoughts with the class. Sunday School at Flag Branch will begin at 9:00 am and you are invited to join us at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link.
I look forward to giving the lesson highlights and addressing questions that arose during the lesson. If you have any comments or questions before then, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview and I will get back to you. So, as always remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
