1 Do you know people who think ahead in order to make provisions that will benefit others? Can you think of someone who anticipates into the future to create experiences for people or meet an anticipated need? My late grandmother would send savings bonds for my kids when they were very little to provide for a future education. That is human forethought. I have a friend who secretly and quietly raised money from others before my wedding and then on my wedding day presented a trip for Tan and I to Puerto Vallarta literally at our reception. That required forethought, to think ahead and in advance to provide something for someone else. Forethought means: careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future. Thoughtful provision ahead of time. Christmas displays the forethought of God. Before we knew we needed a Savior God was already planning that provision. We see the promises of provision way in advance and they have come to pass. Here is an initial glimpse at the forethought of God very early in scripture Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity, Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. Something bad was set into motion through the fall of the human race prompted by the devil. Unless other provision was made death would have the final say. Then God put His plan into motion as well, a plan of provision to accomplish what would be necessary. This was not God taking responsibility for something He caused. He is taking responsibility for something someone else caused. His forethought is undeserved, therefore it is gracious. It is a miraculous provision, the virgin birth is implied by the term her seed. Reproductive terms in Hebrew do not assign a seed to the woman. Jesus is from the seed of the woman who will then have a bruised heel but will cause a bruised head. Which one is worse? Injury or fatality? 1
2 The provision of a Savior, born in a manger thousands of years later would destroy the enmity. The authority of sin and death and the grave would lose it s dominion. God thought about our eternity long before we thought about it and made the provision because of His forethought. They were some unique people who were connected to the forethought of God. When the Gift arrived, some people, who had gone deep in their investigation of this arrival were not so surprised when it happened but longed to welcome and worship this provision. Matthew 2:1-3 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Evidence that the Gift of Christmas has been the plan of God since the beginning. The forethought of God! a). Magi They came from the east, Persian people, and probably were scholars of some kind. Traditionally thought to be from Babylon or Persia. Maybe from India too. Magi can mean magicians, scientists, astronomers, magistrates, leading educators or professors. Very respected and serving somewhat as ambassadors or representatives of the nation s royalty. There were more than 3 people and they probably did not ride donkeys but large war horses, the common transportation of Babylonians or Persians. With a support staff and a military escort. We know there were three types of gifts mentioned, but not exact number of magi. These were intelligent and well studied people. Possibly converted to the Jewish faith because of the influence of Daniel, Esther and Moerdecai. They seemed to know more about the Jewish faith than the Jewish people. The Jews and Herod were troubled by Jesus while the wisemen from the east worshipped Jesus. 2
3 b). Balaam We see this individual in the book of Numbers. A prophet from a city in Mesopotamia, in the east, which would be Babylon and then Persia. Same area as the magi. We may not have the Magi of Matthew if we didn t first have Balaam of Numbers. Balaam is where we first hear the mention of the Christmas star some 1400 years before the arrival of Christ. Balaam may have been the first Magi, or the founder of this order or group. Balaam was a prophet for hire, a distinguished man from his nation, maybe thought of as a magician or sorcerer, who was contracted by Balak, king of the Moabites, to bring curses upon Israel. As much as Balaam tried to curse Israel he could only conjure up blessings for this strange nomadic people whose God was very powerful. In this series of 4 divine proclamations we see the forethought of God once again. Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Balaam would take these messages back to his hometown and educate his own people. Balaam describes a star and a scepter. This prophecy would inspire the future magi of the Christmas story. The scepter, or ruling staff is given to the Tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah. Revelation 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. A ruler from Israel, from the tribe of Judah will be announced through the stars. This is the who (ruler), the where (Israel) and the how (star) but what about the when? c). Daniel - How does Daniel intertwine with the forethought of God. He brings in the when. Daniel was in captivity and became a respected Jewish figure in the Persia/Babylonian empire. 3
4 He predicted the Gift of Christmas as well, some 500 years before Christ, 900 years after Balaam. Daniel 9:25 Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven sevens, and sixty-two sevens. This accurate timetable predicts the birth and life of Christ correctly. The prophecies of Daniel would have been circulated in the Babylonian culture and studied by scholars of that society. Again it proves God s forethought and His love for all nations. He ensured some type of revelation of His plan amongst the people that took Israel captive. These Persian Magi lived during the end of those 500 years Daniel spoke of (490 to be exact). It took some forethought of God for all of this to come together. d). His star The prophecy about this star would inspire intense study of stars and constellations in Persia during this time. They had identified constellations that symbolized bible themes and Messianic prophecies. A constellation is a picture designed by the arrangements of stars that represented something important to the people. The bible speaks of constellations. Job 9:9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades? There is the Virgo and Leo constellations, etc. Much debate has surrounded this so-called star. Was it a star? Was it a comet? Was it angels? Was it some miraculous light God provided that looked like a star? Was it a nova or supernova? A supernova is the death of a star that produces a temporary but brilliant bright light in the sky. There are a number of theories: It was a comet. Possibly It was a nova or supernova. Possibly. It simply was a miraculous light God inserted. Possibly. 4
5 There were a number of astronomical events around 3 to 2 BC that are extraordinary: Sept. 14th 3 BC - The King or Father planet Jupiter converged with the ruler star Regulus, known as the Messiah star, as it appeared within the constellation Leo (i.e. Lion, Jesus is known as the Lion of the tribe of Judah). This would have been very unusual/rare and difficult to spot unless you were looking for it. Which the wisemen were. This appeared in the East. we have seen His star in the east. June 17, 2 BC 8 months later, time enough to pack and prepare an expedition. Jupiter as it traveled west, was now in a conjunction with Venus known as the Mother planet, a rare and spectacular appearance, in a bright display in the west, looking like a single double star. It would be seen in the west, drawing their attention to Judea. This also occurred in the constellation of Leo. December 25, 2 BC 6 months later, now in Jerusalem, Jupiter was positioned within the abdomen area of the constellation Virgo, meaning virgin and became stationary. Matthew 2:9 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. At the time for the Magi s pre-dawn observations, Jupiter would have been seen in meridian position (directly over Bethlehem) at an elevation of 68 degrees above the southern horizon. This is not when he was born but would have been the time when the gifts of the Magi were given to the young Jesus. Very interesting forethought and planning would need to be made for all of this to come together. Christmas is not a fairy tale, a bed time story, an allegory, a fictional metaphor, it is real, it happened and was predicted long before. How does that effect us today? Personal observations: 1. God is committed to providing. He said He would do it and He did it. 5
6 Why are people so committed and can be trusted? It comes down to love. Someone motivated by intense love will do whatever it takes for the person they love. Watch a Mom protect a child in peril! God has a perfect and intense love for you and that is why He is committed to you. The promise of a deliver and a Savior is woven throughout all of scripture and throughout all of history, and Christmas reveals the one and only begotten Son. He has thought of you in advance. That is why the words plan, predestined, reserved and in advance are in the bible. I spent some time being lost. I don t mean in a car while driving. No life compass, no direction, no higher purpose. No belief, no acknowledgement of God! I lived a lost life. Very much in darkness. Then I learned there is a God, the Father and He loves me, knows me and has a plan for me. A light turned on. Completely turned me upside down, or right side up. My life mattered, I had purpose, everything now has meaning, and there is an eternal destiny. Because everything had meaning everything mattered and God was with me to help me live my true purpose. I have doubts in life, but here is one I don t have. His love for me! That I never doubt. And I don t doubt His love for you. Every person we bump into is intensely and perfectly loved by God. God has revealed Himself to the world and proven Himself to the world, if only the world would look and listen and see what a great Heavenly Father there is. Are you lost? You don t have to be. 2. The nature of the Gift of Christmas A savior. Jesus is the personal provision of God for you. God provided His Son but what type of Son would he be? A Savior! Christmas is not a message about helping ourselves. This is not a message that we have the light inside of us. Christmas is not a self help inspirational program. We are in need, everyone. 6
7 We need forgiveness of sins and we need an advocate against death and the devil. We need the Spirit to empower and awaken us. I know Jesus is a baby, but He grew up to be Lord. We need a Savior and a Lord. Joseph was not allowed to name his son. The angel told Joseph, you shall call him Jesus! He named all the rest of his children but not Jesus. In biblical days it was the honor and priviledge of the father to name his children. Remember how Adam named all the living creatures? It implied his authority over his family and over his domain. However this Gift was different. Joseph would not have authority over this Jesus, he would not manage or control this child, it was the other way around. Jesus is an interesting type of gift. Many gifts are designed to be pleasing, entertaining, decorative. The end result everyone is happy. What about gifts that make you think a little more. A gift you really need, those can actually be a little embarrassing. 12 free sessions on anger management at the local counseling office. A vacuum cleaner and house cleaning supplies. Or a case of mouthwash. The nature of the gift tells us the nature of our need. We need a Savior and God came through. The Jewish people wanted a political revolutionary, so they could be in direct authority. Instead God gave them a spotless lamb who would be slain on their behalf. When is the last time you have bowed down before Jesus? Maybe you have never bowed down to anything or anyone. Have you willingly placed yourself under His authority and Lordship? At some point to humble yourself and bow, not in a ritualistic way but a s a lifestyle conviction. That is what Christmas is all about, His authority. It takes courage to admit you need a Savior, because it takes courage to admit you re a sinner. 3. Our response determines the impact. The response of people to the Gift of Christmas. Jesus evoked strong reactions. One way or the other. 7
8 Which reminds me of a verse. Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. I always wondered why lukewarm was not better than cold. Cold and hot have something in common. They both see Jesus as a King. Lukewarm is the revision, recreation of Jesus into some secondary optional counselor or advice giver. Lukewarm is not a strong reaction. It is a measured and controlled or half hearted response. It is not the type of response you would want for a king Cold He is a Threat to your control. Herod saw Jesus as a King and a threat to his influence and control. People will be cold to Jesus because they don t want to give over their lives, and they understand to some degree that is what is required. Lukewarm He is an Advisor to help us reach our goal. This is when we create Jesus in our image and it usually looks like a consultant to our success. We look at Jesus as if He is on a retainer. He is an employee we utilize occasionally when we need something unique. We look to Jesus for advice on something to do to keep us going in the direction we want. Hot He is a King to be worshipped and followed. This is recognizing who Jesus is, what He invites us to and overjoyed to say yes, no matter what. This is the best response to the Gift of Jesus. The Magi traveled miles, bearing gifts, to worship Him. They were not troubled like Herod but adoration filled their hearts. 8