View Full Version : For the season
Doug64
12-19-2005, 11:52 AM
Three gifts the wise men brought. The idea that there were three of them
comes from the gifts, not the number of kings. They brought gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh. Of these gifts, two were fit for royalty, but
the third was a bitter omen. In Jesus' day, bodies were wrapped in myrrh for
burial.
Myrrh's pungent odor neutralized the smell of decomposing flesh. Thus,
even the gifts that were brought to the Christ child announced His ultimate
purpose. This was not some cruel joke; the wise men understood why this
king had come.
Death is usually the furthest thing from anyone's mind upon a baby's
birth. Someone who would even bring up the subject would be thought of as
unkind, insensitive and unfit to join in the celebration. And yet these wise
men had traveled long and far to see this child and bestow these gifts upon Him.
These gifts were not randomly chosen. They knew this was to be no
ordinary life and no ordinary death.
This life embraced its bleak destiny from the beginning. Christ came to
serve, but His death was the ultimate act of service. The scripture
says He became "obedient unto death, even death on a cross"
Philippians 2:8). That word "obedient" implies servitude. It is expected
that servants will be obedient; otherwise you would never hire them.
Jesus was sent by His Father to die for the sins of the world, and he went
willingly.
Suddenly that difficult thing God is asking you to be obedient to is a
small thing compared to Christ's assignment. Christ took it all the way to the
cross, and sweat drops of blood over it in the garden the night before
as he fought with himself over his obedience. He knew this was required of
Him; He just didn't know how hard it was going to be until He got there and
faced it head-on.
With all of this ahead for the little Christ child, it makes you
realize how wise these wise men really were.
A lot wiser than we give them credit for. They knew enough to strike
out on this mysterious journey that most likely took a number of years to
complete.
They knew enough to know that the child would be a king.
But they also knew that it would be in the stone-cold grip of the grave
that this child's greatest work would be accomplished.
Thank goodness He stayed obedient to the end. Our lives would have been
hopeless otherwise.
Author Unknown.
Very thought-provoking, Doug...thanks for sharing...
Jerry
12-19-2005, 02:26 PM
They knew enough to strike
out on this mysterious journey that most likely took a number of years to
complete.
Just an interesting sidebar,,,,,,,,,,,,Christ was about 3 or 4 years old when the "Wise" men arrived :D
Love Jerry
mstar
12-19-2005, 03:58 PM
Good article, Doug, thanks for sharing. Interesting point Jerry.
Willow
12-19-2005, 05:15 PM
Just an interesting sidebar,,,,,,,,,,,,Christ was about 3 or 4 years old when the "Wise" men arrived :D
Love Jerry
Yah... and he was most likelly born in September than December!
Great thought for the day.... thanks Doug!
Satscout
12-20-2005, 12:03 AM
Yah... and he was most likelly born in September than December!
Great thought for the day.... thanks Doug!
*scratches head* I always figured He was born in the spring during lambing season... while the shepherds were out watching their flocks by night... *shrug* But definitely NOT December.
ex-shep
12-20-2005, 12:32 AM
Actually an associate pastor at a church I left actually gave an interesting and mildly humourous exposition of the Three Kings.
http://www.webcasting.com/fumc/service.htm
Scroll to sermon of January 5, 2005 What Gifts to Bring
Dial up users will need to refer to audio only links. Interesting overview of the topic. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Janice
12-20-2005, 02:31 AM
Thanks Doug! That was great!
*scratches head* I always figured He was born in the spring during lambing season... while the shepherds were out watching their flocks by night... *shrug* But definitely NOT December.
I've heard both...spring or fall. The reason some people believe the fall is because the people were having to go to their ancestral homes for the census for the collection of taxes. In an agricultural society, the most appropriate time to collect taxes would be right after the harvest. Also, some believe that he was born around the Feast of Tabernacles because the FoT represented God's presence with His people. Jesus was crucified during Passover and God sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, so it does seem feasible that Jesus was born at the Feast of Tabernacles time. But you're right, it definitely was not December! :)
Jerry
12-20-2005, 07:46 AM
I've heard both...spring or fall. The reason some people believe the fall is because the people were having to go to their ancestral homes for the census for the collection of taxes. In an agricultural society, the most appropriate time to collect taxes would be right after the harvest. Also, some believe that he was born around the Feast of Tabernacles because the FoT represented God's presence with His people. Jesus was crucified during Passover and God sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, so it does seem feasible that Jesus was born at the Feast of Tabernacles time. But you're right, it definitely was not December! :)
If you count from when John The Baptists father served his Temple Duty and Marys visit to her cousin,,,Christ was concieved in December and born in September,,,,,,,,,Points to consider;September events = Feast of Tabernacles,Yom-Kipur(The Day of Atonement) ,,,,Hebrew Oral Tradition is recounted through Biblical Astrology.Sept.is the month of Virgo,the sign of the vergin.Note;It was later just bebore Christs time and during His life that Bblical Astrology was perverted by the introduction of Pagan lore by the "Hellenists".Biblical Astrological study is what induced the "Wise" men to journey to acknowledge Christ ;) ...........So what is celibrated in December is "Christs Conception"(God made Flesh),certinly an event to remember ,and a cause for celibration :D
Love Jerry
Willow
12-20-2005, 08:21 AM
I've heard both...spring or fall.
Actually... I had heard both too...
Willow
12-20-2005, 08:23 AM
...........So what is celibrated in December is "Christs Conception"(God made Flesh),certinly an event to remember ,and a cause for celibration :D
Love Jerry
Hey... I can deal with that!
ex-shep
12-20-2005, 11:24 AM
Hey... I can deal with that!
An Assembly of God pastor actually covered the dating problem.
After he surmised all the dating theories, "but bring on the egg nog, I like this time of year".
I have also read The Trouble with Christmas. If we did not have Thomas Nast or Charles Dickens, we would not be in this mess.
My wife and I joke about this time of year being the Winter Solstace shopping season and Isaac Newton's birthday.
My favorite store this time of year is Target. They have minimal decorations and little or no seasonal piped music. It is very relaxing.
Thank goodness I can be holiday optional.
Ok, I am off my soapbox. Had to vent.
My favorite store this time of year is Target. They have minimal decorations and little or no seasonal piped music. It is very relaxing.
Thank goodness I can be holiday optional.
Ok, I am off my soapbox. Had to vent.
Isn't Target one of the stores that's gotten so much flack for not saying "Merry Christmas"? :p I was just in there on Friday shopping!
I've had my issues with Christmas over the last several years (even before we went to our former "church"). This year I've just decided to enjoy the season, enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, and enjoy the decorations and LIGHTS (I do love the lights!!!). I've relaxed and allowed myself some fun and I've lightened up over the subject.
Gwen
If you count from when John The Baptists father served his Temple Duty and Marys visit to her cousin,,,Christ was concieved in December and born in September,,,,,,,,,Points to consider;September events = Feast of Tabernacles,Yom-Kipur(The Day of Atonement) ,,,,Hebrew Oral Tradition is recounted through Biblical Astrology.Sept.is the month of Virgo,the sign of the vergin.Note;It was later just bebore Christs time and during His life that Bblical Astrology was perverted by the introduction of Pagan lore by the "Hellenists".Biblical Astrological study is what induced the "Wise" men to journey to acknowledge Christ ;) ...........So what is celibrated in December is "Christs Conception"(God made Flesh),certinly an event to remember ,and a cause for celibration :D
Love Jerry
Yes, conception is a time of celebration!
Years ago, I went to a planetarium presentation about the Christmas star. It was very interesting because we get this idea that this star was a bright star for everyone to see. But actually it wasn't that way at all. The wise men were actually astrologers who studied the stars. To them the stars held messages in them for mankind. The program presenters said that the particular star that they followed may have actually been a planet. They explained the details of how the wise men would have known that the star was announcing the birth of a king of the Jews. I don't remember all that they said, but I thought it was very interesting.
Another thing that I've heard was that Jesus was probably around 2 years old when the wise men found him, due to the fact that that Herod had the soldiers kill all of the baby boys 2 years old and under.
truth
12-20-2005, 01:09 PM
This year I've just decided to enjoy the season, enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, and enjoy the decorations and LIGHTS (I do love the lights!!!). I've relaxed and allowed myself some fun and I've lightened up over the subject.
Gwen
Thank you for saying that, I noticed that I was doing that too this year, it's good to hear someone else say that !
Thank you for saying that, I noticed that I was doing that too this year, it's good to hear someone else say that !
I'm glad that you're enjoying the season too! :)
ex-shep
12-20-2005, 10:19 PM
Isn't Target one of the stores that's gotten so much flack for not saying "Merry Christmas"? :p I was just in there on Friday shopping!
I've had my issues with Christmas over the last several years (even before we went to our former "church"). This year I've just decided to enjoy the season, enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, and enjoy the decorations and LIGHTS (I do love the lights!!!). I've relaxed and allowed myself some fun and I've lightened up over the subject.
Gwen
Some years are better than others. My wife and I do not have kids, so we can ignore it if we want. The cats wear bells for the season. We might buy some eggnog or a pecan pie, but that is the extent of it. Of course it is tradition as soon as the clock strikes midnight at New Years, the cats get their first bath of the year.
Janice
12-21-2005, 02:17 AM
[I][QUOTE=gwen]Isn't Target one of the stores that's gotten so much flack for not saying "Merry Christmas"? :p I was just in there on Friday shopping!
LOL this reminded me of an email I got this morning:
BUYING CHRISTMAS STAMPS
A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas
cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The woman says, "God help us. Has it come to this?
Give me 6 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists." :D
LOL this reminded me of an email I got this morning:
BUYING CHRISTMAS STAMPS
A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas
cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The woman says, "God help us. Has it come to this?
Give me 6 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists." :D
LOL! That's a good one!
ex-shep
12-21-2005, 01:28 PM
[I][QUOTE=gwen]Isn't Target one of the stores that's gotten so much flack for not saying "Merry Christmas"? :p I was just in there on Friday shopping!
LOL this reminded me of an email I got this morning:
BUYING CHRISTMAS STAMPS
A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas
cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The woman says, "God help us. Has it come to this?
Give me 6 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists." :D
How about my attempt to a Hanukah card for a Jewish friend in High School I went to Sacketts Card shop in Providence in 1974 and this happened
Clerk: How may I help you, sir
Shep: I need a Hanukah card for a friend.
Clerk: Do you want Orthodox, Conservative, or liberal?
Shep: Well what's the difference?
Clerk: Orthodox has messages in Russian, Hebrew, or Yiddish. Conservative is English with Hanukah greetings.
Shep: What is liberal?
Clerk: Seasons Greetings.
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