The Magi: Christmas Perfect
Pastor Tim discusses the story of the Magi as part of a sermon series on God’s perfect plan during the Christmas season. He clarifies common misconceptions by noting that the wise men arrived well after the birth of Jesus and that their exact number is unknown. The text contrasts the intellectual worship of the Magi with the paranoia of King Herod, who viewed the new King as a threat to his personal power. Through the symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the sermon illustrates Jesus’ identity as King, Priest, and Sacrifice. Ultimately, the message encourages listeners to surrender their own desire for control and trust in the eternal authority of Christ.
Deep Dive Podcast
Study Guide: The Magi and God's Perfect Plan
This study guide is designed to review the key themes, figures, and theological concepts presented in a sermon from a Christmas sermon series focused on "God's perfect plan." The sermon, delivered by Pastor Tim, analyzes the biblical account of the Magi from Matthew chapter two.
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Quiz: Short-Answer Questions
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 complete sentences, drawing your information directly from the provided sermon context.
What are two common misconceptions about the Magi that the sermon seeks to correct?
What is the literal meaning of the name "Bethlehem," and how does the sermon connect this to Jesus's identity?
Based on the sermon, provide a brief character description of King Herod.
Who were the Magi, according to the pastor's description of their background and expertise?
What argument does the sermon make about the relationship between intellectual pursuits and Christian faith, using the Magi as an initial example?
Explain the concept of "subversive fulfillment" and how it applies to Jesus's role as king.
Why was King Herod "disturbed" by the Magi's arrival, and what was the immediate effect on the city of Jerusalem?
What is the primary contrast the sermon draws between how Herod and the Magi viewed Jesus?
According to the sermon, what is the symbolic significance of each of the three gifts the Magi presented to the child Jesus?
Briefly summarize the C.S. Lewis analogy about salt and explain how it relates to submitting one's life to Christ.
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Answer Key
The sermon corrects two common misconceptions about the Magi. First, they were not present at the birth of Jesus in the manger but arrived later, possibly weeks or even years afterward. Second, while it is often assumed there were three Magi because of the three gifts, the text does not specify a number; there could have been two, seventeen, or any other number.
The name "Bethlehem" means "house of bread." The sermon connects this to Jesus's identity by referencing John chapter six, where Jesus calls himself the "Bread of Life," highlighting the perfection of God's plan in having the Bread of Life born in the house of bread.
King Herod is described as a cruel, terrible, and fierce ruler with some Jewish heritage. He was deeply paranoid about threats to his power, to the extent that historians say he killed some of his own family members whom he suspected of planning revolts.
The Magi were learned scholars from the East, likely from the Persian or Babylonian Empire (modern-day Iran or Iraq). They were experts in the science of their day, studying astrology and astronomy, and were also deeply spiritual people who practiced magic.
The sermon argues that intellectual pursuits and Christian faith are not at odds with one another. It uses the Magi as an example of learned people who pursued Christ and points to a long history of deep intellectuals and great minds—from Augustine and Aquinas to modern philosophers like William Lane Craig and Alvin Plantinga—who have been devout followers of Jesus.
"Subversive fulfillment" is the concept that Jesus fulfills his purposes in an unexpected, "upside down kingdom" manner. He came not just as an earthly political king, which was the common expectation, but as an eternal king whose path to ruling over everything would first go through the cross.
King Herod was disturbed because he saw the birth of a "King of the Jews" as a direct threat to his political power, which he loved and did not want to lose. The sermon notes that when Herod was disturbed, "all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him," indicating that the entire city felt the anxiety of their iron-fisted ruler being upset.
The sermon presents a stark contrast in their views of Jesus: Herod sees Jesus as a threat to his happiness and power, something to be eliminated. The Magi, in contrast, see Jesus as the source of happiness and are willing to travel a great distance to find and worship him.
The gifts symbolically align with Jesus's identity: gold was a common tribute for a king; frankincense, used as incense by priests in the sacrificial system, points to Jesus's role as the great high priest; and myrrh, a spice used in preparing bodies for burial, foreshadows that this king-priest would die.
The C.S. Lewis analogy compares submitting to Christ with salt. Tasting straight salt is a bitter and overwhelming experience, but when added to food in the right amount, it brings the flavor to life. Similarly, while one might think that giving up power to Christ will be a bitter thing, it is in that submission that the "flavor" of our souls comes to life and we find what it means to truly be alive.
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Essay Questions
Instructions: The following questions are designed for deeper reflection and essay-style responses. Formulate a comprehensive answer for each, synthesizing concepts and evidence presented throughout the sermon.
Analyze the sermon's central theme of "God's perfect plan." How is this theme illustrated through the details of the Magi's visit, including the location of Jesus's birth, the character of King Herod, and the symbolic nature of the gifts?
Contrast the characters of King Herod and the Magi. How do their motivations, fears, and ultimate actions represent two fundamentally different human responses to the authority of Jesus, both then and now?
The sermon makes a strong case that faith and intellectualism are compatible. Summarize the evidence presented—from the ancient Magi to modern philosophers—and discuss the significance of this argument in countering the cultural idea that one must "give up your mind" to be a follower of Christ.
Define and explore the concept of "subversive fulfillment" as explained in the sermon. How does this idea challenge conventional understandings of power, kingship, and political influence, and what does it reveal about the nature of Jesus's eternal kingdom?
The sermon poses the introspective challenge: "Do I see Jesus as a threat to my happiness?" Using the sermon's discussion of power, Herod's paranoia, and C.S. Lewis's salt analogy, explain the deep spiritual work this question requires and the promise that lies in surrendering control to Jesus.
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Glossary of Key Terms
Term / Name
Definition from Source Context
Advent
A season related to Christmas; the sermon is part of an "advent sermon series."
Alvin Plantinga
A great philosopher, well-known and respected within the philosophical community, and a follower of Jesus.
Aquinas
A great philosopher from history who was a follower of Jesus and a deep intellectual.
Astrology/Astronomy
Fields of study in which the Magi were experts.
Augustine
A great philosopher from history who was a follower of Jesus and a deep intellectual.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
A contemporary woman who recently came to faith after being a devout atheist, stating she could no longer argue with the evidence. She participates in lectures and platforms with figures like Richard Dawkins.
Bethlehem
The town in Judea where Jesus was born. Its name means "house of bread."
C.S. Lewis
Author of an analogy about salt, used to illustrate how submitting one's life to the authority of Christ, while seemingly bitter, actually brings the "flavor" of one's soul to life.
Dr. William Lane Craig
A devout follower of Jesus ranked number 11 on a list of the top 50 most influential philosophers alive today.
Frankincense
One of the three gifts brought by the Magi. As an incense used by priests in the sacrificial system, it symbolizes Jesus's role as the great high priest.
Gold
One of the three gifts brought by the Magi. As a common tribute brought to royalty, it symbolizes Jesus's identity as a king.
High Priest
The one who would intercede between humans and God. The book of Hebrews identifies Jesus as the greatest high priest.
Incarnation
The event that God's perfect plan led to in Jesus.
J.P. Moreland
A devout follower of Jesus who was on the list of the top 50 most influential philosophers alive today.
Judea
The region where Bethlehem is located.
King Herod
The ruler in Judea at the time of Jesus's birth. Described as a terrible, cruel, and fierce leader who was paranoid about threats to his power and viewed Jesus as a threat to be destroyed.
Magi
Also called the wise men, they were learned scholars and spiritual people from the East (likely the Persian or Babylonian Empire) who studied astrology and astronomy. They followed a star to find and worship Jesus after his birth.
Matthew Chapter Two
The chapter in the Gospel of Matthew that contains the biblical account of the Magi's visit.
Micah Chapter Five
A book in the Old Testament containing a prophecy, written 700 years before Jesus's birth, that a ruler who will shepherd Israel would come from Bethlehem.
Myrrh
One of the three gifts brought by the Magi. A fragrant spice often used in preparing a body for burial, it symbolizes that the king-priest would die.
Peter Kreeft
A philosopher at Boston College, described as a great thinker and a person of deep faith who passed away a little while ago. (Note: Spelled "Craft" in the transcript).
Richard Dawkins
One of the most renowned atheists of our day.
Richard Swinburne
A contemporary thinker described as a person of growing and deep faith.
Subversive Fulfillment
The concept that Jesus fulfills his purposes in an unexpected, "upside down kingdom" way, different from what one would expect. For example, he is an eternal king, but his path to ruling first went to the cross.
Suetonius
A Roman historian who wrote that around the time of Jesus's birth, there was an established belief in the Orient that men coming from Judea were fated to rule the world.
