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this light shilike fragile c. This makes God, not fro4:7 (NLT)

apanese art

his was a bron’t matter ved to it once ery and, usii, carefully reo a lacquer more beaut

cracks, the griefs and trsome amonWe don’t haside. We canthem and plo turn them

maged andlight.  

hining in our clay jars contes it clear thaom ourselves

t form, Kints

oken tea boery much. W it did. An ang a Japaneepaired them and made ttiful than it w

let-downs aagedies tha

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therefore

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9

 

 

ThGofai Bib Key Int

MaMamewisastkincenhomparMa Ba

Suralmrepas ttimfromto athemobec Butappfaithopthegiftof bCatbe namnex Theimaas tfromeveis ta g

hird Sundaold, frankith

ble passage

ywords: beli

roduction

atthew’s Gosagi. Their nuethod of trave Magi (learologers) frog, a baby wnturies. Whymes, faiths articular giftsagi give an a

ckground

rprisingly, eamost entirelypresent the jothey passed

me passed anm tombs to appear abovese later narosaic of colocome grand

t the originapeared in toth’s understape, of a joure first to beliets of frankincbodily resurrtacomb of Pread: ‘Seveme) may yoxt to these w

e early Chrisages becaustheir own: frm overwhelmery believer’sheir gift to t

gift of faith, a

ay of Advincense a

e: Matthew

ef, faith, wo

spel is the oumber is unkvel. Matthewders, from h

om the East whose birth hy did these mand countrie? The first canswer: belie

arly Christiay focused onourney of fa

d from life tond Christian large publicve ground inrative pictur

our, their ageer.

al representaombs and heanding of thrney beyondeve in Jesuscense and mrection for aPriscilla, the era in Deo vivu live in God

words.

stians decorse they recorom pagan ming death s path and the early Cha gift of beli

vent and myrrh

w 2:9-11

orship

nly one thatknown and sw 2 tells us thonoured fa searching fhad been fomen journeyes? Why brincentury’s imaef.

n art of Jesun the Magi. aith for the fo a heavenlyity grew, thic spaces. Thn church bares, their robes change, t

ations of theere they spehe nativity: ad death. Thes as the Mesmyrrh point all who belie following inivas’ – Severd. Images o

rated tombs gnised the Morigins to C to eternal lithe Magi ledristians, andief.

h—gifts of

t mentions tso is their he story of

amilies and or a Messiaretold for

y from their ng these ages of the

us’ nativity isIn tombs thefirst Christiany afterlife. Ass art moved

he Magi begsilicas. In bes flow in atheir gifts

e Magi ak of a newa message oe Magi weressiah. Their to the prom

eve. In the nscription cara (a personof the Magi a

with Magi Magi’s journhristian beliife. This is d the way. Td to us today

f

the

h

s ey ns s

d gan

a

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mise

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ney ef,

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Pu

Th

Thwethr11 Thin evhawhthe Thin pestadeto Fo

YeMa ThprosesethewaBetheJesanOnonwothi ThdoroutelJuof

urpose

he Magi cho gold to

divine frankin

divine myrrh—

hese carefullere the first trough the re:1-2 describ

he fundamen God, this faverything thaandle on whahat distingui

he crowd. (M

he Magi had a child Meserhaps throuar that led theath would le them: faith

ocus

et, overcomeatthew 2:11

he Greek woroskuneo. Thrvant to a mrving his maey journey fraiting, to Heethlehem. Wem not to resus in his te

n indicator thnly they counly they coulorshipped; ois child king

he fact that to not return ute they tooling and retst like the sh his birth, th

ose their giftso honour a k ncense—a p —to anoint

ly chosen gifto glimpse tesurrection obes faith this

ental fact of eaith, is the fiat makes lifehat we can’t ished our an

MSG).

d to journey ssiah king. Sgh their stuhem, they knead to life. A.

e, they knee (MSG)

ord for worshhis word ind

master. Its Gaster. The Mrom their hoerod’s Jerusa

We have theieturn to Jerumporary Bethat they areld have toldd have desc

only they cou.

they listen toto Herod su

ok home hadtelling of thehepherds whey would be

s in faith: king—both

priestly offer

in death.

ifts indicate the promise of the body.s way:

existence is firm foundatie worth livingt see. The acncestors, set

by, in and wSomehow, sodies, perhapnew that thiAnd that wa

eled and wor

hip in Matthicates the rereek root de

Magi’s faith iomes after yalem and finr story of a d

usalem afterethlehem shee on a journed others abocribed how tuld have told

o the angel’uggests that d to be fillede events theyho visit Jesue compelled

earthly and

ring to the

that the Ma of eternal li Hebrews

that this trution under g. It’s our ct of faith is t them abov

with their faiomeway, ps through tis Messiah’sas a child’s g

orshipped him

hew 2:11 is elationship oescribes a doincreases asyears of nally to dream warnr they worshelter/home aey of faith.

out their dreathey d others abo

’s warning a the alternatd with the y’d witnesses on the nig

d to speak

10

agi ife

ust

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ith

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m.

of a og s

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aboWhtheaskdid Butthechawokin Clo

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Theas newjounotpur

out all they’dhy? First, bece people of tk: What did the star lea

t, second, ae truth, the Manged forevership and hog.

osing conne

intentional ts of gold, frt possibly haell the story y practical fypt: easy to rter; and a shomeless fas with them

t, as mentiombolic and pultiple roles og) and to Je

e women brius’ resurrec

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edict. Just be

allenge/ad

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Does yopassion

Think bTo who

Take soand coneededyear to

d seen whencause after ttheir commuyou see? W

ad?

nd more imMessiah Kiner. They hadow their gift

ection

as the Magirankincense ave known h of their giftsfor a family stransport; ri

sign of encoamily with a on their jou

ned above, point beyondof the child esus’ death ang, needles

ction.

ve they couldts of their gerney of geneme rich in welieve and g

ditional res

e purposeful as an expresiah. Nothin

he distance; e home of thassion.

our giving ren?

back over yoom and how

ome time anonsider whatd to re-energ come, in lin

n they returnthe Magi’s lunity would

What did you

portantly, thg, and they d to tell theits would serv

i were in cho and myrrh,

how we wous today. Thesoon to go iich in value

ouragement young childurney.

these gifts ad the practicMessiah (prand the anosly, to the to

d not have kenerosity. Therosity for a

ways you canive.

sources

l about theiression of theng stopped t not an evil his child kin

eflect such p

our giving inw much have

nd list themt changes mgise your givne with God

ned home. long journeyhave had to hear? Whe

hey had see were ir story of ve a child

oosing their they could ld continue ese gifts werinto exile in for resell or to a soon tod that God

are also cal to both triest, propheointing gifts omb after

known the fheir journeyll of us todan never

r gifts, as weeir faith in ththem on theKing Herod;g. They had

purpose and

n the last yeae you given?

. Then praymight be ving for the d’s purposes

y o re

n

r to re r o

the et,

far-y ay:

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d

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ptional poem

cold cominst the worst

or a journey,he ways deehe very deadnd the cameing down in

here were timhe summer pnd the silkenhen the camnd running aomen, nd the nightelters,

nd the cities nd the villaghard time w the end weeeping in snith the voice

hat this was

hen at dawnlley, et, below thith a runnin

arkness, nd three treend an old wheadow. hen we cametel, x hands at aver, nd feet kickiut there was nd arrived atnding the pl

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nd death, ut had thougard and bittee returned t

ut no longer ith an alien hould be gla

m by T.S Eli

g we had of time of the and such ap and the w

d of winter.’ els galled, so the melting

mes we regrpalaces on sn girls bringi

mel men cursaway, and w

-fires going

hostile and es dirty and

we had of it. e preferred toatches,

es singing inall folly.

we came d

e snow line,g stream an

es on the lowhite horse ga

e to a tavern

an open doo

ng the empt no informat evening, nace; it was (

long time ago it again, b led all that

h? There wance and no

ght they werer agony foro our places at ease her people clutcad of anoth

iot - Journey

f it, year

a long journeweather shar ore-footed, rg snow. retted slopes, the tng sherbet. sing and gruwanting thei

out, and th

the towns ud charging h o travel all n

n our ears, s

down to a te

, smelling ofnd a water-m

w sky, alloped awa

n with vine-

or dicing for

ty wine-skination, and soot a momen(you may sa

go, I remembut set down

way for s a Birth, ce doubt. I ha

re different; r us, like Des, these Kinre, in the oldching their ger death.

y of the Ma

ey: rp,

refractory,

terraces, umbling r liquor and

e lack of

unfriendly igh prices:

night,

aying

emperate

f vegetationmill beating

ay in the

leaves over

pieces of

s. o we continunt too soon ay) satisfacto

mber, n

ertainly, d seen birth

this Birth waath, our deagdoms, d dispensatiogods.

11

agi

n; the

the

ued

ory.

h

as ath.

on,

 

 

FoFra BibLuk Key Int

The WhJosfor Andwhothechia dreploviaskthehumcruourcanmo Ba

AftfranuseEaspra Likepreearbodwadec ButanobecSpihea TheMa

ourth Sundankincens

ble passageke 24:1-2;

ywords: ava

roduction

eir gifts were

hat started ineph of Arim Jesus’ buriad he was noo gave Jose

eir child. Thild and a fam

deceased, pepaid by the ringly, and wked for, but tem because man meanscial and powr death, we n never repaoments, we w

ckground

er Jesus’ birnkincense ae to a familysy to carry aactical, usefu

e the wise mepared and brly morning, dy with prepnted to anocay.

t their gifts wointed by hucause it wasrit. God thealing and hu

e gifts of theatthew 2 app

day of Adse and m

es: Matthew Luke 22:3

ilability, fait

e not neede

n a cave endmathea gaveal, he gave uo different frph and Mars first cave wmily in needenniless marecipient. Thwithout expethey were n he was fully there is neewerless poinwill need so

ay or give bawill need ge

rth the Magiand myrrh. Ty going into and to barterul and valua

men, the wobrought the they approa

pared spices int his body

were not useuman handss healed, an Father embuman gifts a

e women of pear on the

dvent yrrh—ava

w 2:11; Lu39-46; Heb

thful service

ed; Jesus had

ded in a cave his personaup a preciourom the unnry a cave forwas a gift to. The seconn. Neither g

hey were givectation. Theeeded. Jesuy human aned. For at lents in life, ouomeone to gack these gifenerous gifts

i brought gifThese gifts w exile, refuger, the Magi’able.

men at the ir gifts to Jeached Jesus and perfum

y before it sta

ed. His bodys. It didn’t nointed, perfbraces his Sare no longe

Luke 23 an surface to b

ailable gif

ke 23:55-5rews 4:1-2

d risen.

ve. When al cave tombus possessionamed persor the birth ofo a powerlesnd was a giftgift could been freely, ey weren’t us needed d being

east two ur birth and give to us. Wfts. At theses. So did Jes

fts of gold, were of greaees in Egypts gifts are

tomb sus. In the s’ crucified mes. They arted to

y was never eed to be, fumed by thon. Human er needed.

nd the Magi be similar:

fts

56; 2

b on. on f ss t to

e

We e sus.

t t.

e

of

fraoin Thsmanfamenedlivemodif Pu

HoanseJeswiresroogeor thegivareproprotheThprodis Boat is tgifbeJesCo Fo

In thaJescodisnig Jeshishetem

ankincense antments.

here are signmall groups. nd rulers frommilies; the w

nd of their soducated. Oned close by orning. Eachfferently and

urpose

owever, whand the womervants who csus’ birth; thlling servantsurrection. Aot: faithful s

enerosity is e by women, ey all serve gve their gift e given a groclaim Jesuoclaim this ceir home cohe other grooclaim the bsciples first a

oth groups a different timthe same neft they receiveing availablsus, our genorinthians 9:

ocus

contrast to at of the dissus has one

ome to the Msciples fall aght.

esus went ous disciples foe said to themptation.’ H

and myrrh a

nificant diffe The Magi wm their respwomen at thocieties, mae group travthe tomb thh group expd at different

at connects ten at the tomcome to wohe women ats frame his And their gifservice. The expressed m by the learngenerously aof faithful sereat gift. Ons as the Mechild king tommunity asup—the wobodily risen and then to

are the first tmes to their ews: a Saviove for havinge: they proc

nerous ‘inde:15, NIV).

the behaviociples on th request this

Mount of Oliasleep. They

ut as usual toollowed himem, ‘Pray thaHe withdrew

are perfumes

erences betwwere learnedpective cultuhe tomb werrginalised avelled very fhey would vipressed and t points in J

them is thatmb are avai

orship. The Mat Jesus’ dea life at his bfts come fro ways in whi

may be differned or by thas they giveervice to him

ne group areessiah to otho Herod, Jers and when omen at the Saviour Jesu all who wou

to deliver the different coour has comg a servant claim the Goescribable gi

our of these he night of ths night of thives and pray are not ava

to the Mountm. On reachi

at you will nw about a sto

s and

ween these td male leaderes and re at the lownd not well-ar; the othesit early one gave their gesus’ life.

t both the Mlable; they a

Magi come aath. These irth, death am the sameich their ent—by me

he humble—. And as the

m, both groue the first to ers (the Marusalem andthey return) tomb—us to the uld hear.

e Good Newmmunities.

me. This is thattitude of ood News oft’ (2

two groups he last supphe disciples: ay with me. Tailable this

nt of Olives, aing the placenot fall into one’s throw

12

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wer -

er e gifts

Magi are at

and e

en —but

ey ups gi

d ).

ws It he

of

is per. The

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yond them, u are willing,ll, but yours peared to hianguish, he eat was like

hen he rose sciples, he forrow. ’Why aet up and prmptation.’ Lu

fortunately, ose closest toeep. Luke’s eping) from ef, Greek lupin of mind o

e women atrry Jesus’ torve been quitn body. But

contrast, thehausted andes being abl

osing conne

herefore, sincands, let us b have fallen sod news proe message thcause they d

beyed. Hebre

e women atat enabled then asked to s arrested. Tbbath. Theyciples did nourrection. Ttored, were

oclaim the wmmand of Jere able to re

e day of Pen use.

e are all desime, monies a

knelt down g, take this c be done.’ A

him and strene prayed more drops of blo

from prayeround them aare you sleepray so that yuke 22:39-4

Jesus does o him, his d phrase here sorrow. Thepe, which m

or spirit; affli

t the tomb crtured body te anxious tot they rested

e disciples cd in deep sorle to rest ha

ection

ce the prombe careful th short of it. Foclaimed to they heard wdid not shareews 4:1-2 (N

t the tomb hhem to rest. pray; all at The women y had faith aot have this

Then, like Pe healed and

word. When esus and staeceive the gitecost. Now

igned to recand objects,

and prayed,cup from meAn angel fromngthened hire earnestly,ood falling t

r and went basleep, exhaping?’ he asyou will not f46 (NIV)

not find comisciples. Thee is exhausteey, too, are

means deep iction (v. 45

can rest afte to his tombo anoint thed (Luke 23:5

can’t rest. Trrow. Why? ve to do wit

mise of enterihat none of yFor we also h us, just as twas of no vare the faith oNIV)

had a deep f All the disc first ran aw obeyed the

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w they were a

ceive gifts, o affections a

d, ‘Father, if e; yet not mym heaven im. And bein, and his to the groun

back to the austed from sked them. fall into

mfort from ey have falleted (koimao—suffering

grief, sorrow).

r they help . They must

eir master’s 56).

hey are And what

th availabilit

ing his rest s you be foun have had ththey did; butlue to them,of those who

faith, a faithciples slept way when Jes

laws of theailable; the h till after th21, they wevailable to s obeyed thesalem, they

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