Now, here’s a spoil alert! Most Christians should know that the Magi, who more often than not portray in nativity scenes around the world for generations, did not visit the baby Jesus. They actually visited Jesus who was a 2-years-old child. The Magi were not kings as we sing in the well-known carol and what the King James Version calls them. And we don’t even know how many there were? Its been assumed three because of the three gifts. Sorry if I have destroyed all your preconceived ideas. But please, you don’t need to go home and remove those three Magi from your nativity sets. The reason why I want to look at them today is that because they are often associated with the Christmas story, an
Since August, we have been going through Luke’s Gospel exploring the various encounters people had with Jesus. I have found it most illuminating at the cross section of society who had profound encounters with Jesus. Sometimes it was their initiative to meet Jesus and sometimes it was at the initiative of Jesus. Prostitutes, tax collectors, the poor, blind and lame encountered Jesus. So too did the rich, power, and religious. And today as we draw to a close this series, we see yet another encounter of some people who encountered Jesus and were changed forever. The scene is set. Mary and Joseph are in Bethlehem in a humble place (a stable or cave or barn) very likely surrounded by animals. Wh
Since August, we have been going through Luke’s Gospel exploring the various encounters people had with Jesus. I have found it most illuminating at the cross section of society who had profound encounters with Jesus. Sometimes it was their initiative to meet Jesus and sometimes it was at the initiative of Jesus. Prostitutes, tax collectors, the poor, blind and lame encountered Jesus. So too did the rich, power, and religious. And today we see yet another encounter to a good person who was a nobody in the eyes of the world. Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ is a most wonderful woman. To be chosen to be the one to give birth to the Saviour of the world – to be the vehicle in which God will come