The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Monday, 30 November 2020

 The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Monday, 30 November 2020

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection <info@mc.cor.org>

 Monday, 30 November 2020

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Monday, 30 November 2020

God’s anointed king was born

Daily Scripture:

Matthew 1:16; 2:1-6

16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary—of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ.

...

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. 4 He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come one who governs,

who will shepherd my people Israel” [Micah 5:2].

Micah 5:2-4

2 As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces,

one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you.

His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.

3 Therefore, he will give them up

until the time when she who is in labor gives birth.

The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel.

4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

They will dwell secure,

because he will surely become great throughout the earth.

Reflection Questions:

“Christ” was a title, not a personal name. The Greek word “christos” meant “anointed one,” the same meaning as the Hebrew word “mashiach,” or “Messiah.” Matthew called Jesus “the Christ”—that is, the anointed king. Israel loved the hope of God sending a ruler born in Bethlehem. The “chief priests and legal experts” knew Micah 5 when King Herod asked them. But it was the foreign magi who spoke of the infant as Israel‘s ultimate king.

Matthew used the Greek word "magoi" (English “magi”) to describe the visitors from the East. Picture the scene in your mind's eye: these wise men, often honored and respected themselves, honored the young child Jesus and named him “king.” What did this say about their hopes for who Jesus was and would become? What do you hope Jesus, the king, will do in your life?

The Magi didn’t say, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We have come to make a treaty with him,” or “We have come to attend one of his meetings.” Scholar William Barclay noted that the magi had “the reaction of adoring worship, the desire to lay at the feet of Jesus Christ the noblest gifts they could bring.”* As you plan for Christmas, how will you honor Jesus' birth through “adoring worship,” especially in this unusual year?

Prayer:

King Jesus, when you were born and the magi sought you as a newborn king, paranoid King Herod took them more seriously than the religious experts. As I enter this Advent season, guide me to grasp the importance of your coming to earth as my king. Amen.

* William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1 Chapters 1–10 (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 30.

Want more reflection on today's GPS?

Read the GPS Insight by Ashley Morgan Kirk

Ashley is a Congregational Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood. After seven years of higher ed in religion, she finally understands that she can't figure out God (no matter how hard she tries). She’s leaning into the challenge to move from a thinking-based faith to loving God with both her head and heart.

On this Monday following Thanksgiving, I see lights going up in my neighborhood and all over the city. I see Christmas trees filling windows, and even see how my own home is changing to reflect the anticipation of this season. All of these things are the external signs that we are preparing. But, what is going on internally as we prepare?

When I read the Scripture for today, I am struck by two phrases the magi said as they prepared for their journey to encounter Jesus: “Where?” and “We’ve seen.”

The first phrase is a question I want to ask myself each week this Advent: “Where is Jesus?” Where am I seeing Jesus show up right now? This is a question that will keep me watchful along the journey for where God is with us.

The second phrase is an act remembering where I have already seen God show up in the world. Remembering is central to our faith, and for me remembering that I’ve seen God in the past reminds me that I will indeed see God again in the present and the future.

These two phrases of the magi, “Where?” and “We’ve seen,” can be tools I use to make sure my internal preparations match my external ones. When the season is over, and the lights and trees come down, I want to have fully prepared and encountered God in this season even more than I’ve enjoyed the beautiful décor. May we all find meaningful ways this season to prepare internally for encountering God with us.

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If you have a question or comment about today’s GPS or Insights blog, you can send it to GPS@cor.org. We read them all, but because of the number of responses we receive, cannot guarantee replies.

You might also like:

Prayer Tip: Christ the King

Be generous: “take hold of what is truly life”

“In tight circumstances…I won’t be afraid”

Giving thanks even in “evil times”

“It’s a matter of equality”

Or download this week's printable GPS.

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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.

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