WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:08.039 Then the devotional contact today. Today’ s Bible reading begins in the first 2 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.839 verse of Matthew chapter two. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, 3 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:18.800 in the days of the hero king, magicians came from the East to Jerusalem, 4 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:22.719 saying where is the King of the Jews who was born, for his 5 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:26.280 star we have seen in the East and come to worship him. Hearing this, 6 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:31.039 the hero king was troubled and all Jerusalem with him and summoned all the 7 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:36.920 chief priests and scribes of the people to ask them where the Christ was to 8 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:41.520 be born. They told him in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is 9 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:46.640 written by the prophet, and you are not the least among the princes of 10 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:50.119 Judah, Bethlehem of the land of Judah. Why shall a guide come out 11 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.799 of thee, how shall he feed my people, Israel? Then, heroes 12 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:59.719 secretly calling the magicians, he diligently asked of them the time of the EU, 13 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:03.400 the appearance of the star and sending them to Bethlehem, said go there 14 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:10.359 and find out diligently about the child and when you find him, let me 15 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:14.959 know so that I too may go and worship him. When they heard the 16 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.439 king, they went away, and, behold, the star which they had 17 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:25.319 seen in the east went before them, until it came to rest upon the 18 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:30.040 child, and when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy, 19 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:36.599 and when they entered the house, they saw the child with Mary their mother, 20 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:42.760 and fell down and worshipped him, and opened his treasures, and offered 21 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:48.879 him gold, incense, and myrrh, but being warned by revelation in dreams 22 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:49.760 that they should not return to their land by another way. Why we give 23 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:55.719 presents at Christmas. When we were children, the gifts were the highlight of 24 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:59.760 the date and for some of us, the joy of giving and receiving gifts 25 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:04.480 has not diminished. Some people wonder what all this has to do with the 26 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:07.639 celebration of Christ’ s birth. But there' s a connection. Although 27 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:14.680 nothing was wrapped in paper, the occasion was marked by enormous generosity. God 28 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:17.719 gave his only- begotten son. This was the greatest gift ever given because 29 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:23.680 his precious son was the only one who could die as a sacrifice for our 30 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:28.520 sins. Mary gave her body and reputation when the Angel told her that she 31 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:32.680 would give birth to the son of God, Mary answered," Do me 32 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:37.280 according to your word" Although this was a glorious privilege, it also included 33 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:42.039 the loss of his reputation. His commitment to Joseph was as binding as marriage 34 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:46.439 and getting pregnant before the ceremony was scandalous in the eyes of people. The 35 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:52.360 shepherds gave a witness. After hearing the announcement of the birth by the Angel 36 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.439 and Veera the newborn messiah. They couldn' t keep the news. They 37 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.520 told everyone what they had seen and heard it. The magicians gave gifts and 38 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:06.479 worship. Having traveled a long way to find this new king of the Jews, 39 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.919 fell to the ground in adoration and offered him gifts of gold, incense 40 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:15.439 and myrrh although materialism and commercialism have taken hold to some extent of the tradition 41 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:22.199 of giving gifts, we must also remember the true generosity that is in the 42 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:22.680 heart of Christmas.