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ZOROASTRIANS & REFUGEES [Matthew 2:1-23]

 Matthew 2 opens shortly after Jesus' birth.
Although Joseph's home and business are in Nazareth, the family are currently in Bethlehem.
While they're there wise men (magi) visit the baby.
Although we sing about three kings, Matthew doesn't tell us how many Magi came to visit, or even where they're from...


[Read Matthew 2:1-12]


These "magi" are important and influential members of royal court.
Experts in science, mathematics, history and astronomy.
Maybe they were already aware of the prophecy made in Numbers 24:17 that talks of  a star rising out of Jacob?
As they arrive with news about the birth of this new king, how does the current king react?

You would expect the people of Israel would rejoice at this news, but how (in verse 3) do they respond?
Why do you think they might respond in that way?

Does anything in the history of Israel prepare us for this reaction?


Gentiles travel thousands of miles, at great cost, to come and worship a foreign king... yet not one Jew would walk a few miles to greet their Messiah and Saviour.


Think about the people you live near.
How do they respond to the good news of Jesus?
Why do you think that today, people are often troubled by the gospel?


What does the response of the wise men tell us about how and why some people come to Jesus?


[Activity] Read Isaiah 60:3 & 6.
How is this 700 year old prophesy fulfilled in this first Christmas story?


Twice in the gospel of Matthew is Jesus called the King of the Jews.
Once at the beginning of his life and once at the end.
Both times, how do we see Jews react to this?
Both times, how do Gentiles respond?


[Read Matthew 2:13-23]


The early life of Jesus is described as a story of divine guidance.
How do you see this taking place...

Mary & Joseph's dreams (1:20)?

A star (2:2)?

Wise men's dream (2:12)?

Another two dreams (2:13 & 22)?


How does Matthew link this story about Jesus to the story about Moses in Exodus?
What are the similarities?
Why?


Matthew is showing us how to read the Old Testament. 
Jesus taught his disciples that all scriptures point forward to him.


How can we read the Old Testament through a Christ-focused lens?

How often do you think of the Lord Jesus when you read the Old Testament?


There are over 50 million refugees in the world today.
How can we think about this contemporary issue in light of the fact that Jesus himself spent his early years as a political refugee?


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