December 4, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

“Does the Bible say there were three Wise Men?”

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:1ff

The Wise men were following a star that announced to the world that something fantastic had transpired. The celestial announcement was telling them that a king had been born. Was the star a one-time phenomenon, or was it something more “extra-terrestrial”? Some believe the “Star of Bethlehem” was a comet. Comets were considered harbingers of important events in history. So perhaps a comet like Halley’s Comet was the culprit. Others believe the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction or gathering of planets in the night sky. Since the planets all orbit the sun, there will be times when they seem to approach each other to appear like one light source. Finally, the Star of Bethlehem could have been caused by an exploding star – called a supernova. How long this light would have appeared in the sky is unknown but could have accounted for the light. There are ways we might be able to account for a celestial event, but there is no way to determine how many Wise Men came to see the baby Jesus.

The Bible lists three gifts that were brought to the baby Jesus – this accounts for the tradition of three Wise Men. We just do not know how many made the trip. What we do know is they were wise – because they did not return to Herod to give him a report – but returned home by a different route. I have just wish I could have witnessed the Star of Bethlehem – to have stood in the desert with the Wise Men and the shepherds and witnessed the celestial event. It must have been a sight to see.   

Pastor Dave

December 3, 2023 – 1st Sunday in Advent Year B

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” Mark 13:24-37

The brief sections of Mark and Matthew that give us apocalyptic warnings  have always been something of a puzzle to me. They just appear to be so out of character with the rest of the Gospel. I assume that these traditions were so prevalent in the early church that Mark simply couldn’t ignore them. Most of the Apostles including the Apostle Paul expected Jesus to return very soon after the ascension. We might say they held an imminent eschatology. Others, in response to the longer-than-expected delay had begun to cast Jesus’ return as the culmination of human history – or in other words as an event that would occur at the end of time. We might call this a delayed or future eschatology. Either way, we have all been waiting a long time for Christ to return.

The season of Advent is about waiting. There are benefits to learning how to wait – I have a few to throw at you…

1. Waiting teaches us patience. It isn’t always good to get whatever you want immediately. Paul, in Romans, even teaches that suffering produces endurance, patience and endurance.

2. The second thing that waiting teaches us is endurance and perseverance. Think of our friend Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was patient, and endured and persevered with his betrothed who was with child by the Holy Spirit.

3. Waiting teaches humility. To wait means to allow others to go ahead of you.

4. Waiting heightens expectation. Those of us who are parents know that waiting nine months heightens the expectation of the birth of a child.

5. Finally, waiting teaches faithfulness. The whole story of the forty years of wandering for the Israelites was about teaching faithfulness.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t often experience G-d’s voice in the heavens being ripped open. Instead, I experience G-d in the whispers of our lives, the whispers that nudge us, the glimpses that surprise us, that vague unexplainable experiences that strengthens and confirms our faith. But, it is only by faith that we can continue to wait – while others drift away to other voices we wait patiently for that day when the heavens will be ripped open once again, and the blessings from G-d made manifest through Jesus Christ will descend on all of G-d’s people.

Pastor Dave