Wise Men Still Seek Him | Good News of Great Joy

Wise Men Still Seek Him   Matthew 2:10–11 (ESV) 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.   This Sunday, Pastor Chris encouraged us with the story of the Wise Men and their response to the birth of Jesus. These were men of high standing and great reputation who traveled a thousand miles from Persia. Their intention was to seek the Messiah in order to worship Him. In response, they fell down and worshipped the King. In contrast, the religious were half a day's travel away and did not come. They were looking for a different kind of Messiah and wanted Jesus on their terms.    Discussion questions: What do you make of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus? (They brought gold in reference to His royalty, frankincense for His divinity, and myrrh for His humanity.) What does their response teach us about how we ought to respond to Jesus? In what ways do we mirror the religious leaders and their response to Christ's birth? How can we actively seek to not respond in this way?   Reflection questions: Who do you worship this Christmas season?  What is on the throne of your heart? (What do you think about, talk about, or ponder the most?) What would surrender look like for you in this Christmas season?