God is doing a New Thing @ MPC - Sunday 13th March 2016

Trinity Sunday @ MPC - Sunday 22nd May 2016

￼S rozhdyestvom Hristovym! Congratulations on the birth of Christ for he is our Messiah — our Prophet, Priest and King. The wise men, who were Gentiles, knew about the Jewish Messiah’s arrival and had been waiting for this point in time for centuries. They knew that he was a Prophet, Priest and King by the gifts they gave of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. They knew that He was God incarnate! Emmanuel - God with us!
Two women were chatting about the nativity one said to the other, A virgin birth I can believe but finding three wise men?
Joking aside, let’s put the wise men into context.
The actual journey of these wise men could easily have taken a long time. It would appear from our NT passage that the star, which the wise men had seen, had appeared at the moment of Jesus’ birth. But the wise men had arrived after the birth. If they saw the star at the moment of Jesus’ birth, then it would have taken at least a few months for the wise men to arrive.
We should note that Herod wanted to know the exact time the star had appeared, presumably so he could pinpoint the exact moment of this special child’s birth. He later proceeded to have all baby boys killed who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16). This would indicate that Jesus had been born up to two years previously. So the wise men did not arrive at the same time as the shepherds, who arrived the same day as the birth (Luke 2:11). Indeed, Jesus’ family was no longer in a stable; they were living in a house at that time (Matthew 2:11).
At some birthday parties that my eldest son has been too, there will be a magician making rabbits appear or doing tricks that make my son’s jaw drop with amazement. The word magic has been derived from the Greek word describing the wise men, magi, in our Old Testament passage. As they came from the East, they could have been associated with the magicians mentioned in the book of Daniel which in a broader sense were scientists, astrologers and wise men.
The word ​magi is plural, so there must have been at least two. However, there could have been many more. The legend that there were three, and that we know their names, is just a legend. The idea of three wise men may have developed, because there were three types of gifts presented by the wise men to Jesus.
You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men - They would have asked for directions, arrived on time for the birth, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought pampers as gifts!
￼In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar speaks to people who are referred to as magicians, astrologers and wise men. These could very well be the same group of people from which the wise men in the nativity story came from. At the end of Daniel 2, we read that Daniel, an exile in Babylon (East of Jerusalem) and a follower of holy scripture, was to be chief administrator over the wise men...

MPC Epiphany Sunday 08.01.17

Acts 1:1-11 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
1 Peter 4:12-14 New International Version (NIV)
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 5:6-11 New International Version (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Mark Broom