Wonder of Wonders, Mathew 2:1-11
Introduction
Someone went to visit a great painter while he was working in his studio. To his great amazement he saw attached to the easel of the artist various costly precious stones in many colors. In answer to his question why they were there the artist answered: “I need them for stimulating and strengthening my eyes. When I look only at the colors of the paint, it is just as if at last my feeling for color and shade weakens. But the brilliance of these wonderful stones is like a restrengthening of my eyesight.” It is good to read and search the Scriptures. It is good to worship God in song. It is good to pray.
But let us never forget that if the eye of our soul is not to become faint or weak, it continually must be refreshed, strengthened, and encouraged by the wonderful brilliance and splendor of Him who is the living Soul of the Bible; Jesus Christ.
Transition
This morning we will talk about the wonder of wonders; the baby King which the magi sought out and visited that they might worship at the feet of the King of Kings. In today’s Scripture reading is recounted the narrative of their coming from afar, the three magi who had followed the sign of His coming in the stars.
Isaiah 9:6, the prophet writes, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (NIV)
In the preceding verses the prophet writes in verse two of the same section, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (NIV) In verse four the prophet writes, “For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.” (Isaiah 9:4 NIV)
The prophet is looking through the darkness of his age – indeed even eluding the darkness of the entire world age – unto a time when the brightness of the light of Christ shall pierce through the dim dark clouds of the sorrow, suffering, pain, and affliction of this world; when all things shall be revealed and realized fully.
You and I are living now in the partial fulfillment of that prophecy for the wonder of wonders, Jesus Christ, has come to us in the flesh, though our hearts long for the day when He shall return in all of His glory!
This morning as we enter our text, examining the coming of the Magi, what it meant then and what it means for us today, we will examine the wonder of wonders, Jesus, who the Bible says, shall be called Wonderful.
Charles Spurgeon, the famed preacher of old, once wrote that there are a thousand things in this world called by names which they are not, but in regard to Christ, His name is called wonderful because it is most truly so!
Exposition
The place where Jesus was born, also the place where the three Magi came to visit was the city of Bethlehem, which was also known in those days as Ephrata. The town is located just five miles south of Jerusalem. Interestingly, its name in Hebrew means “House of Bread.” It is a stirring parallel in the history of God’s unfolding revelation that Jesus, the bread of life, was born in Bethlehem.
This was also the birthplace of King David, Jesus ancestor both by parental lineage and in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy concerning the coming of the King of Kings. In the Bible we see the unfolding revelation of God as He progressively shows humanity its need for a savior and then reveals that savior.
I would suggest to you that it is no strange twist of fate that Christ was born exactly where He was born but yet another example of God’s sovereignty revealed and His providence over human affairs displayed. II Samuel 7:18, “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (NIV)
King David recognized the sovereign hand of God in the affairs of his life. It was God alone who had delivered him from the mouth of the lion and bear, it was God alone who had delivered the Philistine giant, Goliath, into his hands in battle, and it was the sovereign will of God that protected him from his enemy, King Saul.
God, in His sovereignty, moved in David’s life, ultimately fulfilling his plan in David; in Christ. Both David and Jesus were born to be king. Both David and Jesus were born in Bethlehem, one thousand years after the earthly king David was born there, Jesus was born in Bethlehem also. Both were born to be king. David to an earthly throne, Jesus to his heavenly throne, and one day the Bible declares that Christ will return to the earth to establish David’s throne in splendor!
In a kingly history marked and marred by Israelite kings whose lives ran counter to biblical mandate, King David’s reign was very much unique.
As an Israelite King, David had three primary responsibilities. The king was to protect the people, uphold justice, and serve as a priest. David was known as a mighty man of battle. We often remember David’s victory over Goliath as though the story of his military prowess ends there, but David was a great military leader.
He was also a man of valor. When faced with the opportunity to kill then King Saul who, out of jealousy of David’s popularity with the people and God’s blessing of David to be the next King of Israel, sought to take David’s life, he did not. David was a faithful man who feared God and obeyed His will regardless of cost.
In I Samuel 24:2-6 it says, “So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” (NIV)
David protected the people; even the man who sought to take his life.
David upheld justice as well. In our modern conception Justice is seen primarily as a legal term in relation to the court passing judgment on criminals and convicting them to various sorts of punishments. But you see, in biblical terms, justice carries much more weight than merely conviction and sentence; it has to do with setting things right which were previously wrong. It has as much to do with reconciliation as with recompense; as much to do with forgiveness as conviction.
Two men who had been friends and companions in their youth met in the police court, the one on the magistrate’s bench, the other in the prisoner’s dock. The case was tried and the prisoner was found guilty. Would the judge, in consideration of their friendship years before, forbear to pass judgment? No, he must fulfill his duty, justice must be done, the law of the land obeyed. He gave out the sentence -fourteen days’ hard labor or a fine of $500. The condemned man had nothing to pay, so the prison cell was before him. But as soon as he had pronounced the sentence the judge rose from the bench, threw aside his magistrate’s robes, and stepping down to the dock, stood beside the prisoner, paid his fine for him, and then said, "Now, John, you are coming home with me to supper.”
It is just so with the sinner. God cannot overlook sin. Justice must be done, and the sentence pronounced, but Christ, the David King, Himself pays the debt and the sinner is free. In David was foreshadowed the justice of God in Christ.
The Bible time and again recounts God himself righting wrongs, justifying injustices, relieving the suffering of the oppressed, vindicating the despised, comforting the afflicted and granting freedom to those who are enslaved.
What of the third requirement for an Israelite King; that of priest? The role of the priest was to intercede with God on behalf of the people. Frequently David went into the tabernacle “and sat before the Lord” David had the heart of an intercessor; he had his people on his heart, and pleaded with God for them all.
On thousand years after King David’s rule blind beggars called out to Jesus, referring to him as “Son of David.” In Matthew 20:30-34 the Gospel writer records, “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord," they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”(NIV)
The title “Son of David” was a messianic title. In other words, in referring to Jesus as “Son of David” these blind men were appealing to the reality that it was no ordinary man to whom they spoke. Jesus, wonder of wonders, King of Kings.
David offered earthly protection to his people. What a wonderful gift. Jesus, however offered – and continues to offer – eternal protection to His people. In John 10:27-29 the words of Jesus are recorded. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (NIV)
The Son of David, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the wonder of wonders, the God-Man, the Bread of Life, the Image of God, the Carpenter from Nazareth, born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, the House of Bread, is the very one who has upheld justice in that while sinners sat condemned, He paid the price.
Jesus is not ordinary man and He is no ordinary King. He is the Prince of Peace.
He is the high priest who, rather than offering a lamb, became the lamb, who rather than offering merely a prayer on behalf of His people, offered Himself in their place that He might reconcile sinful humanity back to God through the power of His own blood; the gift of His own life; Wonder of Wonders!
Conclusion
A miser in Chicago was so suspicious of everybody that he would not trust his money in the bank, but buried it in his cellar. One night some thieves broke into the cellar and dug up every inch of sand and dirt until they found his box of gold and carried it away. The poor old fellow was nearly crazy over his loss. But the old man has many people following his example in the care of the priceless treasure of the wonder of wonders, God revealed, glory unveiled; Jesus Christ given.
How many there are who are laying away all their treasures in the sand and dirt of this earthly cellar, when heaven’s strong vaults are offered to us for their safe keeping. Our greatest treasures are merely temporary trinkets of amusement in a life which is fading all too quickly. They are but empty promises, meant to be kept, but unable to be fulfilled.
In Matthew 6:19-21 the words of Jesus are recorded, where it says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NIV)
Let us never deny the value of the matchless treasure that we have in Jesus Christ. May our hearts be ever awed this Christmas season by the matchless gift that we have in Jesus Christ. Wonder of Wonders, remarkable redeemer!
Amen.
