“Wise Enough to Seek Him”
Matthew 2: 1-12
For many of us the joy and anticipation of the season has been reduced to figuring out what we can afford to give our loved ones. It is from the gifts given by the Wise Men to the Christ child that we get our tradition of giving gifts at Christmas! But for many it is not truly giving gifts it is a gift exchange. Sometimes what we give and receive during the Christmas season are not really gifts at all. They are exchanges. That’s when you give a gift because someone has given or you expect will give you a gift. You give them a gift equal to the gift you expect to receive from them. True gifts are given for the joy of giving not in the anticipation of receiving something in return.
Matthew now introduces us to a fascinating part of the story of the birth of Jesus by introducing a group of mysterious travelers who have come seeking Jesus. As we examine what the Bible says about this fascinating part of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12 we will discover that much of what we believe we know about the Wise men is built upon fallacies.
Almost every Christmas season we sing the song, “We Three Kings.” This song tells one of the intriguing events of the Christmas Story, the arrival of the Wise Men. But as we will see much of what have seen portrayed about the Wise Men comes from myth and legend not the Bible.
Let’s list the things we think we know about the Wise men; that they were three in number, that they were kings, that they were from the Orient, that they worshipped baby Jesus in the manger.
Now let’s consider the facts. Verse one tells us, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.”
Great legends and myths have grown up around these mysterious travelers. For example, from the biblical account we cannot be certain about the number of the magi. Tradition says there were three men because they gave three different gifts. There is as much reason to believe that there were half-dozen or a dozen or more Wise Men. As men of wealth they probably traveled with caravan of attendants. When they arrived in Jerusalem they created a sensation. Herod the scoundrel that he was recognized them as men of great dignity and genuine distinction.
We do not know their nationalities for sure, we do not know their names, or if they rode camels and what they wore although it was probably not bath-robes as we see in most church reenactments.
We do know that came from the East and were Gentiles by birth. In biblical language the “east” was the region beyond the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – the area of ancient Persia – today comprising the countries of Iran and Afghanistan. The word “wise men” is literally Magi. They were active throughout Babylonia during much of Old Testament history. The book of Daniel in the Old Testament tells about their influence under King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon in the sixth century before Jesus was born.
We also know that they were scholars by education. They were considered sages, the scholars of their time. They were also politically powerful since no Persian could become king unless he mastered the scientific and religious disciplines of the Magi. Their political and legal expertise resulted in the highest legal code described in the books of Daniel and Esther as "the law of the Medes and the Persians." Our modern word "magistrate" is derived from the word Magi. Daniel taken prisoner by King Nebuchadnezzar; was appointed chief of the Magi in Babylon because of his amazing wisdom, intuition and knowledge that came from the Lord God.
Three things about this men proved that they really were “Wise men.”
First, They Were Wise Enough To Seek Him.
We do not know how the Magi knew about the coming king revealed in Scripture, perhaps they learned it from the writings of Daniel, but obviously the Lord revealed it to them some way and then confirmed it by a sign, the star.
The Wise Men say that they have been led by the light of a star (v.2). “Saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
What was the star that the Magi followed? Was it a comet, some kind of planetary conjunction, or a supernova? Frankly, we don't know, the particular Greek word used here (aster) is a very general one. Astronomers try to prove that it was some sort of natural phenomenon. Perhaps the star was a visible manifestation of the Shekinah glory of God, like the pillar of light which led Israel by night, or like the glory of the Lord that shown on the shepherds when Jesus' birth was announced to them. This “star” appeared to guide them and then disappeared, then appeared again to lead them to the very house where Jesus was.
Notice three things:
•They sought him in spite of the difficulties of the journey.
We need to not lose sight of the fact that this was a long, grueling and perilous journey. This journey of 500 to 1000 miles by camel was not for the faint of heart. They would not have traveled alone but with men and supplies necessary for the journey. But this would not have been an easy journey and they would have to really believe in what they are doing to keep it up week after week.
•They sought him in spite of the disinterest of others.
What would you think if after having spent months making this journey when you arrived at the capital city and asked about the birth of the king you found that no one seemed to have any idea what you were talking about? They had traveled for weeks to worship the newborn king of Jews, and when they arrived in Jerusalem they no doubt expected the city to be excited over His birth. Verse two says, “Saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." The stop in Jerusalem was logical, after all they were convinced that they were coming to welcome the new king of the Jews, one might presume that was Herod’s son. Oops!!
Herod is not a Jew (he was Idumean) and he was not really a king he was appointed by the emperor of Rome. He is more than a little insecure! Verse three says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod was not a nice man and whenever he was upset it was wise to be careful. He was tyrant and a murderer who removed anyone who had even a remote chance of being a challenge to his rule. By the time he died he had murdered his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, wife and three sons. Even the emperor of Rome was reported to have said, “It is better to be Herod’s pig and Herod’s son!” By the time of the arrival of the wise men, Herod probably only has a few months to live, He is old, sick and paranoid.
The ultimate example of his violent paranoia is seen in the preparations he made for his own death. When he turned 70 and he knew he was terminally ill, Herod moved from Jerusalem down to the garden city of Jericho. He ordered that a group of Jerus-alem's most distinguished citizens be arrested on false charges and imprisoned, with the provision that they be executed at the word of his death. Knowing that no one would mourn his passing in Israel, he wanted to guarantee that tears of grief would be shed when he died. This is the man Matthew tells us was “troubled” or in great turmoil at the news of the birth of Jesus.
Herod calls in the his religious experts to find out more, verse four says, “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.” The response to Herod’s question came from the word of God. The theologians to their credit knew the Scripture and they told Herod the truth. Verse five and six reveals, “So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (6) 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel."
We don’t want to miss the contrast between the religious leaders and the wise men. The wise men left their homes, their families and at great expense traveled hundreds of miles to follow a star to search for the Christ Child. They really wanted to come and worship Jesus. The religious leaders on the other hand, were not the least bit interested. They didn’t care about the star. And they wouldn’t even travel the six miles or so from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to check it out. They were not even willing to make the effort to see if what they had heard was true.
In verse seven Herod calls the wise men into his presence and “….determined from them what time the star appeared. (8)And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
Herod in fact had no intention of worshipping Jesus. It was only a matter of time until he had all the children of Bethlehem and the surrounding area under that age of two years of age killed in an attempt to destroy Jesus (Matt. 2:16).
•They sought him in spite of the personal disappointments .
When the Magi finally found the baby Jesus were they disappointed? They might have been. After all they had been thorough, after this long and dangerous journey they did not find him in a palace. While it is true that by the time the Magi arrived Joseph and Mary have moved into more permanent quarters than the stable where Jesus was born, but it was still a common working class house in Bethlehem. He probably did not look like a king, and He certainly wasn’t living like a king.
Even today as you seek to follow Jesus you may experience disappointments. Jesus will probably not be all that you expected. You may expect Him to quickly solve all your problems, if so you will be disappointed. But like the Magi we must learn to look beyond our personal expectations and worship the King.
Not only Were They Wise Enough To Seek Him but…
Secondly, They Were Wise Enough To Worship Him. (2: 2, 9-11)
At the heart of this account is worship; the submission and the adoration of the Magi to Jesus, for as soon as they arrive in Jerusalem, they announce, "We have come to worship him." (v. 2)
In verse nine we are told as they leave the presence of King Herod: led by the star, the Wise men make the seven-mile trip from Jerusalem to Beth-lehem. There they found the one they sought, verse nine, “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. (10)When they saw the star, they rejoiced.”
Picture the scene in this small village of 5,000 to 7,000 when the magi and their entourage rolled into town. It had to be quite a sight the Magi traveling as far as they did surely did not travel without an escort.
It is worthy of note that the verse eleven says that they entered the “house” instead of stable. The family was no longer in the stable. There they saw the “young child” (paidion in Greek, not brephos, the word for baby used in Lk. 2:12) based on verse sixteen we can infer, since Herod has every child under the age of two killed, that Jesus was some-where between 12 months and twenty-four months old when the wise men visit Him. .
But when they found him they worshipped him. Verse eleven says, “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” This certainly is an amazing journey of faith. The Wise Men through faith found the treasure. The tragedy is that Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and the population of Jerusalem did not discover the treasure. Although they had the greatest advantage in terms of the potential for discovery, they refused to investigate. In contrast, the Magi, who had the least spiritual advantage, searched, discovered and worshipped.
The Anglican preacher of years past, J.C. Ryle, wrote of these men, “We read of no greater faith than this in all the Bible. It is the faith that deserves to be placed side by side with that of the penitent thief. The thief saw one dying the death of a malefactor and yet prayed to him and called him ‘Lord.’ The wise men saw a newborn babe on the lap of a poor woman and yet worshipped him and confessed that he was the Christ. ” [J. C. Ryle. Expository Thoughts on Matthew]
The Magi acknowledge in their action the right of this child king to reign and rule in their lives. Their worship was spontaneous and joyful. First, they prostrate themselves before the baby king, and then present him with gifts of great material value which also have great significance. Verse eleven continues, “…And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
In the gifts given by the wise men we see who He is, what He came to do, and what it would cost him.
•They gave Him the gift of Gold. Gold has
always been the most precious metal known to mankind, and has been a common symbol of royalty from earliest times. Their gift of gold is recognition of His right to be King.
Gold is also associated with the worship of Jehovah in that when the priest entered the Holy place everything he saw in every direction was gold. The gift of gold is a reminder that we should give him our first and our best. The truth is that we often offer to God our leftovers. We pay our bills and if there is any leftover, we give some to God. God deserves our best not our leftovers.
•They gave Him the gift of Frankincense,
The gift of frankincense is recognition of the right to be worshipped. Incense was used in Temple worship, and as such was a constant part of the worship experience. The incense produced a unique smell that the people always associate with worship. The cloud created by the burning of the incense represented the presence of God in the cloud that led Israel to the Promise Land.
•They gave Him the gift of myrrh
This gift introduces an ominous note into the celebration of worship because it was a curious gift for a newborn king. Myrrh was an aromatic spice used in embalming the dead. The gift of myrrh was recognition of the sacrifice He would make.
When mixed with wine, myrrh could be taken as an anesthetic. While Jesus hung on the cross, myrrh mixed with wine was offered to him. Thus, the Magi's gift was a whispered warning of the suffering and death of this baby who was born to die for the sins of the world. It was a death that would be in fulfillment of the promise from the angel who spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 saying, "….You shall call his name Jesus, and He will save his people from their sins."
Whether the Magi fully understood the signi-ficance of their gifts or not these three gifts combine to testify to the new King's royalty, His deity, and His death on behalf of humanity.
Not only Were They Wise Enough To Worship Him but…
Third, They Were Wise Enough To Submit To Him As Lord. (2:12)
After seeing the Christ Child verse twelve reveals, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
God had warned the wise men not return to Herod as he had request, but were told to return to their country by another route. It may have been an unfamiliar route, or less convenient, more costly, less comfortable, more dangerous or less traveled route. But it was the way that God wanted them to go and they submitted to his will.
Sometimes what God calls us to do, is unfam-iliar, less convenient, not comfortable and goes against what may be the more traveled road. It may be more costly, and risky but if we have really encountered Christ we must submit to his plans for our lives!
Verse twelve ends the story of the wise men by saying after they gave him their gifts “…they departed for their own country another way.” They quietly returned home and went on with their lives. But they were different men now, men who had been in the presence of the King of Kings and worshipped him. I believe that this is a double meaning here when it says they returned “another way” not only did they return by a different route to avoid Herod but they returned different men.
Concluding Illustration
There are three types of people in the story of the wise men. There are those who like Herod the king, hear of Jesus but are openly hostile toward him. There are also those like the priest and the scribes who can quote you chapter and verse about Him, but they are indifferent to Him. And then there are the Magi who sought Jesus, and when they found Him accepted Him as King.
But don’t be surprised that just as the Magi's journey was taken at great cost, for us to follow Jesus will have a cost. There is no middle ground, or position of neutrality with Jesus. We either bring an attitude of adoration or rejection; life or death; belief or unbelief. In Jesus' own word; the result is either salvation or condemnation, eternal life or judgment. He is either the Lord of all, or He is not the Lord at all. May we reflect the wisdom of the magi, and confess Jesus' authority in our lives.
“Wise Enough to Seek Him”
Matthew 2: 1-12
The things we think we know about the Wise men
•There were _____________in number,
•They were ______________
•They were from the ___________________
•That they worshipped baby Jesus in the ________________
Three things about this men proved that they really were “Wise men.”
First, They Were Wise Enough To ___________ Him.
•They sought him in spite of the ____________________ of the journey.
•They sought him in spite of the ___________________ of others.
•They sought him in spite of personal ____________________
Secondly, They Wise Enough To _______________________ Him (2: 2, 9-11)
•They gave him the gift of Gold.
Recognition of His right to be ____________
•They gave Him the gift of Frankincense
Recognition of His right to ________________
•They gave Him the gift of myrrh
Recognition of His ___________________
Third, They Were Wise Enough To Submit To Him As _____________. (2:12)
