THE ORIGINAL STAR TREK
Matt. 2:1-12
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago was stranded late one night at an Eastern European resort - one that did not admit Jews.
2. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies."
3. The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "You know that we do not admit Jews. Now if you will try the other side of town..."
4. Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeable and said, "I’ll have you know I converted to your religion."
5. The desk clerk said, "Oh, yeah, let me give you a little test. How was Jesus born?" Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a little town called Bethlehem."
6. "Very good," replied the hotel clerk. "Tell me more."
Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born in a manger."
"That’s right," said the hotel clerk. "And why was he born in a manger?"
7. Mrs. Rosenberg said loudly, "Because a turkey like you in the hotel wouldn’t give a Jewish lady a room for the night!"
B. AN SCI-FI SENSATION
1. A new Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens,” hit the theaters last Thursday. It picks up from the earlier Star Wars series that concluded with Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, where Darth Vader overthrew the Darth Sidious so save his son Luke.
2. One of the earliest pioneers in Sci-Fi was Star Trek which began in 1966 with the starship “Enterprise.” So far ir has launched 5 different TV series & 12 movies.
3. NASA named the first Space Shuttle orbiter Enterprise after the mother ship of the original Star Trek.
4. However, this series wasn’t the first “Star Trek” on record. 2,000 years ago there were wise men or “Magi” who followed a star looking for Israel’s long-awaited King. Do you know what they found? Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior and Messiah. Let’s read their story.
C. TEXT
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the
time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
D. THESIS
1. This passage tells us that not only did shepherds see a light on the night Jesus was born, but that God made a star appear to men far away that His Son would be born.
2. These men were the scientists of their day, the phenomenon of the universe and nature. They were the intelligent, educated, and affluent studied God's universe.
3. One night they were stunned to see a star appear where none had been before. This Star was unique in its location and brilliance. They came to the conclusion that this was a sign from God.
4. The title of this message is “The Original Star Trek.”
I. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE STAR
A. IT WAS SEEN BY THE CHINESE
The German writer, Munter, in his book Stern Der Weisen,
Kopenhagen, 1827, stated that "Chinese astronomical tables record the appearance of a new star at a time which coincides with the fourth year before the birth of Christ" (Lange's, Matthew, p. 57). So there is independent verification that a star did appear!
B. IT WAS SUPERNATURAL
1. The astronomer, Kepler, published in 1606 that in 6 BC there was a conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. It has been insinuated that this conjunction was the “star” the Wise Men saw.
2. This idea is impossible for several reasons. First, this light was not a star, comet, or conjunction of planets, because it suddenly appeared, and according to the testimony of the Wise Men, appeared almost continually for two years!
3. Another reason is, that this star "moved," suddenly disappeared, and at times was low enough in the atmosphere that it could indicate a single house in a village. (There was only 10 miles difference between Jerusalem and Bethlehem; a real star could not have even indicated which city He was in).
4. What could make a man chase a star? The Holy Spirit must have prompted them to this great expedition. "No man can come to Me, except the Father draw him."
C. IT POINTED MEN TO JESUS
1. Even if preachers stop preaching, God will find another means to lead men to His Son. Some people fear that our time is a dark hour where evil is taking over. No! This Gospel shall be preached! Will you be a part of the great Commission?
2. Like a good witness, this Star never drew attention to itself, but to Christ.
a. It is described by the Seekers as - "His Star."
b. We must be full of Christ before we can shine for Christ.
3. A good witness Leads others to Christ.
a. Not just pointing the way, but going that way.
b. Chief Priests -- told them Micah 5:2, but didn't go to worship.
4. The Star Stopped at Jesus. We need go no further.
5. ILLUSTRATION
a. Some years ago, on returning from a business trip, a man brought his wife souvenirs. Among them was a matchbox that would glow in the dark. After giving it to her, he turned out the light, but the matchbox was not visible.
b. "This must be a joke!" she said. Disappointed, the husband commented, "I've been cheated." Then his wife noticed some French words on the box. Taking it to a friend who knew the language, she was told that the directions read:
c. "If you want me to shine at night, keep me in the daylight all day." So she put her gift in a South window. That evening when she turned out the light, the matchbox gave a brilliant glow.
d. The surprised husband asked, "What did you do?" "Oh I found the secret," she said. "Before it can shine in the dark, it must be exposed to the light." That is true of all of us Christians.
II. LEARNING FROM THE WISE MEN
A. THEY HEEDED GOD’S MESSAGE THRU THE STAR
1. They couldn’t have known much, but they obeyed the light they had. The existence of that star wasn't just a fact to them, but a call to their hearts. They didn't say, "Isn't that nice!", But "Let's go and worship."
2. They set out as soon as they discovered the Star.
B. THEY PERSEVERED IN THEIR SEARCH
1. Their journey was difficult:
a. Hostile tribes, broad rivers, trackless deserts.
b. They had to travel by night and rest by day.
2. They had to overcome Hindrances.
a. The Ignorance of people -- "What new King?"
b. The Hostility of Herod -- his face grew black, his eyes flashed, subdued thunder was in his voice.
c. The Unbelief of Chief Priests and scribes. How strange to have the knowledge they did, but to be so unconcerned.
C. THEY WERE EXCITED/JOYFUL IN THEIR SEARCH
1. It confirmed their faith. First they saw the star. Next, the Scripture told them their destination was Bethlehem. As
they continued on, this star reappeared, so that they had the Star and the Scripture to guide them! That’s what we need.
2. They had their Spiritual Values/Priorities in the right place. They had education & wealth -- but they forsook them for the joy of gaining Christ.
D. THEY KEPT THE STAR IN ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE
1. When they arrived at the house, they forgot about the Star and entered in to personally know Christ. They recognized the Star was only a guide and not the goal.
2. The stars are still a guide today to point us to God (Ps. 19:1-4). Astrology takes the stars out of their “sign” category and gives them a deity all their own. That’s wrong; they are not the goal, Christ is!
3. Next the wise men worshiped Christ. And lastly, they gave Him gifts.
III. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE LIGHT OF OUR STAR
A. GOD HAS A LIGHT FOR YOU
1. You see, we all have a star leading us. It's not a literal star, but God has given us a conscience (unless we’re reprobate) which He intends to guide us. We also have a Guide in the Holy Spirit, Who shows us what to do.
2. Jesus said, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” John 16:13.
3. Also the Bible is our guide; “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path…”
B. CAN THERE BE A HIGHER PRIORITY IN LIFE THAN TO SEEK JESUS? (Notice the commitment of these men).
1. Imagine the Newspaper Headlines, "Three Astronomers Abandon their Observatory to Follow a Strange Star."
2. Their actions show their Commitment -- forsaking all.
3. Questions that they must have been asked:
a. "What about your business, your work? Will you let it fail by your absence?" "Who will look after your wives and families?"
b. They answered, "These must wait, for we have seen His Star!"
4. How can we live our lives with only earthly goals? We
might have everything, but what is the condition of our soul?
C. THEY SAW MORE IN JESUS THAN OTHERS
1. The Scripture says, that when they saw the young Child, they fell down and worshiped.
2. Others coming in might have said, "Many children are as nice-looking as this one." But when these men looked, THEY SAW! They didn’t see simply the physical. They saw the infinite in the Infant.
3. They didn't bring Christ cheap worship or empty- handed adoration; they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
A pastor invited an elderly man to speak in his church. The man told the following story;
1. "A father, his son and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he couldn’t keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
2. The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.
3. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the other end of the lifeline. He only had seconds to make the decision.
4.” The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision was worse than the pounding of the waves. As the father yelled out, "I love you, son!" he threw out the lifeline to his son's friend.”
5. “By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.”
6. “That father,” he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and that his son's friend would be
lost forever, therefore, he sacrificed his son to save his son's friend.
7. Our heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer and take hold of the lifeline He is throwing out to you in this morning." With that, the elderly man took his seat.
8. After the service, one of the teenagers went up to the elderly man. "That was a nice story," he said, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
9. He answered, "And yet, that's what God the Father did for you! As for my story being realistic, the truth is, I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend!"
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Have you accepted God's gift of eternal life in his Son? Have you taken hold of God's lifeline thrown to you?
2. Are you following God's Star in pursuit of Christ? Is your life centered around honoring Him at making your life a living sacrifice to Him?
3. Are you helping other people to find Christ? Are you getting enough of the light of Jesus in your life so that others can see Him?
4. Are you facing hindrances in your search? Persevere! All who continue seeking WILL find!
