Sermon Preached at Grace Community Church (EPC)
Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ
Sunday, January 3, 2010
by the Reverend Cooper McWhirter
“The Visitation by the Wise Men”
Matthew 2:1-12
Several years ago, I came across a humorous article which suggested that had the wise men been women, this wondrous event would have come off without a hitch. For one thing, they would have arrived in time for the birth of the Christ Child. Why? Well, the answer should be obvious. They would have stopped and asked for directions! Then, too, had the wise men been women, they would have arrived in plenty of time to have cleaned up the stalls, decorated the manger making it presentable enough to be on the cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine. Finally, had the wise men been women, they would have brought practical gifts like casseroles for the whole family to enjoy. Who knows, they might have organized a neighborhood “Tupperware Party”!
From our text, it would appear to indicate that by the time these wise men arrived, Jesus was no longer an infant, but a child perhaps two years of age. And instead of finding Him in a stable, Jesus’ parents were, by this time, residing in a house. Keep in mind that Joseph was compelled to register for the census. Then, perhaps two years later, Joseph and his family returned to Bethlehem to pay the taxes which were due.
So, what do we know about these so-called “wise men”? Scripture gives us little information which heightens our interests. For instance, where did they come from? All we’re told is that they came “from the east.” However, our text implies they had traveled a great distance. Some Bible scholars assert they might have traveled a thousand miles or more. If so, they would have needed pack animals (e.g., donkeys or camels) to traverse the arid desert landscape, carrying not only their own possessions but the gifts they were bringing for the Christ Child.
Speaking of gifts, these three items were of considerable value both then and now. And because three gifts are specifically mentioned, people merely assume there must have been three wise men. But again, the Scriptures do not specify either who they were, or how many there were. So, it appears that we have more questions than answers. Which brings to light an interesting point. When it comes to the Bible, people should never engage in speculation.
What I can tell you is this. Many ancient records portrayed these wise
men as “sages.” In the Greek, the word for magi is (pronounced ma-goy), which is where we get our word “magician.” However, the more accurate pronunciation is “may ji”. In some cultures, these magi were nothing more than sorcerers who dabbled in the so-called “dark arts.” However, Persians referred to such men of enlightenment as “philosophers.” In the ancient near East, magi were held in high esteem because they were learned men who became familiar with other cultures, languages, religions, and sciences, such as astronomy.
By the sixth century the following names were attributed to these wise men: Melchior, Baltazar and Gaspar. But again, this falls more into the category of conjecture rather than fact.
So, let’s get this straight. We don’t know who these people were, how many there were, or where they came from. And why was Matthew the only gospel writer to record this historic event; one which has become so shrouded in mystery?
Let me suggest that the reason why only Matthew recorded this event was because he was writing as a Jew, to the Jews, about a Jew…the Jewish Messiah. The details surrounding this visitation may never be known but the fact remains that these magi were wise enough to follow the star. They were wise enough to know that something quite extraordinary had taken place. And they were wise enough to believe in something far greater than themselves.
For when all is said and done: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM (repeat).
Some Bible scholars have suggested that these magi were descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel that had remained in Babylon after the time of Daniel. But whether they were of Jewish ancestry or pagans, this much we do know; they earnestly sought the long-awaited Messiah.
These wise men might well have been familiar with a passage from the Book of Numbers, which says: “…a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel…” [Number 24:17]. For hundreds of year’s wise men had searched the heavens for a “sign”. And when this star rose in the eastern sky, they rejoiced and came seeking the One who was born “King of the Jews.”
This star in the night sky was something quite extraordinary. It could not have been a supernova, or a conjunction of planets, as some modern theorists have suggested. That’s because this star moved in the sky and then later hovered over one place. The little town of Bethlehem. These wise men may not have known precisely what they were looking for, or what they would find once they arrived, but intuitively they knew it was a worthy endeavor to search for the One to whom the prophets of Old had spoken about.
Contrast this with the chief priests and the Jewish scribes who were answerable to Herod the Great. They seemed oblivious to what was happening right under their noses! They had not shown the least bit of interest in searching for the Messiah King; that is, until these foreigners arrived at their doorstep.
And that’s how some people react, today. They seem either unwilling or disinterested in discovering what Bible prophecies were fulfilled at Jesus’ birth. Instead, they go about their lives as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. They leave it up to others to do the research for them. Unlike these ancient sages, we no longer need to rely on a star to direct our path. We have God’s Word to help guide us through all of life’s journeys.
Then, too, if the truth be known: WISE MEN STILL SERVE HIM (repeat).
Whether these magi came as official envoys from foreign nations, or whether they came on their own initiative, the fact remains that they came to serve the Christ Child. Our Scripture text tells us that they first came to Jerusalem to find where the Child could be found. These wise men must have gained some measure of notoriety for soon they were brought before Herod for a private audience.
Herod must have become enraged when they said: “Where is He who is born king of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east …” “Born King of the Jews?” these magi had said. Herod was not about to entertain such a notion. No, he was intent on building his own empire. After all, he had seized power by force and he ruled with an iron-clenched fist. Originally appointed by the Roman Senate to be ruler of Judea, Herod was a non-Jew. It’s believed Herod was an Idumean, a descendant of the Edomites. Thus, he was a distant descendant of Esau. He had nothing but contempt for the Jews and had little regard for human life. To remove all opposition, Herod murdered his own wife, three of his sons, his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law, and an uncle; not to mention of course the wanton slaughter of all the male children in Bethlehem from newborn infants up through the age of two.
Yes, Herod was incensed when news arrived about the birth of a King. But at least for a while he kept his composure long enough to have instructed these travelers to return to Jerusalem once they had found the Child, so that he, too, might pay his respects. But, in a dream, the magi were warned to return to their homeland by a different route. And this they did.
These magi had a choice to make. They could either do Herod’s bidding, or they could serve the Christ Child. Yes, these men were wise indeed. They chose to serve the only One who could ever possibly save them.
And wise men still serve Him, today. Are you serving Christ Jesus? Or, are you more concerned with appeasing others? The choices we make are not always easy ones; nevertheless, they are binding!
But not only did these wise men seek Him, and not only did they come to serve Him, but they also came to worship Him. Yes, WISE MEN STILL WORSHIP HIM (repeat).
These men had traveled from a distant land to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And they did so with a quiet confidence and with a certainty of hope. Examine the text for yourselves where it says: “We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him” [Matthew 2:2].
As a token of their desire to worship the King, they brought expensive gifts. Gold, a gift fit for royalty, frankincense, a gift fit for a hard-working man like that of a carpenter, and myrrh, a gift suited for one’s burial. Were they aware of the significance of these gifts and what they would come to symbolize? We have no way of knowing. But this much we do know; these gifts were suitable not just for any king, but the one true King. Perhaps at some point they even discovered that this King would also become their Savior!
Yes, wise men still worship Him. Are you a wise man, or a wise woman? Are you here this morning to worship Christ the King? I’m not just talking about giving Him “lip service.” Some people attend church all of their lives and never become engaged in the true worship of this King. You see, the
true essence of worship is when we offer ourselves as a living testimony as to
who He is, what He has done, and what He shall do in the lives of His people.
J. C. Ryle, an Anglican Bishop, once said about these wise men, “We read of no greater faith in all the Bible. It is a faith that deserves to be placed beside that of the penitent thief on the cross, the Canaanite woman, and that of the Roman centurion.” He then goes on to say, “The wise men saw a newborn babe on the lap of a poor woman, yet they worshiped Him and confessed that He was the Christ.”
Yes, these magi really were “wise” men, indeed. And today, wise men and women still seek Him, wise men and women still serve Him, and wise men and women still worship Him. One day may it be said of GCC that this was a church of wise men and women who earnestly desired to seek Him, to serve Him and to worship Him, now and always.
Let us pray…
