OPEN: Years ago I wrote a song about the Wise Men. The first verse went this way
“Out in the fields, watching the sky. Looking to heaven, searching on high.
Troubled by things I’d seen on this earth, I knew that my answer lay with a child’s birth.
For the prophecy said that a star in the sky, would lead us to worship the King from on High.
A king would be born far off in the East, and those who gave homage would rest in his peace.”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHRDxL-8W90)
(PAUSE) Matthew 2:2 said, “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.”
(We showed a picture of a Nativity on the screen) This is the Christmas season and all across the world there are Nativity scenes that feature: Mary, Joseph and the Baby; Shepherds and Angels; Cattle, Donkeys and Sheep; and (of course) the Wisemen.
Now the problem with those scenes is that Wisemen didn’t show up till about 2 years later. Our text says they came to the “house” where Jesus was and there are a couple of other clues in the story that imply that Jesus was probably between 1 and 2 years old.
We don’t much about these men. They were obviously important men, and wealthy men, and they studied the stars. But we don’t know how many there were (there were 3 gifts, but there could have been 20 or more of them that came to Bethlehem); we don’t their names; and we don’t know exactly where they came from.
There is speculation that they may have lived as much as 1000 miles away and that the preparation for their trip may have taken about 2 to 3 months (there were no convenience stores on the way so they’d have had to have taken much of what they needed with them). And they may have traveled with as many as 300 armed men and servants (it was a long and dangerous trip fraught with danger).
But the big question is not where they came from, or their names, or how long it took them. The BIG QUESTION is this: Why? Why had these men to travel such great distance? Why would they leave homes and families and go on what might have been nothing more than a wild good chase?
Well, Scripture says they did this because they’d come to worship a new-born King. When they reached Jerusalem they asked “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.” Matthew 2:2
They’d come to worship Jesus because they’d searched the heavens and they’d seen a NEW star. A new star? Was that possible? Could there have been A NEW STAR in the heavens at that time?
ILLUS: Well, that’s what an author named Robert McIver believes. He spent 3 decades researching for his book, “Star of Bethlehem - Star of Messiah.” He cited writings from ancient Chinese and Korean astronomers who said they observed a new star about the time of the birth of Christ. McIver also discussed paintings describing this in Roman catacombs, as well as coins from various countries which depict an unusual star about this time. He even noted observations from other cultures around the world that might refer to an unusual new star at around the time of Christ's birth. (quoted from “When They Saw The Star” by Henry M. Morris).
This WAS an unusual star.
ILLUS: Do you know how you can tell a star from a planet? (Stars “twinkle”) You know how I know that? “Twinkle, twinkle little star.” Yeah, it’s a nursery rhyme, but it’s dead-on scientifically. As the light from stars travels through the vast expanse of the universe it encounters turbulence that causes the starlight to twinkle. Planets don’t twinkle. But I don’t think THIS star twinkled. I think it was a bold light in the sky. This was a very unique heavenly light.
In fact, this was a different kind of a star than any that we’ve ever seen, because – this star (pause) MOVED!!!! Matthew 2:9 tells us: “… behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.” This star moved until it came to rest over Christ’s home in Bethlehem.
There’s been all kinds of theories about how this new star could have been a comet or a meteor or a conflagration of planets (Saturn, Jupiter and Mars). “Conflagration” is a $20 dollar word meaning that these 3 planets “lined up” in a straight line in earth’s sky.
But each of those theories has its problems. This was a star that caught everybody’s attention, a star that stayed in the night sky for at least 2 years or so, AND it moved to a place directly over where Jesus lived. Ordinary stars (or meteors or comets or a "conflagration" of planets) can’t do that. But This One Did! And many theologians and Wisemen of our age aren’t comfortable with that.
Why wouldn’t they be comfortable with that? Why do they have to rely on comets and meteors and such instead of simply being satisfied with saying “It was a miracle”?
Well, the problem with Modern Man is that they’re not satisfied with miracles. They don’t believe in a God who can do cool stuff without asking their permission. They don’t believe in a God who doesn’t need the help of natural phenomena. They don’t believe in a God who can do what the Bible says He can do. And so they need natural explanations - like meteors and comets and stuff like that.
Now I would expect this kind of thinking from pagans and unbelievers, but it really annoys me from folks who are supposedly Christians.
ILLUS: I often listen to a man on the internet. He’s a man who usually stands strong for the Word of God. But a few months back I heard him say that he rejected the idea that God created the world in 6 days because (he said) it violated the laws of physics.
Now excuse me… when did they pass those laws? These “laws of physics” when did they pass those? What congress or legislative body of rule makers decided that this was the way things should be? Well… they didn’t, did they? The laws of physics are simply observations by scientists that describe how things work in the universe. These observations are valid and because these principles of Physics are so dependable, scientists can predict without any error, how the Universe is going to behave in any given situation. Scientists call their observations of these predictable principles of the Universe - LAWS.
But they’re not really “laws” – they don’t give you a ticket for violated them. These principles are just how things work in the Universe.
Now – Who created the Universe? (God did)
AND just how powerful is God? (Powerful beyond imagination)
So if God - who created the Universe and is powerful beyond imagination - decides to violate the “laws” of Physics… who’s gonna stop Him?
We need to realize God’s done all kinds of things that defied the Laws of Physics. They’re called “miracles”
• Do you remember when Moses first met God? How did God get his attention? That’s right - He appeared to Moses in a bush that burst into flames… but it did not burn up. That defied the laws of physics. That's not supposed to happen.
• Then, when He led the Israelites thru the desert, God led them with a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. That defied the laws of physics. You can’t do stuff like that.
• But the really intriguing time was an incident recorded in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. For centuries, God had dwelt in the midst of Israel in the Tabernacle and later, the Temple. His presence there was called the “Glory Of The Lord” (remember that phrase). But by the time of Ezekiel, Israel had become a corrupt nation ignoring God and engaging in all kinds of evil behavior. And Ezekiel tells us that “… the GLORY OF THE LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.” (Ezekiel 11:23) The "glory of the Lord" left the Temple… and left Jerusalem and (before leaving Israel) it hovered over a nearby mountain. This was the last mention of the glory of the Lord found in the Old Testament (other than an historic or prophetic reference). So the GLORY OF THE LORD left Israel
Now that also defied the laws of physics, but it also told us something cool. The Glory of the Lord had left Israel in the days of the prophet Ezekiel… but in Luke we’re told "an angel of the Lord appeared to (the shepherds) and the GLORY OF THE LORD shone around them.” Luke 2:9
The Glory of God had returned to Israel.
Just as the Glory of the Lord hovered over the mountain as it left Jerusalem, so the Star in the East hovered over Bethlehem to announce the return of God’s Glory. The star announced that God had become flesh. God had come to dwell among man. That’s why Jesus was referred to as Immanuel – “God With Us.”
Now the theologians and Wisemen of our age have problems with all that. If they can’t explain Bible stories in natural terms they’re not comfortable buying into it. They’re a lot like the people of Jerusalem in our story: “When Herod the king heard (about the star and the New born King) he was TROUBLED, and all Jerusalem with him” Matthew 2:3
All of Jerusalem was troubled because God hadn’t done what they’d expected Him to do. He hadn’t done it THEIR way. He didn’t tell them first. Instead of appearing to THEM (in Jerusalem where the important and powerful lived) the angels had appeared to shepherds out in the field, and the Star supposedly had appeared to foreigners (not to the folks who should have gotten noticed – the Jews). And so the folks in Jerusalem didn’t go to worship Jesus. Bethlehem was only 6 miles down the road, but they couldn’t find the time to get out of bed and go to where He was, check it out, and honor Him.
But the Wisemen in our story today weren’t like that. They went as much as 1000 miles to worship Jesus…to honor Him… and give Him gifts.
(PAUSE…) Did you catch their question that they asked of the people in Jerusalem? “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.” (Matthew 2:2) There was a star in the sky and the Wisemen couldn’t explain it… but they knew what it meant. There was a King to be born in Israel, and they’re so excited about it they left their homes and families and traveled a vast distance to be in His presence.
Now, how on earth did they know about this Star? And what made them think it meant there’d be a new King born in Israel? Where would they get that kind of information? Well… they looked in the Bible. In the book of Numbers a prophet had declared: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: A STAR shall come out of Jacob, and A SCEPTER (the staff held by a King) shall rise out of Israel…” (Numbers 24:17) The Bible told them all they needed to know about Jesus. And the Bible tells us all WE need to know about Jesus.
The only question is… what are we gonna do about it?
One last thing: when the Wisemen left Jerusalem we’re told “the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they REJOICED WITH EXCEEDINGLY GREAT JOY.” Matthew 2:9-10
They saw the star… and they were filled with Joy. Why? Was it because it was a “pretty” star (pause) or unique or unusual? No. They were filled with joy because the star was going to lead them to Jesus.
ILLUS: I read the true story of a woman told about her daughter Jana’s part in the Christmas play. The little girl was so excited about her part (which she kept a secret) that her mom thought she was going to be one of the main characters. The day of the play, the mother said she could see the shepherds fidgeting in the corner. And there was Mary and Joseph standing solemnly behind the manger. In the back three young wise men waited impatiently. But still Jana sat quietly and confidently.
Then the teacher began: "A long time ago, Mary and Joseph had a baby and they named Him Jesus. And when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared over the stable."
That was her cue… and Jana got up from her chair, picked up a large tin-foil star, walked behind Mary and Joseph and held the star up high for everyone to see. When the teacher told about the shepherds coming to see baby, 3 shepherds came forward and once again Jana jiggled the star up and down she was excitedly showing them where to come. And when the wise men responded to their cue, Jana went forward to meet them and then led the way to where the baby was.
On the way home Jana said, with great satisfaction, “I had the main part!” “You did?" said her mother, wondering why she thought that. “Yes,” she said, “cause I showed everybody how to find Jesus!”
CLOSE: Now here’s the point: God went to a great deal of trouble to point the way to Jesus. That’s why you’re here. That’s why many of you are Christians.
But if you’re not a Christian…what would it take for God to point the way to Jesus for you? What would it take for you to be sooo excited about Christ that you’d be willing to give Him whatever He wants for Christmas?
In the movie clip we showed before the sermon (from the movie “The Star” put out by Sony) one of the Wisemen says: “I hope you like Frankincense… I never know what to get.” Do you know what to get for Jesus this Christmas? There’s only one thing God desires. In the days of the Wisemen, Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh were valuable commodities, but they mattered far less to God than the one gift you can give Him this Christmas. That gift is YOU. Your life, your love and your dedication to Him.
INVITATION
