We are going to begin our year by asking God to open our eyes to see Jesus. When we see the beauty and majesty of Jesus our lives and hearts will be changed and we will be moved to grow in our discipleship and service.
Today we ask God to open our eyes to FIND Jesus. Though many have found Jesus many years ago, it is true that we never stop finding Jesus … learning more … growing closer. Our text today concerns some unlikely seekers who find Jesus and experience great joy!
Read Text: Matthew 2:1-12
We should seek a revelation of Jesus Christ in our own lives and hearts today. Are we really seeing Jesus? Are we seeking Him?
We learn from the visit of the Magi three things we need in order to seek and find Jesus … and keep finding Him.
1. We Need Light From Above (Matthew 2:1-2)
The Magi come with several mysteries. Who are they? Barclay says the Magi were skilled in philosophy, medicine, and natural science. They also interpreted dreams. They studied the stars because they believed that through astrology they could foretell the future. Many believe they were astronomers from Persia who would have been acquainted with the Jewish thoughts and prophecies going back to Nehemiah and Ezra and Daniel.
Their search for Jesus began with light from above. “We cannot tell what star the Magi saw; but it was their profession to watch the heavens, and some heavenly brilliant spoke to them of the entry of a king into the world.” (William Barclay). In our desire to always be finding Jesus, we also need light from above.
*Scripture. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
*Experience. Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
*Sharing. We can never tell who will hear as we share the love of Christ with others.
As we seek to find Jesus we need light from above.
2. We Need Perseverance
The journey of the wise men was not an easy one.
*There was the danger of the journey (long, expensive, treacherous).
*There was the danger of King Herod. We meet four generations of Herods in the New Testament. It is the founder, who ruled from 47–4 B.C., who was then aged and nearing the end of his life, whom we meet in Matthew 2. Herod the Great kept peace and order in Palestine, built the Temple in Jerusalem, could be generous. He had one terrible flaw in his character - he was insanely suspicious … and the older he got the more suspicion he grew. In his old age he was described as “a murderous old man”. (Barclay). He murdered his wife and her mother. His eldest son, Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and Areistobulus were all assassinated by him. Augustus the Roman Emperor said bitterly that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. (Barclay) His murder of the children of Bethlehem was not really unexpected, Jerusalem knew this is his way.Even so, they persevered on their quest to the end!
In our search for Jesus we have to have perseverance! The greatest blessing we could ever hope for is to partake in the grace of our Father through Jesus. Even so, there are struggles in following Christ:
-Within ourselves
-Within our families
-With our unChristian friends and coworkers
-With other Christians.
James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
We persevere because it is worth it! No matter what you encounter on your journey, never give up.
3. We Need Discernment (2:7-9)
The Wise men were called into conference with King Herod. (Read vs 12)
We may encounter many sources of discouragement and untruth in our journey to follow Christ.
Discernment is wisdom, the ability to be focused on the truth.
We need light from above, perseverance and discernment…
4. When We Find Jesus …
- Worship His Majesty. With Joy - Vs 10 They were overjoyed. With Reverence vs 11 - they saw Jesus and bowed
down and worshiped him
- Offer Yourself to His Service
They offered to Jesus three gifts.(Barclay)
*Gold was a gift for a king.
*Frankincense is the gift for a priest. It was in the Temple worship and Temple sacrifices that the sweet perfume of frankincense was used. Jesus was not only a king to be served, he was a priest who builds a bridge between man and God.
*Myrrh is the gift for one who is to die. Myrrh was used to embalm the bodies of the dead. Jesus came into the world to die. These gifts foretold that Jesus was the true King, the perfect High Priest, and the supreme Savior of mankind.
What gifts do we offer to Jesus today… how do we serve him because He is worthy of every effort and of our entire lives.
Conclusion
We need to seek Jesus every day.
These Wise Men are an example to us in giving up everything to search for Christ… searching until they found Him.
Today we have the message of Christ so plainly surrounding us … do we still seek him with our whole heart?
Are you searching for Him today?
LifeGroup Discussion Questions
1. The Magi brought three expensive gifts to the King of the Jews. What is one gift you would like to give to
Jesus this year?
2. Why was Bethlehem a significant location for the birth of Jesus?
3. What’s the difference between the Magi and the modern day magicians? Some translations use other
terms to describe these visitors … what are some?
4. How should our response to Jesus look like the Magi’s response?
5. How is it clear that the star was not merely a natural phenomenon?
6. How does this passage speak to God’s desire to reach the nations with the message of Jesus?
7. The Magi brought three expensive gifts. How might those have assisted in the flight to Egypt to escape
Herod’s murder of the children?
8. Matthew is the only gospel writer to mention the Magi. Matthew is the only gospel writer who tells us
of this visit. He writes primarily to a Jewish audience. What do you think Matthew intends to
convey with this account?
9. Barclay writes, “The star they saw was ‘the first sign and symbol of the world conquest of Christ’. What
do you think he means by this?
10. What is the greatest epiphany you have had about Jesus?
Resources
Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Matthew: Christ-Centered Exposition. Holman, 2013.
O’Donnell, Douglas Sean. Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth; Preaching the Word series. Crossway, 2013.
Sermon by Spurgeon at https://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons39.xxxvii.html
