WHAT MADE THE WISE MEN WISE?
Matt. 2:1-12
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. For many years there was a Christmas pageant every year in the (Miami) Dade County Auditorium, which seats 2,400 people. The cast included over 400 people and live animals.
2. One year their seasoned donkey died so they were forced to find a replacement. An animal trainer found one, but it had never been on stage before. The last dress rehearsal was a bit shaky.
3. On opening night, Mary and Joseph began their journey to Bethlehem. With Mary on its back, the donkey went about 15 feet, then noticed the spotlight & the crowd.
4. He began backing up toward the painted hills of Judah. When he bumped into the backdrop, he froze. The lights were turned off, then back on, to reveal 6 men dragging the donkey across the stage, with a very shaken Mary still clinging to its back.
5. That’s when the narrator summed up the situation, “Yes, it was a l-o-o-o-o-n-g journey to Bethlehem!”
[David Naster]
6. “Christmas According to Kids” Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suowe2czxcA
B. 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.
C. THESIS
1. The three Wise Men (if there were 3) appear to be just about as dense as most men. Did they bring toys? Clothes for baby Jesus? Something to eat? No!
2. WHAT DID THEY BRING?
a. A hunk of metal.
b. Ground tree sap.
c. Myrrh – a poisonous substance! Real bright!
3. If the Wise Men had been Wise Women they would have brought something more practical – like diapers, a wind-up swing, a pacifier, wipes, and spinach baby food!
4. So we know what the Wise Men did wrong (not really – they’re gifts were of great value), but WHAT DID THEY DO RIGHT? WHAT DID THE WISE MEN DO THAT WAS SO WISE?
I. THEY WERE WATCHFUL FOR SPIRIUAL SIGNS
A. THEY RECOGNIZED GOD’S VOICE/HAND
1. Who were these Magi?
a. Highly educated; a priestly caste.
b. Especially engaged in the study of Astronomy.
c. Hadn’t degenerated into idolatry, but were seekers after God. They saw the stars as God’s handiwork and writing tablet.
2. WHAT THEY DIDN’T SEE:
a. Misconceptions today. They didn’t see a…
1). Star (in the regular sense of the word);
2). Comet;
3). Conjunction of planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars-7B.C., as Kepler suggested in 1606).
b. It couldn’t have been a conjunction of planets because:
1). It continued to shine for 2 years!
2). It moved; disappeared and reappeared.
3). It hung so low in the atmosphere that they could distinguish which house it hung over. Jerusalem and Bethlehem were only a few miles apart.
B. THEY SAW SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL
1. A NEW STAR! Chinese astronomers recorded the appearance of a new star in 4 B.C. (Lange’s, “Matt.,” p. 57).
2. UNUSUAL LOCATION
3. STATIONARY over Israel – like a satellite – while all other stars moved across the sky.
4. HUMOR
a. A Pastor was preaching on the Wise Men. His main points formed the acrostic “STAR.”
b. The Pastor had 4 kids bring placards onto the platform at the end to spell the word “STAR.”
c. The moment came. They got mixed up and spelled it backwards – “RATS!” The congregation fell out.
C. THEY KNEW THE STAR WAS A SIGN FROM GOD
1. It was the shekinah light (like that in the Holy of Holies, from God’s burning presence) like what had led the Israelites in the wilderness with Moses.
2. The voice of God in the hearts of the Wise Men told them that this light pointed to the King of the Jews, which they must see and worship.
3. They didn’t have the Bible, churches on every corner, the gospel on the Internet, TV, radio, etc., but they listened to the Voice of God and carefully obeyed! (They put us to shame!)
4. Are we listening to the Voice of God? He is speaking! It may be by a light, peculiar circumstances, prompting of the Holy Spirit, or remembrance of Scriptures.
5. FOR THE WISE MEN, GOD USED A STAR.
“ “ FISHERMEN, God used a miraculous catch;
As a witness to all BAKERS, God multiplied bread.
“ “ “ “ FARMERS, God spoke of unplowed ground.
“ “ “ “ MERCHANTS, “Buy the truth and sell it not.”
For CRT OPERATORS: press “DELETE” to erase old life,
Press BACKSPACE to repent of your sins,
Press ENTER key to enter the Kingdom of Christ.
6. We will find Christ if we, like them, are earnest seekers.
II. THEY ACTED ON GOD’S VOICE/DIRECTION
A. THEY WERE MOVED TO ACTION
1. They weren’t content with admiring the star, comparing it to others, or just taking notes about it when it moved.
2. MANY OTHERS SAW THE STAR AND DID NOTHING!
a. Many today hear the Bible but don’t put it into practice.
b. The Scribes and Pharisees, when asked where the Christ was to be born, told the Wise Men, but they didn’t go themselves! Their religion was head knowledge, but not obedience. They weren’t doers, but hearers only!
c. SCARY TRUTH. Many who are physically near to the Gospel and have much light are far away in their hearts and will excluded (Mt. 7:21-23).
3. THE WISE MEN DIDN’T SAY, “Isn’t that Star nice?” but “Let’s go and worship!”
B. THEY DIDN’T CARE WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT
1. Imagine the Newspaper Headlines, "Three Astronomers Abandon their Observatory to Follow a Strange Star."
2. Friends surely said, “Who will take care of your wives, children and grandchildren?” THEY ANSWERED, “We must find the KING! We have seen His star! [they forsook all.]
3. THEY DID NOT DELAY; they set out at once. They didn’t know when it would disappear. We must “strike the iron while it’s hot;” we must move when God is stirring us and not put it off! Tomorrow may be too late.
III. THEY PERSEVERED IN THEIR SEARCH
A. THE JOURNEY WAS DIFFICULT
1. Had to travel by night and rest by day.
2. Had to face: Hostile tribes, broad rivers, trackless deserts.
3. Do we have to cross a desert to get to Jesus? Would you, if that’s what it took?
B. THEY HAD TO OVERCOME HINDRANCES
1. IGNORANCE of People – “What new king?”
2. HOSTILITY OF HEROD: face grew black; eyes flashed; voice
3. UNBELIEF of the Priests and Scribes.
a. How strange that none of them went with them?
b. They had no desire for Christ. Do we?
c. The Wise Men said, “I will find Christ alone if none will join me!”
VI. THEY ENTERED IN TO KNOW CHRIST
A. THE STAR STOPPED OVER THE HOUSE
1. They came to the house. What will they do? Keep looking to the Star? NO! They entered in. If you’ve been led to Christ, go to Him! Don’t linger at a distance.
2. They knocked on the door. They entered. They saw the face of God incarnate. You too must see Christ for yourself.
3. The Scripture says, that when they saw the young Child, they fell down and worshiped. 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.
4. They gave costly gifts – first they gave themselves, then they gave their goods to the Lord.
B. THE STAR DISAPPEARED
1. Forget about the preacher – the ‘Star’ that points you to Christ. Turn your attention to Jesus! Worship Him and see His face!
2. Jesus was born that you might be “born again.” He lived so you might live. He died so you might die to sin. He is risen and is interceding for you.
3. Don’t bring Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh; God wants you to bring your faith, your love, and your repentance and fall before the Son of God.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: "The Man Who Missed Christmas"
1. George Mason’s life revolved around his business - his bank. He lived alone, had never married, and refused all invitations to socialize. His brother’s family had urged him to come for Christmas, but the children always made too much noise. Besides, he didn’t want to buy presents for his nephews and nieces. Instead he bought some new music for himself and planned to listen to it at home by himself.
2. On Christmas eve, after his employees left, George Mason went into the bank vault one final time. Soundlessly, on newly oiled hinges, the great door swung shut behind him. Sudden darkness and the final click of the automatic lock startled him and he panicked.
3. Desperately he pounded on the door, but before long he realized that everyone had gone home and he was in the office alone. He comforted himself with the thought, “In the morning the employees will arrive, open the vault and I’ll be fine.”
4. Then he remembered that tomorrow was Christmas! The office was closed. Everyone would be at their homes. Surely someone would miss him, but who? His heart pounded as he worried about having oxygen, but the safe had an air hole!
5. He sat on the cold floor of the vault and began waiting for Christmas. The darkness was so intense it was almost brushing his face. Christmas Eve slowly passed. He was extremely uncomfortable, hungry and thirsty. Christmas Day passed even slower. He had wanted to be alone for Christmas but not this way. It was awful. More than 36 hours passed in the dark.
6. The day after Christmas the chief cashier arrived and disengaged the automatic lock of the vault but did not open the door. Without anyone seeing him George Mason staggered out of the safe and made his way to the water fountain. He grabbed his coat, hailed a taxi and went home to get cleaned up. Later in the day he returned to the office.
7. No one had missed him. As he pondered his experience he wrote these words: "To love people, to be needed somewhere, that is the purpose of life. That is the secret of happiness." [J. Edgar Park] Christmas is not about things or yourself!
B. THE CALL
1. The Wise Men probably spent some time planning what they would give the Son of God. There is an old proverb which says, "The only gift worth giving is yourself."
2. When God decided to give US a gift, He gave us the gift of Himself. Why don’t you give God the gift of yourself this Christmas. Let’s pray.
3. “Heavenly Father, You gave us the gift of Your Son – the gift we needed most. So I give You the best that I have – the gift of myself. Please receive my life as a gift. Help me to hear Your voice. Help me to do Your will. Help me to live to please you. Merry Christmas! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
