“In Search Of…” Matthew 2:1-11
Years ago there was an interesting T.V. show – called “In Search Of…” The whole premise of the show was to search out some mystery of the times. Everything a pharaoh’s pyramid to aliens to big foot. And yet as each episode progressed it seemed that they were doing nothing more than creating additional questions. By the time an episode would end they never really answered the “what” of what they were searching for. It always left you wondering…
Recently a T.V. show has done the same thing. A fictional show called “X-Files” - this shows favorite line is – “the truth is out there.” And yet if you watch the show it seems that no matter what they do in their search, in all their chasing after odd occurrences for the truth they NEVER find it.
Now – this may seem to be a strange way to start a Christmas message – BUT is it really?
In our text this morning searching is the very thing that these men were doing. While their journey would end in finding Jesus when He was a tad older… the search started long before His actual birth – and this is where we join them… Because seeking God, searching for Him is vital.
Listen closely this morning – you might hear a description of yourself, as we look a little deeper into what was really happening… (READ VERSES 1-2)
Notice that it was after He was born that they arrived, but the very important truth lies in verse two when they say, “we saw His star and have come…”
You see, these men, The Magi were SEEKERS (verses 1-2)
Magi spent they whole life scouring the heavens, books, history, science, nature and literature for life’s answers. We don’t know how they knew that this star was “THE” star but we can suppose that it was out of the ordinary, and because they were watched, they looked, for an answer. In fact they were cult like in their nature. They spent day in and day out looking – they were not sure from where it would come but they
These Magi were seekers because they were looking for God to come– they didn’t say who would become King- but who IS King, they were seekers because they had thought nothing of traveling thousands of miles, crossing a desert (and yes years) to find The Messiah. Most of us wouldn’t even cross the street.
Let’s continue in verses 3 and 7 – (READ) this guy was not a seeker – No - Herod was a HATER.
Why? Well, Herod was not the rightful king to the throne, he didn’t want the Jews to rally around a new religious leader. Herod had done some great things to try and win over the Israelites but as he had gotten older he was a ruthless, self-seeking man. If he thought someone was infringing on his turf he simply had them killed. It was common knowledge at the time that created a saying… “that it is better to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.”
There are still people like that. They are so worried about their position, they will not even bother seeking who Jesus is because they are so persuaded by their own agenda, their own prideful desire to “be in charge of my own life.”
In fact you will find that if you are seeking out God, they are going to get angry and upset because you just might expose the fact that their not the ones in charge, that they are the king.
But let’s not forget the crowd of people who are almost never talked about in this text.
READ verses 3, 5-6 Isn’t it odd that - The Israelites were just WAITERS (verses 5-6 & 3)
This is a people who were supposed to be looking for a Messiah to come.
They read the scriptures (in fact they quoted it to Herod), they argued the text, discussed signs, made up laws… but it doesn’t seem that they really believed any of it. Oh sure they knew what the book said, but they just sat back and figured God would blast on the scene some time… maybe… “Oh well, we’ll just wait and complain about it taking so long…”
In verse 3 - They weren’t troubled that THE Messiah was born… they were troubled about how Herod would react.
People today still sit around waiting… for what? They’re not looking for anything… just kinda sitting around waiting for God to hit them with a Holy Brick. God has already given you all the information and revelation that you need to find Him… Are you waiting for Him to write you a message in the stars? He already did once!
Found, what do you do with it?
Well what you do with it really depends on which of the three your like…
You have to do something with it… even your lack of doing something is really a response…
You can - REJECT Him like the Religious Aristocracy with INDIFFERENCE
Frankly that is how a lot of people respond today. It doesn’t fit their preconceived, self-imposed ideas, so they simply brush it off, pay no attention. The saddest part of this is that it was the Temple Leaders, the temple goers that were indifferent. That philosophy began along time ago with the Gnostics… it is where we get the word Agnostic.
This person is like the guy who was sitting at a gathering in London, where a furious theological controversy occurred. A Christian lost his temper and boisterously asked a stranger who sat next to him: "On which side, sir, are you? Are you a Atheist or a Deist?"
"Oh, neither, sir," was the reply, "I’m a dentist."
It is people who claim they just don’t know if they believe there is or isn’t a God. Well that is -HOGWASH! If you are searching out the truth and it is standing there looking you in the face and you just decide to ignore it doesn’t make it go away.
That is like having a deadly disease and being told you have a disease and you just decide your don’t know if really believe it our not. Friend you better quit being indifferent and deal with reality.
You can -REACT like Herod and become INCENSED
At least Herod believed the truth, even more than the Scribes and Pharisees. How do we know that? Because if he hadn’t he would not have gotten so mad and tried to kill Jesus. He was afraid to lose his power, his place, and his influence…
There are still people who react this way to the truth. They would gladly destroy Jesus Christ…
If your desire is to be your own boss, to live selfishly, that you think Jesus is going to interfere with your life, and not let you do what you want to do - then your reaction will be the same.
It is the person who wants to have a power play… they know that they are not the rightful one to be in charge– that’s where the power struggle comes in… its easier to just try and do away with Jesus than to have to deal with Him.
So like Herod you can get mad that this Jesus is here- but it won’t change the fact that He is.
You can - REJOICE like the Magi and be INSPIRED
Unlike Herod and the Jewish leaders, these men finished their search to its true and real conclusion. They searched and they found. It had taken thousands of miles… not just years in the desert but years searching –
They entered, they bowed, the gave, they worshiped and they obeyed. And they went away inspired, fulfilled…
Where did your journey begin? Are you searching?
Some people expect God to come looking for them, explain Himself, prove who He is and give us gifts. But is the truly wise who search out and worship Jesus for who He is and not what they can get out of it… not just at Christmas but every moment.
The truth isn’t out there somewhere… it is right here –
Deuteronomy 4:29 says “From there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.”
God is here with us… in His Son and in His Spirit –open your eyes and heart and let the journey end, right here… with Emmanuel – God with us.
