“It Not Too Late Too Worship Jesus”
Matthew 2:1-12
When I told you the text you may be thinking, “Bro John Christmas is over!” But in reality the story of the Wise Men which has always been associated with the Christmas story did not happen at the same time as the visit of the Shepherds. Read with me Matthew 12:1-2, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, "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."
In most nativity scenes the wise men are arranged with the shepherds and the angels at the birth of Jesus. But we know from Matthew 2 that the wise men did not arrive on the night of Jesus’ birth it was later. Matthew specifically uses the word “house” (oikian) instead of stable (v. 11). He also used the word “child” (paidion) instead of newborn (v.11). And based upon the 16th verse of Matthew 2, we can infer that Jesus was probably some where between 12 months and 24 months old when the wise men visited Him. (Herod commanded that all the male children 2 and under killed).
By way of introduction I want to briefly touch on three questions concerning the Wise Men.
1. Who were these Men?
These wise men were literally “Magi,” members of priestly caste form the area now known as Iraq. Dr. John MacArthur writes about the importance of the Magi, “Because of their combined knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history, …they became the most prominent and powerful group of advisors in the… Persian and Babylonian empires. Historians tells us that no Persian was able to become king without mastering the scientific and religious disciplines of the magi and then being approved and crowned by them.” [John MacArthur. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7. (Chicago:Moody Press, 1987. p. 27]
2. How had They Been Guided?
The wise men said that a “star” had led them. What was the star that they followed? Some astronomers theorize that at this time, several planets came into alignment in relation to earth and would have created what appeared to be an extremely bright star. Others suggest it was a comet, or the emergence of a super-nova. But I think that those theories ignore the key point that the scripture says that this star “moved.”
All attempts to explain the star as a natural phenomenon are inadequate and a waste of time. Verse nine says that the star that went before them stood right over the house of Joseph and Mary. This star was a supernatural guidance system, a luminary from God which hung low in the sky and moved ahead of the Magi, leading them first to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem and finally to the very house where baby Jesus resided. God gave the wise men a supernatural guidance system to lead them to the newborn king. The same God who guided Israel through the Wilderness, by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, now guided these Gentiles to Jesus by a star.
3. Why Had They Come?
Why did these Gentile wise men come at this time? At the heart of this account is worship, the submission and the adoration of the magi for Jesus, for as soon as they arrive in Jerusalem, they announce, "We have come to worship him." (v.2). They came for the sole purpose of worshipping Jesus Christ. These men were worshippers and I want to spend the majority of our time this morning examining what their story has to tell us about true worship.
First, True Worship Is Open to All
This passage reveals that God had chosen these wise men to come to Palestine to worship Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world and the only source of truth. The inclusion of these Gentile wise men helps us to see that all the peoples of the world are free to worship Jesus Christ. Anyone and everyone is called to worship Jesus Christ. But although all are free to worship Jesus, not everyone will choose too. We will see this truth in a few moments when the wise men have an audience with King Herod and his religious advisors.
True Worship Is Open to All and …
Secondly, True Worship Requires Commitment
If I were to ask you this morning, “Do you worship God?” Most of us would probably say, “Yes, I worship God every week!” And by that you mean that on Sunday’s between 10-11 a.m. you come to the “worship service” at the church. But there is a distinction between attending a “worship service” and actually worshipping. Is worship something that we can really do for one hour a week? True worship is more than that, it requires a commitment of our time and our resources.
When we look at the Magi we see a group of people who were true worshippers. They were willing to commit themselves to worshipping the Lord. Their willingness to make a journey to Bethlehem is only one evidence of that. It should be remembered that this journey demanded a great deal of commitment, of both their time and their resources. It was not an easy journey – travel conditions were at times very difficult due to the weather or to the terrain or the threat of robbery. The desire to express their worship was so important that they were willing to sacrifice months of their lives and even risk their own personal safety. They were enabled by God to travel hundreds of miles, making a long and arduous journey that probably took more than a year. They spent much time, money and energy on their quest to worship the Lord.
Sometimes we may have to interrupt our agenda and our schedules so that we can align our hearts with His. All too often we are interested in worship that fits into our lives and our schedules. We will go to church as long as we get home before the kick off. But if we are only interested in worshipping the Lord when it is convenient is that really worship?
But because True Worship Requires Commitment not everyone will choose to do so. Verse three says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Herod was anything but pleased when he is informed of the birth of a new king in Israel. The scripture says that Herod was disturbed and upset when he heard these things and at all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him. It is not surprising that all Jerusalem was terrified because every time Herod got paranoid, someone died. I imagine that everyone in Jerusalem was fearful that this new report of a kingly candidate would send Herod into one of his murderous rages.
Herod reacts by sending for his advisors and asks (vv.4-7), “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (6) "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel."’ (7) Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.(8) And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
Herod instructed the magi to go to Bethlehem and make a diligent search for the new king and when they had found him report back to Herod so that he had too could worship him. But Herod no intention of worshipping Christ. He not only refused to worship but he tried to eliminate Jesus. In verse sixteen we are told that Herod in attempt to kill Jesus has every child under the age of two killed (Matt 2:16). Herod ultimately died a wretched death and entered into a eternal destiny of hell, because he refused to believe and worship Jesus.
It should also be noted that the religious leaders who were consulted by Herod also showed no interest in worshipping the king. When Herod asked them where the Messiah would be born they knew the right answer based on their knowledge of the Old Testament Scripture. Even being told that the Messiah had been born did not move them. They showed absolutely no interest in finding the king or worshipping Him. Like Herod they were headed for destruction. Their indifference and unbelief proved their miserable destiny.
The apostle Paul wrote years later, "In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). The Wise Men found true wisdom ultimately in the Lord Jesus Christ. The tragedy is that Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and the population of Jerusalem did not discover the treasure. Although they had the greatest advantage in terms of the potential for discovery, they refused to investigate. In contrast, the magi, who had the least spiritual advantage, searched, discovered and worshipped.
In verse nine we are told as they leave the presence of King Herod: Led by the star, the Wise men make the seven-mile trip from Jerusalem to
Bethlehem.
There they found the one they sought, verse nine, “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
The magi acknowledge in their action the right of this child king to reign and rule in their lives. Their worship was spontaneous and joyful. First, they prostrate themselves before the baby king, and then present him with gifts of great material value which also have great significance.
True Worship Requires Commitment and …
Third, True Worship Comes From the Heart (v. 11a)
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.”
They did not leave their gifts with Mary and Joseph, and say, “Congratulations, these are for your son!” and be on their way. What they really wanted was to be in His presence… to be in His glory … and to give Him their worship. They worshipped Him, not for anything that he might do for them but solely for the honor and glory that they might render to Him. They bowed in humble adoration – not to a powerful ruler or a world dictator, but to a helpless child. There were no questions no demands, nothing! They just fell and worshipped. Their actions were not mere religious ritual they came from the heart!
The Anglican preacher of years past, J.C. Ryle, wrote of these men, “We read of no greater faith than this in all the Bible. It is the faith that deserves to be placed side by side with that of the penitent thief. The thief saw one dying the death of a malefactor and yet prayed to him and called him ‘Lord.’ The wise men saw a newborn babe on the lap of a poor woman and yet worshipped him and confessed that he was the Christ. ”
True Worship Comes From the Heart and …
Fourth, True Worship Is Costly (v.11b)
After they fell down and worshipped, the Magi gave the Baby Jesus gifts. Verse eleven continues, with, “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh…”
The gifts of the Magi were a reflection of their worship. Genuine worship is costly. Do your remember when David was given a chance to sacrifice to God without spending any money? You read about it in 2 Samuel 24, there a man by the name of Araunah, offered to give David everything that he needed for the sacrifice. Do you remember what David said? He said, “I will not offer to God that which cost me nothing.” (2 Sam 24:24). David knew that it was impossible to show his thankfulness to God by offering that which did not cost him anything.
In John 12 we read about a woman named Mary who came while Jesus sat at dinner and anointed his feet with an expensive ointment, she literally broke the vessel and poured it all at the feet of Jesus. Those who truly worship Jesus delight to expressing there thankfulness by giving extravagantly in there worship of Him.
When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, it means that He is your King. This involves much more than just your financial giving, but what you give does reveal whether he is YOUR King or not. Many want to give to God each month, but they pay all their bills and spend on themselves and then if there is any left over, they give God some of it! God deserves your first not your leftovers.
He wants the first part – the tithe. We are talking about worship here, and worship is recognizing the worth of Jesus Christ in your life. If you not are giving God your best then you really can’t call it worship.
Yet do you know what was far better than the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh that these wise men brought, that was better than any of the tangible treasures of this world? It was the gift of themselves in worship to Jesus. What God really desires is ourselves. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
True Worship Is Costly and…
Fifth, True Worship Results in A Changed Life and Direction. (v.12) “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
God warned the magi in a dream to go home in a different way. Not only did they return by a different route, they returned different men. Once you have met Jesus, your life takes on a new direction. When you have an encounter with the risen Christ and you recognize who He truly is, you will never be the same again. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Conclusion
Frederick Buechner a Christian pastor, novelist and theologian, wrote a monologue which thoughtfully examines the conflicting purposes at work in these characters, especially the motivation for the journey of the wise men. The following is an excerpt from one of the magi who steps into our modern world to reflect on their 2,000 year old journey of wisdom.
"… But why did we go? I cannot tell you now, and I could not have told you then, not even as we were in the very process of going. Not that we had no motive, but that we had so many. Curiosity, I suppose: to be wise is to be eternally curious, and we were very wise. We wanted to see for our-selves this One before whom even the stars are said to bow down--to see perhaps if it was really true because even the wise have their doubts. And longing. Longing. Why will a man who is dying of thirst crawl miles across sands as hot as fire at simply the possibility of water? But if we longed to receive, we longed also to give. Why will a man labor and struggle all the days of his life so that in the end he has something to give the ones he loves?
"And now, brothers and sisters, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the Truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without Him is the real death, that to die with Him is the only life?" [As quoted by Doug Goins. “A Journey of Wisdom” Unpublished data file. Peninsula Bible Church]
