Magi - Divine Providence
The Characters of Christmas
By Greg Johnson
December 17, 2006
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Matthew 2:1-12
Followers of Christ are believers in divine providence seeing God at work in our lives and in our situations. We know that God is always making a way where there seems to be no way. He is constantly working on our behalf, often times behind the scenes in unnoticeable ways, and at other times in very obvious ways.
Jesus’ birth is full of divine providence. Nothing happened by chance or accident. God was busy making a way for us to be drawn to Him.
THE MAGI.
Notice with me the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. (Matthew 2:1-12 NIV) "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 in the east 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 Christ 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 be the shepherd of 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 make a careful search 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 in the east 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 and of incense and of myrrh. {12} And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
Traditions and songs have told us that these were three kings. We do not know if they were kings. We do not even know if there were three of them. It is assumed that there were three of them since there were three gifts that they brought to Jesus. There are a lot of things that we do not know about these men, but there are some things we do know about them from God’s Word.
These Men anticipated the coming of King Jesus. When they saw the star, they followed it looking for the new born King. They were anticipating seeing Jesus so they could worship Him.
Today we celebrate Jesus coming into the world to save people from their sins. We are anticipating Jesus’ return for all of those that have their eyes fixed on Him and are following Him. Jesus is coming again. We watch with joyful anticipation and busy ourselves continuing His ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit until He comes.
These men were overjoyed with God’s direction in their life. God’s Word says (Matthew 2:10 NIV) "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." God was providing these men direction to Jesus. They were overjoyed that God was leading them.
God has also given us a star that will lead us to Him. Jesus is our star and as we follow Him, He will lead us from earth to glory.
These men made Jesus their Lord. God’s Word says "(Matthew 2:11 NIV) "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 and of incense and of myrrh." Notice what they did. They "bowed down and worshiped him." They humbled themselves at the feet of Jesus and they worshiped Him. They gave Him their very best gifts in gratitude to Him. These were truly wise men.
We make Jesus our Lord as we humble our self and fall at the foot of the cross. We follow Him and we worship Him. Our gift to Jesus is our absolute obedient service to Him. We spend our life continuing His ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit; ministering as unto Jesus at the point of people’s needs.
What about you friend? Have you made Jesus your Lord? Are you following Him in absolute obedient service? Are you continuing His ministry and touching those that are oppressed and in need? Are you like these wise men? Today is the day of salvation. Humble yourself and fall at the foot of the cross. Jesus was born to die. He gave His life for you so that you can have eternal life. Fall at the foot of the cross and begin to follow Him in absolute obedient service. He will lead you from earth to glory and you will touch others for Him along the way.
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
You can see Divine providence all throughout Jesus’ birth. God brought these men to Jesus by giving them a star to guide them. God moved on their hearts to bring gifts. These gifts provided financial support for Jesus and His family as they traveled to Egypt and lived there until it was safe to go back. God gave the men a dream to not go back to Herod and give the location of the new born King. This dream was given to protect Jesus and to protect these men as Herod would surely have killed them all. God gave Joseph specific instructions to take his family to Egypt where they were protected from paranoid King Herod.
Beloved, please know that divine providence is at work in your life as you follow Jesus. Jesus directs your steps through your obedience to Him and His Word. Jesus provides for you. Jesus protects you. You can not always see it until it happens, but you can rest assured that He works on your behalf. He makes a way where there seems to be no way. He will bring you through your current trial and He will bring you through the next one, and the next one, and the next one, and the next one as you keep your eyes fixed on Him. He will lead you from earth to glory!
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