This sermon explores the wisdom of the Magi in seeking Jesus, encouraging us to similarly seek the Savior, understand spiritual symbolism, and offer sacrificial gifts.
Beloved congregation, welcome. It's a joy to gather once more in the house of our Lord, where His grace abounds and His love enfolds us. Today, we find ourselves drawn to the second chapter of Matthew's Gospel, a passage that invites us to witness the extraordinary event of the Magi's visit to the infant Jesus. This timeless story, though often told, continues to resonate with profound lessons for us, even in our modern times.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom." Today, we will encounter the wise men from the East, who used their knowledge in pursuit of the Savior. Their wisdom led them to the feet of Jesus, and their story beckons us to do the same.
In the passage we read, the Magi, wise men from the East, saw a star and understood its significance. They knew that it was a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews. Their knowledge, however, was not enough. They didn't just acknowledge the star and move on with their lives. They acted on their knowledge. They set out to find this newborn King. They sought Him out.
The Magi's actions set an example for us. We have been given the knowledge of Jesus, the Savior. We know of His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. We know of His love for us and His sacrifice for our sins. But knowing these things is not enough. We must also seek Him. We must seek to know Him more, to understand His teachings, to follow His commandments, and to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.
The Magi sought Him to worship Him. They recognized His kingship and His divinity. They showed their reverence and their love for Him through their actions. They traveled a great distance, following the star, to find Him. And when they found Him, they bowed down and worshiped Him. They offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, gifts that were fitting for a king. We, too, are called to worship Jesus, to recognize His kingship and His divinity. We are called to show our reverence and our love for Him through our actions.
Following then, the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and so they returned to their country by another route. They listened to the warning and obeyed. They didn't question it or ignore it. We are often given guidance from God, through His Word, through the teachings of the Church, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We are called to listen to this guidance and to obey. We are called to trust in God and to follow His lead, even when it's difficult, even when it doesn't make sense to us.
As we continue our reflection on the story of the Magi, we are drawn to the star's significant symbolism ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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