The Original Star Trek

THE ORIGINAL STAR TREK

Matt. 2:1-12

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago was stranded late one night at an Eastern European resort - one that did not admit Jews.

2. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies."

3. The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "You know that we do not admit Jews. Now if you will try the other side of town..."

4. Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeable and said, "I’ll have you know I converted to your religion."

5. The desk clerk said, "Oh, yeah, let me give you a little test. How was Jesus born?" Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a little town called Bethlehem."

6. "Very good," replied the hotel clerk. "Tell me more."

Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born in a manger."

"That’s right," said the hotel clerk. "And why was he born in a manger?"

7. Mrs. Rosenberg said loudly, "Because a turkey like you in the hotel wouldn’t give a Jewish lady a room for the night!"

B. AN SCI-FI SENSATION

1. A new Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens,” hit the theaters last Thursday. It picks up from the earlier Star Wars series that concluded with Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, where Darth Vader overthrew the Darth Sidious so save his son Luke.

2. One of the earliest pioneers in Sci-Fi was Star Trek which began in 1966 with the starship “Enterprise.” So far ir has launched 5 different TV series & 12 movies.

3. NASA named the first Space Shuttle orbiter Enterprise after the mother ship of the original Star Trek.

4. However, this series wasn’t the first “Star Trek” on record. 2,000 years ago there were wise men or “Magi” who followed a star looking for Israel’s long-awaited King. Do you know what they found? Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior and Messiah. Let’s read their story.

C. 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.

D. THESIS

1. This passage tells us that not only did shepherds see a light on the night Jesus was born, but that God made a star appear to men far away that His Son would be born.

2. These men were the scientists of their day, the phenomenon of the universe and nature. They were the intelligent, educated, and affluent studied God's universe.

3. One night they were stunned to see a star appear where none had been before. This Star was unique in its location and brilliance. They came to the conclusion that this was a sign from God.

4. The title of this message is “The Original Star Trek.”

I. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE STAR

A. IT WAS SEEN BY THE CHINESE

The German writer, Munter, in his book Stern Der Weisen,

Kopenhagen, 1827, stated that "Chinese astronomical tables record the appearance of a new star at a time which coincides with the fourth year before the birth of Christ" (Lange's, Matthew, p. 57). So there is independent verification that a star did appear!