The Star & The Wise Men

THE STAR & THE WISE MEN

Matt. 2:1-12

INTRODUCTION

VIDEO:

A. HUMOR

1. I came across a collection of letters that children wrote to Santa Claus. Some of them were pretty good. One said, "Dear Santa, you did not bring me anything good last year. You did not bring me anything good the year before that. This is your last chance. Signed, Alfred."

2. My favorite went like this: "Dear Santa, there are three little boys who live at our house. There is Jeffrey; he is 2. There is David; he is 4. And there is Norman; he is 7. Jeffrey is good some of the time. David is good some of the time. But Norman is good all of the time. I am Norman." [T. Michael Crews]

B. 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.”

C. 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 so people everywhere would know that His Son had been born.

2. The Wise Men were the scientists of their day, studying the phenomenon of the universe and nature. 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.

3. The title of this message is “The Star & the Wise Men.”

I. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE STAR

A. IT WAS SEEN BY CHINESE ASTRONOMERS

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!

B. IT WAS A SUPERNATURAL STAR

1. The astronomer, Kepler, insinuated in 1606 that the Star might have been a conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

2. This idea is impossible for several reasons. First, this light was not a comet or a conjunction of planets because it appeared to the Wise Men almost continually for two years!

3. Another reason is that this star "moved," suddenly disappeared, and at times was low enough in the atmosphere that it could indicate a single house in a village.

4. What caused the Wise Men to follow the Star? The Holy Spirit prompted them to this great expedition. Jesus said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father draw him."

C. IT POINTED MEN TO JESUS

1. This Star was like a good witness – not drawing attention to itself, but to Christ. The Wise Men called it "His Star," and this Star Stopped at Jesus; it went no further.

2. ILLUSTRATION: Walk or Fly?

a. During a Christmas pageant rehearsal, a little girl, dressed as an angel, was told to come down the center aisle. The child asked, “Do you want me to walk or fly?” When you were a kid at Christmas, did you ever feel as though you could have flown? Don’t ever lose the wonder and mystery of Christmas!