What Caused The Wise Men To ‘leave-It-All?’

WHAT CAUSED THE WISE MEN TO ‘LEAVE-IT-ALL?’

Mt. 2:1-11

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR:

1. A lady was sitting in traffic. A man was standing nearby holding a sign asking for money. She rolled down her window and said, “Sir, I’m going to give you this dollar, not because you deserve it, but because it makes me happy.”

2. He said, “Mam, if that’s the case, why don’t you give me $20 and thoroughly enjoy yourself?”

B. ILLUS. People Pay to Get Lost on Vacation

1. The Black Tomato Travel Agency discovered a new niche in Travel in 2017 after co-founder Tom Marchan came up with the concept of incorporating “Survivor” elements into vacations.

2. They are now offering a “Get Lost” service as the ultimate trip for anyone looking to get away from it all. You are deposited in the middle of nowhere with only a backpack, a GPS tracker, and a toothbrush.

3. Travelers are then tasked with the daunting job of navigating their way back to civilization—a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience for those hoping to embrace their inner nomad. [Ed Caesar, “The New Luxury Vacation: Being Dumped in the Middle of Nowhere,” The New Yorker (11-22-21).]

4. This morning’s Scripture passage tells of a similar journey made by several godly men in the East.

C. TEXT: Matt. 2:1-11

1 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.”

D. TITLE: “WHAT CAUSED THE WISE MEN TO ‘LEAVE-IT-ALL?’”

I. WHAT WOULD WE DO/RISK?

A. WHAT WOULD WE DO IN THEIR PLACE?

1. If you saw a “new star” appear in the sky, WHAT would YOU do? Probably say, “Isn’t that nice!” But if you were an astronomer, you’d say, “What the heck? Am I the only one seeing this? Where’d this come from all-of-a-sudden?”

2. But these men not only THOUGHT about it, but they must have PRAYED about it. I believe they got a REVELATION FROM GOD. This star was a SIGN from God of the birth of the Hebrew Messiah-King foretold in the Old Testament; “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth” Num. 24:17.

3. They could see the direction the star shown in. It didn’t move across the sky like other stars, but remained stationary over Palestine like a satellite! God’s Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts that this wasn’t a small event, but a cataclysmic, history-altering event about to unfold! And God wanted them involved.

B. HOW DID THEY RESPOND? WILLING TO...

1. RISK THEIR JOBS, REPUTATIONS. Their educated colleagues in science probably thought they’d lost their minds. Imagine the Newspaper Headlines, "Three Astronomers Abandon their Observatory to Follow a Strange Star." But these men thought Christ was more important than their reputations. Do we?

2. RISK LOSS OF FRIENDS & FAMILY. Friends asked, "What about your business, your work? Will you let it fail by your absence?" "Who will look after your wives and families?" These men had to count the cost: they might never return to kiss their wives and children! God had called them to obey Him and they must go, regardless of the costs.

3. RISKED THEIR LIVES & SAFETY. Their journey was difficult. Scholars believe they came from the region of Persia – a 1,000 mile journey. They faced hostile tribes, broad rivers, trackless deserts. They had to travel by night and rest by day. They might be killed or captured and sold as slaves. But they were willing!