Wonder Of Wonders - Advent 3

Wonder of Wonders, Mathew 2:1-11

Introduction

Someone went to visit a great painter while he was working in his studio. To his great amazement he saw attached to the easel of the artist various costly precious stones in many colors. In answer to his question why they were there the artist answered: “I need them for stimulating and strengthening my eyes. When I look only at the colors of the paint, it is just as if at last my feeling for color and shade weakens. But the brilliance of these wonderful stones is like a restrengthening of my eyesight.” It is good to read and search the Scriptures. It is good to worship God in song. It is good to pray.

But let us never forget that if the eye of our soul is not to become faint or weak, it continually must be refreshed, strengthened, and encouraged by the wonderful brilliance and splendor of Him who is the living Soul of the Bible; Jesus Christ.

Transition

This morning we will talk about the wonder of wonders; the baby King which the magi sought out and visited that they might worship at the feet of the King of Kings. In today’s Scripture reading is recounted the narrative of their coming from afar, the three magi who had followed the sign of His coming in the stars.

Isaiah 9:6, the prophet writes, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (NIV)

In the preceding verses the prophet writes in verse two of the same section, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (NIV) In verse four the prophet writes, “For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.” (Isaiah 9:4 NIV)

The prophet is looking through the darkness of his age – indeed even eluding the darkness of the entire world age – unto a time when the brightness of the light of Christ shall pierce through the dim dark clouds of the sorrow, suffering, pain, and affliction of this world; when all things shall be revealed and realized fully.

You and I are living now in the partial fulfillment of that prophecy for the wonder of wonders, Jesus Christ, has come to us in the flesh, though our hearts long for the day when He shall return in all of His glory!

This morning as we enter our text, examining the coming of the Magi, what it meant then and what it means for us today, we will examine the wonder of wonders, Jesus, who the Bible says, shall be called Wonderful.

Charles Spurgeon, the famed preacher of old, once wrote that there are a thousand things in this world called by names which they are not, but in regard to Christ, His name is called wonderful because it is most truly so!

Exposition

The place where Jesus was born, also the place where the three Magi came to visit was the city of Bethlehem, which was also known in those days as Ephrata. The town is located just five miles south of Jerusalem. Interestingly, its name in Hebrew means “House of Bread.” It is a stirring parallel in the history of God’s unfolding revelation that Jesus, the bread of life, was born in Bethlehem.

This was also the birthplace of King David, Jesus ancestor both by parental lineage and in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy concerning the coming of the King of Kings. In the Bible we see the unfolding revelation of God as He progressively shows humanity its need for a savior and then reveals that savior.

I would suggest to you that it is no strange twist of fate that Christ was born exactly where He was born but yet another example of God’s sovereignty revealed and His providence over human affairs displayed. II Samuel 7:18, “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (NIV)

King David recognized the sovereign hand of God in the affairs of his life. It was God alone who had delivered him from the mouth of the lion and bear, it was God alone who had delivered the Philistine giant, Goliath, into his hands in battle, and it was the sovereign will of God that protected him from his enemy, King Saul.

God, in His sovereignty, moved in David’s life, ultimately fulfilling his plan in David; in Christ. Both David and Jesus were born to be king. Both David and Jesus were born in Bethlehem, one thousand years after the earthly king David was born there, Jesus was born in Bethlehem also. Both were born to be king. David to an earthly throne, Jesus to his heavenly throne, and one day the Bible declares that Christ will return to the earth to establish David’s throne in splendor!