Casting the Magi

If you look around this morning you can see that the church is decorated for Christmas. “Thank you” to Kate and Courtney for taking the time this week to do that. It is a little sad every year when we have to take down the decorations and bearer of the month of January without the Christmas trees and lights making things a little more cheery.

We started a little bit of a tradition at our house where we are adding pieces of what I think is a really neat looking nativity set each year. The first year we obviously started with Jesus Mary and Joseph. Then we had a shepherd and some animals. This year three wisemen came to join them on the consul table in our living room.

Looking at these carvings that make up our nativity you can start to wonder who these people really were. Hopefully you have a pretty good grasp on who the baby in the manger is but there is a chance that you might not know the other people present in most nativity scenes, at least not as well as you think that you do.

There is another Christmas tradition that we have in our family and it is a tradition that a lot of families have and that we watch a movie called a Christmas story every year. This year there's even a sequel to a Christmas story that we have already watched. It is a fun movie but it is - A - Christmas Story. In our series this morning we are going to be looking at the Christmas story. It is astounding how much celebration and intrigue has been built up around this holiday — this holiday that marks the birth of the Messiah — but all of the celebration and intrigue has nothing to do with Jesus.

Or series between now and Christmas is called Casting The Christmas Story. We're not going to be talking about Ralphie and Flick and The Old Man. But, instead, we are going to be talking about magi, and shepherds, faithful parents, and the Messiah.

So this morning our messages entitled Casting the Magi.

Let’s Pray

Who were the Magi?

What we know

If we are going to be intellectually honest we have to admit that we really don't know much about who the magi are.

There is an apocryphal book which was likely written in the middle ages, but that is hardly any help. If anything it only casts confusion on the subject.

Everything that we know of them comes from Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 18 and everything else is speculation.

I would say that is a pretty good place for us to jump off this morning so if you have your Bibles please turn them over to Matthew chapter 2 and we will read starting in verse 1.

Matthew 2:1–18 KJV 1900

1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Magi

The first thing that we know comes from v1

Matthew 2:1 KJV 1900

1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

They are quote-unquote wise men. I have been calling them Magi for a reason. If we look at the greek this phrase ‘wise men’ is the word μάγος (magos).

This term magos or the plural magi referred to people that were learned in mysterious secret knowledge.

They probably weren't magicians as the name would seem to apply. The reality is that they were people who were well studied in things such as astronomy and that knowledge seemed like magic to those were didn’t understand it. And we have to ask, is this something that is biblical?

We associate reading the starts with astrology (not astronomy) but clearly God had some intention for start to be read. Look with me a Genesis 1:14

Genesis 1:14 KJV 1900

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

The stars were created to have a function of being - for signs. Later we read of the Lord’s return and we have passages like Luke 21:11

Luke 21:25 KJV 1900

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

But there is clearly abuse in the understanding of these signs in heaven as well, because we read Jeremiah 10:2

Jeremiah 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; For the heathen are dismayed at them.

I can't claim to tell you how to interpret the signs in the stars. I don't find that there's any advice and scripture. However, I can say with confidence that you aren’t going to find out what the stars are saying if you learn the way of the heathen and read your horoscope. — At least that is what Jeremiah seems to be saying.

From the East

The second thing that we know just from verse 1 is that the magi come from the east. There are a number of traditions that have popped up about who these men were.

Three

Of course most of us think of their being three magi. It makes sense there are three gifts and it has been assume that that means that there are three magi. There is nothing in scripture to support the number of magi and in fact we get the idea of there being three from the writings of origin several hundred years later.

Kings

Related to this Tertullian is the one who came up with the idea that these magi or wise men were Kings. Again there's nothing in scripture to suggest that they are kings except for something that's Tertullian found in Psalm chapter 72 verse 10

Psalm 72:10 KJV 1900

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Well obviously what the song is saying is prophecy and it is true I don't believe that this refers to the magi. I don't however believe that this is referring to the magi. First Psalm 7210 says that the kings of Tarshish will bring gifts. And while there is speculation as to where Tarshish is most of the places are not east of Bethlehem. I would also point out that if these were kings I suspect that this would be mentioned in Matthews account. — I'm not discounting it is possible I just believe that there is a lot of noise that needs to be made where scripture seems to be silent.

The Magi were believers

But we can know for sure is that the magi or believers. Look at Matthew 2:2

Matthew 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

See, they came to worship. Even their gifts are gifts of worship. Gold symbolizing the kingship of Christ, Myrrh symbolizing the death of Christ and frankincense — Incense symbolizing worship.

I mean look at their posture before their King in v11

Matthew 2:11 KJV 1900

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

They fell down to worship Him!

Separatism

Do you know what? These were Gentiles. But even though they were Gentiles we don't read that they show up to Mary and Joseph's house and Joseph turns them away saying no no you don't worship like we do. You can't be here.

What's amazing is that about 5 miles away of Jewish priests were at the temple. They were going through the motions they were doing all of the things that could you, excellent Jew should be doing. But here are these Gentiles, these magi, these men who don't sacrifice the right way, — and they have fallen down to worship the Messiah. The priests were nowhere to be found.

I would be willing to go out on a limb and say that these magi — these wise men — didn't worship in a way that was 100% correct. I am willing to venture that there was some confusion in their theology. They didn’t have the luxury of the oracles of God. But you know what? God spoke to them. Look at v12

Matthew 2:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And being warned of God in a dream ...

There is a doctrine of Christian separatism. Ephesians 5:11 says

Ephesians 5:11 KJV 1900

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

and if we look at 2 Cor 6:14

2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV 1900

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

But understand this is a doctrine of being separate from evil and not having your life tied up with unbelievers.

Listen, I'll believe what I believe because I have done research and historical baptistic doctrines are those that I find that most closely align with scripture. Or else I wouldn't be a Baptist, I would be whatever it is that I found that does most closely aligned with scripture.

But I can't not call somebody a brother because they're a part of some denomination that is different than mine. If I start to excluded fellowship with somebody because they are a Methodist or a Presbyterian or some other Christian denomination then how am I any different from the Jews who looked down their noses at the Samaritans?

And I need to be careful because with that attitude I might find myself going through all of the religious motions — over at the temple — when Christ is being worship 5 miles down the road by a bunch gentiles that are getting a lot of the details wrong.

Come, let us adore him

If you would bow your head and close your eyes this morning. We read about this cast of characters that make up the Christmas story. The magi are unlikely. We're going to read that the shepherds or unlikely and even Mary and Joseph are unlikely. But here they are in their faithfulness, worshiping God. We complicate things. Don't get me wrong I believe the good theology is very important but a true heart of worship is more important.

I believe that you should be committed to learning everything you can about God. I believe that you should study scripture and you should consume as much preaching as you can. But maybe as we consider the wisemen this morning we can remember that being theologically right is second to having a heart of true worship. It's not a close second it's — miles away.

We are going to close in prayer and I asked today that you examine your heart to be sure that your priorities are correct but also that you haven't given yourself license to not love your brothers and sisters in Christ because of what they might have wrong.

If you have any questions about this message or you just want to know more about our Savior Jesus Christ we're going to close in prayer and I'll be happy to speak with you after.