The Quest of Fools and Wisemen

Everyone is out here searching for something.

Often times we know that what we are searching for is that one on one relationship with Christ.

This morning we are going to look at 2 different types of people and what they were searching for.

The Arrival of the Magi (vv 2:1-2)

There is not a lot known about these men who came from the east to worship Jesus.

We do know they were from the area of Persia/Babylon.

They most likely knew the stories of the Messiah because they were handed down by followers and students of Daniel from the time he spent in captivity.

God worked over 1000 years ago to put people in the right place to set the stage for His son to arrive on the seen.

Unlike what we often see in nativity sets and pictures it took the wisemen most likely 2 to 3 years get to the place where Jesus was.

The star appeared when Christ was born but did not stay in the sky forever.

If the star did stay out then the Magi would have known where to go to find Jesus.

They needed the town seeing then search to help their case with Herod and for prophecies to be fulfilled.

Bethlehem of Judea

Bethlehem was a small town 5 to 6 miles south of Jerusalem.

It is located on the ancient highway from Jerusalem to Egypt.

Jacob who would have his name changed to Isreal buried his wife Rachel there.

This is also the town where Ruth met Boaz.

Micah the prophet said that the Messiah would come from this small village.

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The Agitation of Herod (vv3-8)

Herod was not a nice guy.

He was very suspect of anyone who he thought was a threat to his throne.

He was in his 70’s when Jesus was born and just before this he put 2 of his sons to death because he thought they were trying to replace him.

Herod was a usurper to the throne of David and we has not even of Jewish blood.

He married a well known Jewish women from a high ranking family to help establish his right to the throne.

He arrested almost 100 men in Jerusalem and his orders were to execute them upon his death so that there would morning all over the city when he died.

The result of the wrong quest

He sat upon a throne that was not his.

He did any and everything that he could to keep his power.

When the true source of power and rightful air of the throne appears he was willing do anything to stop him.

Power will blind people to the truth.

He was looking for someone to challenge his throne politically and militarily.

His down fall was inevitable.

The Chief Priests

This was a collection high priests that served the government rather than serving the people.

Originally all Jewish priests were of the priestly tribe of Levi and even more particularly they were descendents of Aaron the first high priest.

During the time of the captivity in Babylon and during the time of Roman rule it had become an office of political gain and the chief priest rather than being appointed for life was often asked to step down in favor of another one who was more friendly to the government, but they allowed him to keep the title.

They also ruled over the Sanhedrin.

They too were looking for the wrong type of King.

They were also looking for one that would come and bring freedom from Rome and restore the country back to what it was in the time of David and Solomon.

Scribes

These were the ones that were the authorities on the Jewish law both scriptural and traditional.

They are where we get our term Lawyers.

They had great understanding of the Law and could tell normal people what it ment and work out disputes for people when they had disagreements that centered around the law.

They also served the Romans more than the law and were often influenced by power and standing rather than what the word of of God said.

The Result of the Wrong motive

When it says that Herod was troubled and all of Jerusalem with him these are the ones Matthew was talking about.

They had fear that if a new king had been born that he would come in and take away all their power and change the way things were done.

They liked their power.

They liked the money and the standing and the protection that came with it.

All this was given not by God but by Rome.

The chief priests and the scribes were some of the smartest people when it came to the law and to what it said about the coming messiah but they missed the kingdom of God by 12 inches the distance from their head to their heart.

The Adoration by the Magi (vv 9-12)

When the Magi went to Herod we have no idea what they told him.

They had know idea the wickedness that was in him or the plan that he had to kill off any one that was a threat to him.

They were just excited to finally know where the one they had been seeking was.

As a reward for their faithful seeking the Lord made the same star that they saw originally appear over the house where Jesus was.

This was conformation that they were right and that what was waiting under that star was very special.

The Magi’s faithful seeking lead to worship.

We all are looking for something we are all searching for the true meaning of life and our place in it.

Christ is the piece that fills that void

We must be willing to search and willing to follow where he tells us.