A Visit from the Magi

Introduction

-discuss driving across states to pop in on someone unannounced. Imagine the stress of having someone show up at your door. Mary and Joseph welcomed visitors to see their new baby.

-use first verse of We Three Kings to introduce message

I. A Trip to the Wrong King (vs. 1-8)

A. After Jesus was born the Magi came for a visit, they just came to the wrong place (vs. 1-3)

1. Contrary to what our nativities show us, the magi were not present at the birth of Jesus. They came some time later

a. These “magi from the east” were probably from the Persian area. They had any magi

1. From Babylon to Jerusalem is 900 miles. We know from the book of Ezra that when he made that journey, to rebuild the spiritual heritage of the Jews, it took him 4 months (Ezra 7:9)

2. If the magi saw the star immediately when Christ was born then they could have been there to worship Him 4 months after His birth at the earliest, so Jesus could have been anywhere from 4 months to 2 years old.

b. We can see from the text that some time has passed: Jesus is called a child, not a baby, and is in a house instead of the manger (vs. 11)

2. One of the amazing things is that the magi probably did not even worship the God of the Jews.

a. Magi were astrologers and often relied on witchcraft and the stars to interpret dreams and do things that were deemed “magical acts” (hence the term magi). They were considered wise men who could provide counsel and insight into the world’s workings.

b. We do not know how much they understood about Jesus or His significance, but they knew He was a King.

1. It is possible they knew the O.T. because of Daniel’s influence in the East, while in captivity

2. But Scripture does not have a prophecy about a strange star that moves in miraculous ways as the sign of where to find the King of the Jews

3. The most likely explanation is that God directly spoke to them to follow the star: He warned them directly not to return to Herod (vs. 12) and the shepherds were called by God to find the newborn King, thus, it is not far-fetched to have God give them instructions ahead of time.

3. If you were looking for a baby who is born a King where would you start? Probably the home of a king, the palace

a. God had guided the magi to Jerusalem in order to fulfill prophecy (vs. 13-15)

b. The wise men did not understand all of these intricacies, they just knew they were looking for the King of the Jews

c. The fact that they were looking for a King that Herod knew nothing about brought concern from all of Jerusalem. News travels quickly

B. The Magi wanted to worship Jesus, so they made careful search; asking those who knew the Law where they might find the Christ (vs. 4-8)

1.God had been planning the coming of the Messiah since before the foundations of the earth. It’s no surprise that He told us ahead of time where He would be born and what He would do (vs. 6, Micah 5:2)

a. Though Bethlehem was small it would produce the greatest King of all time, of all eternity

b. This Ruler would be a Shepherd for His people, even greater than His ancestor David

2. Herod was fearful and jealous, so he inquired as to when the star appeared and falsely claimed a desire to worship this new king

a. Herod the Great was placed as ruler by Caesar not by God or the Jews

b. Now that the King of the Jews had come the people could revolt and he could be dethroned. But God’s ways are greater and He protected His Son

c. The magi left the wrong king in order to find the right one

II. Finding the King of kings (vs. 9-12)

A. When they left Jerusalem they beheld the star once again (vs. 9)

1. The magi followed it until they found the house of the young King and they rejoiced greatly!

2. They fell down before Jesus and worshiped Him

a. Imagine bowing down to a 4 month old baby or a 2 year old child. Praising them as the anointed one of God

b. These men understood who Jesus was and elevated Him to His rightful place. Though a small child He was, Christ was His title and birthright, God was His nature, childhood was His means, the cross was His goal

B. The magi went to worship a baby King. We worship the risen King!

1. Jesus was praised for being King of the Jews as a baby. But it’s that very thing that was written at the top of the cross as His crime worthy of death, being King of the Jews

2. They brought three gifts (which is where we get the idea there were three wise men). Each gift had significant meaning behind it

a. First, gold. It is a gift fit for a king, thus, it recognizes and praises Jesus as King

b. Second, frankincense. An oil used in worship as a pleasing aroma, it usually represents prayers being lifted up to God, like at the altar of incense. It is a gift fit for a priest and Jesus is our High Priest

c. Myrrh is a burial lotion (100 lbs. would be put on a corpse to prepare it for burial). Jesus would one day be put to death sacrificially, a King dying for His people that He may be raised up again to rule and offer His own blood as priest to forgive sins

3. The wise men stayed the night, evidently, and probably presented their gifts in the morning. They were truly wise in this moment, for they worshiped Jesus as the Christ and obeyed the voice of God to return home another way

Conclusion

Why were magi from the east chosen to be visitors of Christmas? They are pagans, why should they have the privilege of worshiping the Anointed One of God? First, for Scripture’s sake. This provides evidence of Jesus being the true Messiah. Psalm 72:10–11 “May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” All nations, even their rulers, are subject to the King of kings.

Second, their praise demonstrates that Jesus was not meant to be the King of the physical nation of Jews, but of the spiritual Kingdom of Light. Colossians 1:13–14 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” It does not matter about your lineage or what you have done in your past. Anyone can be a follower of Jesus, having Him as their sacrifice, their High Priest, and their King.

This Christmas offer up gifts to God as the magi did to Jesus. Make Jesus the King of your life, follow His ways and commands. Offer up prayers to the Father in Christ’s Name, as a pleasing aroma of praise. Finally, remember the sacrifice of Jesus and die to yourself that you may live for Him. Remember, Jesus was born so that He could die for us.

Yes, Jesus was born a King and now He is the risen King!