A Lesson in Wisdom

Good morning, hope you had a great Christmas! Please open your Bibles to Matthew 2.

Read Matthew 2:1–12.

Pray.

Recap:

Wise men- magi from the East.

Not rulers or kings, also likely not magicians or tricksters, but instead counsel to kings, likely from Babylon.

We know little, but we can assume a couple of things from what we know culturally.

A group and entourage that was big enough to have gotten the attention of and gained an audience with King Herod.

King Herod- Herod the Great- Has ruled for over 30 years by now, he is well into his 70’s.

Herod is troubled because he looks at the events in the lens of politics and power.

One born the King of the Jews would mean Herod’s replacement.

He devises a scheme to find and end this newly born king.

Important that we note the reactions to the news of the birth of Jesus. In our text, I can perceive three various reactions.

1. The Ruler.

Matthew 2:3- “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;”

tarasso- Troubled- disturbed- agitated- terrified.

Response of the disciples when they saw Jesus walking on the water and thought He was a ghost.

Response of Jesus in John 11 when he saw Lazarus’ sister Mary weeping.

Jesus prior to His death, speaking to His disciples, tells them to not be tarasso- not be troubled.

John 14:27- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

This is the response of Herod, chaos and turmoil in his head and his heart.

Matthew 2:16- “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

All of Jerusalem troubled as well.

As the ruler goes, so goes the people.

Is it possible to see ourselves here?

Those without faith- Unwilling to give up power and rule.

Those with faith- Unwilling to truly step aside.

2. The Religious.

Perhaps the group with whom I am most fascinated.

Matthew 2:3–6- “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Here is what fascinates me- This is the last that we hear of the chief priests and the scribes in this particular narrative.

Is it possible to see ourselves here?

No need for repentance, we are enough.

Unwilling to move.

Those in Christ must be reminded always of our need for repentance.

3. The Reverent.

Matthew 2:10–11- “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Traveled great distance in pursuit of Jesus.

Up to a thousand miles. Likely took many months of travel.

Respond with joy.

Matthew 2:10 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Notice all the words used to describe the joy of the wisemen.

Would get in trouble in English class for writing this way.

The point remains, there was an excitement to see and be with Jesus.

Gave from what they had.

Matthew 2:11- “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

The Babylonians gave Babylonian gifts. They gave what was of value to them.

This is the life of a follower of Jesus- We place faith in Jesus and then begin assessing what we have in our possession.

How can God redeem what is already here.

Worshipped a child.

Baffling detail- fell down and worshipped.

Recognized the worth of Jesus.

How do we respond this morning?

The journey of the wisemen is a great metaphor for life.

A great distance travelled in seeking the King.

Isaac Watts- “Early, My God, Without Delay”:

Early, my God, without delay, I haste to seek Thy face; My thirsty spirit faints away Without Thy cheering grace.

So pilgrims on the scorching sand, Beneath a burning sky Long for a cooling stream at hand, And they must drink or die.

Not all the blessings of a feast Can please my soul so well, As when Thy richer grace I taste, And in Thy presence dwell.

Thus till my last expiring day I’ll bless my God and king; Thus will I lift my hands to pray, And tune my lips to sing.

Going on long walks when Lathey when she was young. Confident in the beginning yet always needing a break.

There is a persistence to be found in the account of the wisemen. Leaving one place to seek Someone in another.

Always moving onward with the gifts that are to be given.

Driven through this journey with one aim- The Object of our worship.

We find that ours is a journey, or life, of worship, since we are always in the presence of God’s Son.