Wise Men

Notes
Transcript
Who Were The Wise Men?
Who Were The Wise Men?
Matthew chapter two tells us the story of Jesus a short time after He was born. Up to two years after He was born He was still in Bethlehem and emissaries from the east arrived looking for Him. These are who we call the “wise men”. This week let’s look at this fascinating episode in the life of Jesus.
Matthew 2:1 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,” “Wise men” here is the English translation of the Greek μάγος magos - astrologers or magicians (in a nonmagical sense), sort of interpreters of starts and dreams and other occult things.
However sketchy this may seem to us, they were definitely on to something and God was going to use them in His plan. They had access to ancient writings and attributed what they saw in the sky to something in their scrolls. Is it possible that they had a portion of the Book of Numbers perhaps Numbers 24:17 ““I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.”
Isn’t it interesting that men would travel very far across desserts carrying precious gifts for a King of the Jews who was born in Bethlehem. If only men would still consider it worthwhile to venture out on a Sunday morning to seek Him, now that would be wise.
Stars
Stars
If you’ve ever looked at a chart of constellations, you would notice that there are a lot of Arabic sounding names and that there are a lot of story characters there. Not surprising considering that there were no electric lights or televisions to occupy the ancients at night. They looked up more. They were entertained and informed by the stars.
So when it came time to announce the biggest announcement in history, God used the heavens. God , however, did not use the stars He had created in the beginning. Those stars followed universal rules of planetary motion. As the earth spins on it’s axis stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west. They are in constant motion. So, if you were to follow them, you would go east for six hours and then go west for six hours. You wouldn’t get very far!
No, God made a special star that hovered over the city of David and over a particular house (Mt 2:99-11). It was very different and defied the “Laws of Nature”. In the same way Christians are to serve as “stars” and lead others to Christ. We are to go against the typical course of the world and stand out. We are to shine a light on our Savior and lead men to Him.
Philippians 2:15 “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
Change or Challenge - Herod was the real Grinch
Change or Challenge - Herod was the real Grinch
When someone hears the good news that Jesus, the King of the Jews has arrived they usually have one of two responses - change or challenge.
For Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men the answer was easy - change. Here is the Savior we will believe in Him, worship Him, and thank God for His grace. For Herod, the then reigning king of Israel, it was a very different response - challenge.
Matthew 2:2–3 “saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
The political world was troubled and specifically king Herod was paranoid of a potential rival. His control was being threatened. The magi’s question about the birth of a new king required a response, change or challenge? He chose to to throw down the gauntlet and fight the newly born King.
Jesus was going to bring a new perspective on Jewish life. He was the ultimate authority on all things spiritual. From Tradition to Torah to Temple to Salvation, Jesus was bringing change. The same is true today when confronted by the Savior will you believe and change or will you challenge and be an enemy?
The Message was Clear
The Message was Clear
Herod consulted with the chief priest and scribes about the birthplace of the Messiah. They all told him the same thing and quoted Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””
He consulted with the wise men about when they had first seen the star in Matthew 2:7 “Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.” They told Herod about two years (Mt 2:16). So he knew where and when Jesus was born.
There are so many prophesies Jesus fulfilled in His life, here are two that He experienced in His infancy. Prophecies are like promises, God said it and it’s going to happen whether I believe it or not. The mystery is, why do so many like king Herod, rejoice in the clear message of the Messiah? Mary stated it so clearly in Luke 1:46–55
“And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.””
Gifts
Gifts
Matthew 2:13 “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.””
The king, Herod, couldn’t beat Jesus, and he wouldn’t join Him so Herod sought to destroy Jesus. Blind hatred and paranoia directs Herod to order the deaths of every young male child under the age of two that were born in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16-18). God tells Joseph to take his family and get out of town (Mt 2:13-15).
At this point the costly gifts from the wise men start to make a great provision for the flight to Egypt. The symbolic nature of the gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh is seen as a reflection of Psalm 72:10-11 and Isaiah 60:3,5,6 the worshipping the Lord with substance. The practical nature cannot be overlooked. Joseph needed to find a way to be incognito in Egypt with the baby Jesus and this was a very practical and holy use of a human resource.
Immanuel
Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Matthew 1:23 ““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””
Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Matthew begins and ends with the same promise.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
God is present with His people to save and deliver. Jesus birth is the sign.
The prophesy of Isaiah 7 has to do with