Wise Men Still Seek Him

Join with me as we look at a portion of the narrative concerning the Magi who come to worship Christ upon learning of His birth

Matthew 2:1–12 NASB95

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw 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. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

The words of one of my medical instructors, a brilliant woman, will forever haunt me… as an outspoken atheist her words caught me by surprise when she stated during a cardiovascular system class that, “it is absolutely amazing how our vascular system is created.” after class I asked her how she could make that statement and hold to her position as an atheist. She replied, “The vascular system is so complex and and amazing there is no way it could occur by chance.” She said, “Jed I cannot place myself under a God who makes decisions I don’t agree with, therefor I choose not to believe!”

Is God Hidden?

Scripture answers this question I believe in

Romans 1:20 NASB95

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Everywhere you look we see the evidence of God, including the scriptures!

As God sent His Son to earth to be born of a virgin, He made it known...

To the (GENTILES) Magi He gave a sign in the heavens to declare the birth

A sign so clear and evident… they knew not just a a ruler but “One born a king”, not who would one day be king...

This “star” was understood also as a divine work of God (worship)

Made aware most likely when Daniel taught in Babylon, looking seeking

Proverbs 1:7 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

These were men who had a reverent fear & understanding of who God was & is!

God also in even a greater way made Himself known to Israel...

They had been given the revelation of the scriptures, the prophets ( ), the priest and scribes who knew!

The coming of Christ had not been hidden, rather it had been proclaimed!!!

By this time word of Jesus in the temple would have spread through Simeon and Anna

The shepherds announcement would have been heard by many

Mary and Joseph were not keeping it quiet who their son was

God is NOT hidden, rather He is actively seeking man, revealing Himself, even to the extent of emptying Himself and becoming a man

John 1:14 NASB95

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

How Will You Respond?

The magi were seeking the King; Herod was opposing the King; and the Jewish priests were ignoring the King.

Jerusalem

Troubled as the Magi arrive and start to ask about the one born king of the Jews!

Wait a new ruler, king, a baby? Troubled

Herod

He hears and is troubled too!

No one is going to take his throne, had his wife and brothers slain to guard against any possibility of losing power

Brilliant man and architect, but a fool by any definition

Gave lip service to impress, knew He was the Messiah!, but in his heart was pride and arrogance that plummeted him in a downward spiral!

Scribes and Priest

Could understand the scriptures, quote them, but did NOT allow them to impact them

The Messiah had come, they pointed others to worship (Magi) but would not worship themselves

The Magi

The King of kings, come as man… They seek Him, search for Him, they worship Him!!!

The Son of God in fleshed worshiped, given gifts… Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh (gifts fit for a King)

How will you worship? How will you give to Him? How will you seek Him? gives us a good starting point...

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

You realize the sacrifice He made? Not only in coming as a man, and living a sinless life for you and me, He died for your sin and mine… tonight as we remember His coming, I also want us to remember why He came as we celebrate communion…

REFLECTION are you responding as Jerusalem, Herod, Religious leaders, or as the magi who sought out the Christ, Jesus has done everything to pursue you!