Light and Wisdom from the Wise Men

Light and Wisdom from the Wise Men

Text: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matt. 2:10).

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1–10

Matthew 2:1-10

English Standard Version

The Visit of the Wise Men

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘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.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Introduction

A. There was a scurry in heaven. A commotion was caused by the fact that the Christ was leaving heaven for his humiliation. Peter said in his first epistle that the time of the coming of Christ was a time unknown to any of the angels in heaven. Only God knew the appointed time. When the time came, even the angels of heaven participated in the things that God was now doing. God sent an angel to speak to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph, and also to announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. He even sent an angelic choir to the shepherds.

During this great commotion of heaven, God decided to speak to some Gentile men. We do not know much about these men, but many fables and myths have arisen about them. The Eastern church in the fourth century gave names to them and declared that there were three of them. The Bible does not tell us who they were. Doubtless they were students of the stars and probably some of the wisest men of their time. The Bible says they saw a star in the East, which they knew to be the star of Christ. Upon seeing that star, they became excited and made the journey to Jerusalem so they might inquire about the birth of the Messiah.

B. If we do not get lost in the fables and myths, and if we stay with God’s truth, we have a marvelous revelation. Some theologians tell us that when Paul went on his first missionary journey, or when Peter went to share the gospel with Cornelius, the first Gentiles were converted to Christianity. Actually this is untrue. The first Gentiles to be converted were these wise men who came when Christ was born. They fell down before him and worshiped him. There are two lessons I would like for us to learn this morning. I would like for us to gather light from the star and wisdom from the wise men.

I. The light of the star.

A. The star was an unusual creation. It may have been a comet, as many have claimed. It may have been a special creation. Whatever it was, it revealed to the magi that the Jewish Messiah was born. God had told Israel to be ready for the coming of the Messiah. They were ready neither to receive him nor to share his message, so God revealed the coming of the Messiah through creation.

God never fails. If people do not do his will, he uses others.

B. A leading light. This star led to Christ. It told the wise men that the Christ had been born. Then they went to Jerusalem. They traveled through arid desert country. No doubt it was a difficult trip, but they would not be stopped. They inquired as to the place of the Messiah’s birth. Ultimately they were taken to the scribes and told that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. As they proceeded toward Bethlehem, the star appeared, leading the way to the Christ. We ought to be like that star, leading people to Christ, always showing the way to him.

The star attracted their attention. The Word of God taught them the exact details. The light led them to the Christ and stopped there. The light of every Christian needs to lead others to Christ. Do not lead people to church buildings or programs and leave them there; lead them to Christ. The star became a witness. It told those wise men that the Messiah was born. Then it led them to the Messiah. That is the kind of light the church must have in the world today.

II. The wisdom of the wise men.

Perhaps these men were teachers of science in Persia. They were not called kings; they were called magi, which means “wise ones.”

A. God’s message in nature.

Many scientists conclude that perhaps the Christian message is not true because we have made so many myths about God rather than listening to God as he has spoken. God spoke loudly through nature to those ancient scientists. People may see God’s handiwork in a tree or in the human body. Who could study either without recognizing that a divine Designer made them?

B. God’s message in his Word.

Paul said that God reveals himself in nature. He reveals himself in a general way in nature, but for details we must turn to God’s Word. That is exactly what these wise men did. Let us be just as wise. When we look at the beauty of the sky, of the ocean, or of human life, let us recognize God’s handiwork. Then let us turn to his Word and believe the exact details that God reveals to us about himself.

C. The wise men persisted.

When the wise men saw the Messiah’s star, they wanted to know him, so they traveled across the desert. They went through wild, rugged country filled not only with physical hardship but also with bands of robbers. They journeyed not on a jet airplane but on camels or by walking. They persisted in their search. They were not discouraged when they arrived at Jerusalem and found uninterested people. Many today are discouraged by lesser things in their search for Christ. The wise men did not become discouraged. In trying to learn about the Messiah, they could have said, “We will see if we like the scribes. Where did the scribes go to school? Are they friendly scribes? Are they good mixers? Do they stand at the door and shake hands when you come in, or do they not?” They did not say those things. They went eagerly to hear the message of God. They were tenacious in their search.

D. The wise men rejoiced.

They knew that God was leading, and they rejoiced. Oh, my friends, if we could return to a rejoicing search for God! We come here to church like zombies. We come here to the house of God acting as if we do not want to hear God talk. Is God speaking to us out of his Word through his prophet? If he is, then we ought to rejoice as we come into the presence of God. That is what the wise men did. They rejoiced when they saw the star!

E. The wise men worshiped.

They finally arrived at the house where Jesus was. Now with all of their persistence, with all of the revelation they had, they could have blown it right there. They came to the house where the young child was, and what did they do? They did not call a committee meeting. They did not send a telegram to their denominational headquarters to get permission. They entered the house. They came to Jesus. They did not hesitate; they immediately came to him and fell down before him and worshiped him. They had found the revelation of God.

Conclusion

The wise men worshiped the baby Jesus. Theirs was not curiosity gratified but devotion exercised. We also must worship the Savior, or we will never be saved by him. He has not come to put away our sins and then to leave us ungodly and self-willed. Oh, you who have never worshiped the Christ of God, may you be led to do so at once. He is God over all, blessed forever. Adore him. Was God ever seen in such a worshipful form before? Behold, he puts rainbows in the heavens, he rides upon the wings of the wind. He scatters flames of fire. He speaks, and his dreaded artillery shakes the hills. You worship in terror. Who would not adore the great and terrible Jehovah of the Old Testament?

But is it not much better to behold him here, allied to your nature, wrapped like your own children in swaddling clothes—tender, feeble, next to kin to your own self? Will you not worship God when he has thus come down to you and become your Brother born for your salvation? Here nature itself suggests worship. Oh, may grace produce it! Let us hasten to worship where shepherds and wise men and angels have led the way!