A Faithful Light Of Grace

Thesis statement:

I want to draw three truths from this text of scripture:

God’s means of drawing the wise men.

The wise men’s earthward approach.

The responses to Christ we see today.

So, God uses means that are not clearly seen up front to draw you to Him but are realized after receiving Him.

We are never to conclude that looking to the world for answers will bring us closer to Christ.

Lastly, you can either seek Him, be indifferent toward Him, or even seek to destroy Him.

1) Introduction Of The Wise Men

Now, you can’t believe every Christmas movie you watch or nativity you see when it comes to the account of the wise men.

They were scholars (aka, ancient philosophers)

They could be consider the scientists of antiquity.

Observing the cosmos and keeping record of what they saw.

They were convicted of the thought that events in the natural world influenced human life.

They believed that the heavens above disclosed truths about how history is shaped.

You could call them “astronomers.”

2) The Drawing Star Of God

A. Their observation of the star

First of all, they observed a star they had never noticed before. Therefore, to them, it must carry with it a very special message.

Secondly, how in the world did they come to understand that this was CHRIST’S STAR?

I am sure they had extensive library's in the far east. That is were many of God’s people were exiled too.

From there they may have read the prophecy from the pagan prophet Balaam — Numbers 24:17 “17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite the corners of Moab, And destroy all the children of Sheth.”

Maybe they read the word of Daniel in chapters 2, 4, 7?

B. Their motivation to follow the star

Here are some facts about such a commitment:

The distance was great.

The cost would be very expensive.

The risk of danger was very likely.

Lastly, such signs have in the past proved to be mistaken.

In spite of all of the factors, these men (however many there were) were deeply resolved to make the trek to this supposed born KING OF THE JEWS.

Something or SOMEONE was filling their hearts with the desire to search for this King of the Jews.

As one French theologian put it, there is in every searching for Jesus “a secret instinct of the Spirit.” (John Calvin)

True story: A dear friend of Sinclair Ferguson (Scottish Theologian) tells of when he met a man in the east who was “by trade” a passport forger! He purchased stolen passports and reworked them. The photograph of a young woman in one stolen document fascinated him. He felt an inexplicable but irresistible compulsion to find her—which, since he had her passport, he was able to do. Long story short, he met her. Eventually he told her he had fallen in live with her! LISTEN TO HER RESPONSE! “No, you have not fallen in love with me. You have seen Jesus in me, and he has been calling you to himself.” It was true, and the one-time passport forger came to faith in Christ!

Now, you story and my story might not seem so exciting, but we must all admit that there was in hindsight, “a secret instinct of the Spirit.”

Examples:

Paul’s conversion — every Christian he arrested, the stoning of Steven.

The Eunice’s conversion — Reading Isaiah, God sending Philip.

Rehab the harlot’s conversion — The spies ended up in her home.

Please hear these scriptures:

John 3:7-8 “7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

John 6:44-45 “44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

3) The Faithful Star Of God

A. The place where it did not lead too.

We know of course that the star was leading them to Bethlehem, but at this moment, they were not aware of that.

Let’s consider their logical thinking:

Stopping at Jerusalem, the capital city was (humanly speaking) the most sensible thing to do.

If they were seeking a King, they should probably inquire in the city where the present king was located.

Their GREAT MISTAKE was shifting from looking heavenward to earthward!

They were simply “working things out themselves.”

I believe it didn’t take long to realize this town was oblivious to the reality of a King of the Jews being born.

(v2) They figured anyone here should know where such a king could be found.

You can imagine the looks and questions they received with such a message.

Their king was Herod the Great (Vicious).

They would not dare speak such words themselves.

Herod the Great would make Henry the VIII look like a mischievous school boy.

Herod executed one of his 10 wives, three of his sons, and hundreds of those who supported him.

Notice the response from even the chief priests and scribes of Herod’s court (vv4-6)

You would think they would add, “We will go with you and worship our king also.”

Here are the sad three responses you see even today:

Learn of Christ and seek Him.

Learn about Christ but live indifferent to Him.

Learn of His Kingship and seek to destroy Him.

B. The place where God’s star rested

It wasn’t above a place full of great wealth, powerful people and a majestic throne.

Christ had been born to a family who was not wealthy nor powerful and resided in a very simple home.

Quote: Sinclair Ferguson mentioned how the early church fathers saw it. “The Son of God needed to become what he was not in order that we might become what we are not.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 “9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Philippians 2:6-8 “6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus was determined to live in borrowed accommodations in a world where He owned everything that He might accomplish the work of GRACE that we might have an eternal home with Him.

He would go from being laid in a manger to be laid on a cross and for his body to rest for three day in a borrowed tomb.