Kings, Preists, and Sorcerers

Intro:

Happy Three Kings Week!

January 6th is traditionally Three Kings day. It is traditionally believed to be the time around when the magi found and worshiped Jesus. In this story we have 3 Characters: We have a king, Herod: we have Jewish religious leaders, Priests and teachers of the law; we have Magi, who were likely sorcerers.

We have three types of people that claim to follow the king and my heart today is to see which one we are!

Read with me:

Matthew 2:1–12 NIV

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Who is this king?

So here in this story we have a king. Herod the great! He was a terrible king. a ruthless leader. He was paranoid and arrogant. But Herod ruled over Gods people. God placed Herod in this position. So close to His law and His, in the temple. Herod ruled and when the Magi the showed ip looking for the king, Herod was overcome with Fear and anxiety.

You see for Herod he treasured more than anything Power and influence. Control, and strength. So a King, meant loss of all of that and so when Herod hears the news he begins to plots to kill the king. His heart longs to control, even God. He wants to rule! Its Herods way or no way.

Are you a king this morning? Do you long to control God? Does Jesus showing up in your life bring fear or Joy? Does the news of the Christ bring you pause or peace? When you hear that Jesus coming. How do you respond? when God begins to move in your life, do your pursue him or do you reject him? You you embrace His presence or keep him at arms length?

Who are you today? Who am I today?

Who are these Priests and teachers?

Thes men were the religious leaders in Jerusalem. If anyone knew Jesus was here is should have been them, but all they had was facts.

You see the Magi, saw the star over Israel, an they came to the king and religious leaders to see where this king was. Buts the priests and teachers were unaware anything happening. So the Magi show up and say where the king? He has been born? Herod is besides himself.

The priests tell the magi, oh yeah the prophesy says the messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

The priests with all this knowledge of scripture cannot see that Jesus is here.

So what that tell us? Knowledge along will not bring you to Jesus! Good works will not usher you into his presence? What this tells us is that you can have all the knowledge and look the part and still have nothing. and completely miss Jesus! How to we know they missed Jess because on their way out Herod and the priests and tell the Magi, come back and tell us if you find anything!

WE aren’t going to pursue this king. we are too busy. If you find Him come and tell us!

So many supposed Christians live this way. If God convenient I will follow. But I cannot be bothered to seek him. I do not have, I have work, I have family, I have sports I have whatever? If Jesus comes to me I will talk.

That is where these priests? They passively followed God. They could not be bothered to pursue or seek. that was beneath them. Life had strangled their faith.

Are you a priest this morning? Am I a priest this morning?

Who were these Magi?

Well lets look at these Men?

μάγος (Mahgos)= Sorcerer or Magician,

This is where we get the word magic from.

Now I have many theories on who were these men? Daniel was in this class of men. He was considered a Magos in Babylon. A spiritual adviser.

But so would have been those who were into witchcraft and the occult. At the Time of Jesus birth there were many magi in Persia, most of them were followers of Zoraster a Persian God. The occult and astrology were huge in that day in time as they are still today.

There were “Magi” who were of the order of Daniel, so they learned to watch the signs of the times and were full of wisdom. they likely followed Jehovah. But the issue of knowing exactly who they were or how many there were is not knowable. we can guess but we just don’t know.

For purposes of this message, we will assume they knew Jewish prophesy so we will assume they loved God. We will assume that there were three of them.

But ultimately we do not know.

So what can we learn from them? I have three points I want to bring to you.

They hungered! and they found the King!

These Magi were hungry for a Sign. They were looking for Truth. When they saw the signs they understood what God doing. They were Hungry and because of that God brought them to Jesus.

What Signs? They saw a Star in the west. Now this star was actually a star and 2 planets. in the sky over Israel that year rose Leo (Lion Figure), along with the convergence of Venus (The Mother planet), Jupiter (The King Planet) and Regulus the star the represented Royalty.

The Lion of Course represented the tribe of Judah.

To these early astronomers they would have recognized that the Lion was rising, and these planets converging in these rare celestial event was significant enough that it was pointing to the birth of the King of Israel.

This convergence would have been the brightest thing in sky for months. There more astronomical events that I cannot go into in the year 3 BC that pointed to God doing something incredible.

But what want to hone in on is that this small group of Magos, saw these events and said: :God is at work. We must go worship the king!” “WE must seek the king.”

3 Men saw and understood. How many Hundreds of thousands of People saw the same star and just went on with life?

They saw the heavens declaring the glory and said thats prtetty lets go to bed!

Church why did the Magi find Christ when no one else was? Because they hungered for God!

They saw signs in the heavens and they we must Go! The King is here!

They hungered! and they found the King!

Herod saw the saw the star and was enraged.

The priests saw the star and were apathetic

But the magi, the sorcerers, saw the star and were overjoyed.

Who are you this morning? who am I?

Are you the King, Are you the Priests, or are you the Magi?

Are you threatened by the presence of God?

Are you apathetic to a move of God?

Or are you hungry to worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?

Who are you this morning? WHo am I?

If you and I hunger for Jesus, He will bring us to Himself.

When they found Jesus, they worshiped!

There worship was more than just lip service. It was more than passive adoration. It cost them. The combined value of these gifts today is estimated to be between 3-4 million dollars.

Altar time to come to the King and Worship Jesus

Invite people to Join you on a fast this week. January is typically a time when many Christians fast to start the nerw year off right. So I am inviting you to join me this weeek in fast