We Have Seen the Light

We Have Seen the Light 
Matthew 12:1-12

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown! Likewise, many have missed the true meaning of the light of Christmas.

 [1] “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem [2] and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." [3] When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. [5] "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: [6] "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 be the shepherd of my people Israel." [7] Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. [8] He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." [9] After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. [11] 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 and of incense and of myrrh. [12] And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

The purpose of the LIGHT of this Bethlehem Star was to authenticate and announce God becoming flesh and to draw men to worship the newborn Messiah and King. The beautiful story of the LIGHT of Bethlehem was intended by Matthew to focus our attention on the Babe of Bethlehem. The star is mentioned four times in this passage Matthew 2:2, 7, 9-10 and nowhere else in the New Testament. Let us examine three biblical truths about the Light of Christmas:

1. IT WAS A DIRECTIVE LIGHT

Matthew 2:2“The wise men said, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” These wise men, or Magi, would never have been able to find, see, and know the young King Jesus had it not been for the light of God’s star. Have you ever sat down with your open Bible and attempted to map out the journey taken by these Magi? Whether they came from Mesopotamia, Chaldea, Persia, or Arabia, the first observation is that these ancient pilgrims would have had a difficult distance to travel. God’s Light:

1) DIRECTED THEM TO GO THE DISTANCE: We read that “there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem” Matthew 2:1. Had they not been directed by that providential star they might never have attempted the lengthy journey implied in the phrase “from the east to Jerusalem,” but they were drawn irresistibly to come and worship the young King. This light was so compelling that no distance, no matter how vast, could deter them. What a challenge as well as indictment this is to those of us who have the facilities for rapid transportation, by car, train or plane, in the Western world! How this story condemns us for our feeble excuses for not attending church regularly, for complaining about the request to honor Sunday and for our failure to go the distance and gladly follow Christ wherever His light directs. God’s Light:

2) DIRECTED THEM IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES: “There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem” Matthew 2:1. A pilgrimage of this kind in those days involved weeks of incredible dangers and difficulties. Bands of robbers ambushed those who traveled on the roads. Undoubtedly there were areas that were almost uncharted, where travel was so difficult and uncertain, that if they were not directed by the Light they would have lost courage in the face of these difficulties long before they found the Christ.

In a similar way, God has given us the LIGHT of this day. In fact, God’s directive Light has shined brightly at Faith Community Church for two years. His light encourages and directs us to think about, and believe in, Jesus Christ as our Savior, and our Lord. Many would never think of Christ otherwise were it not for the fact that someone like you invited them to this church.

They let Sundays just pass by without a single thought about God; even Easter does not seem to remind them of Him. Then the light of Christmas appears and people are invited to hear the angels saying, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11. Will you do what the wise men did and be directed by His Light to fulfill God’s purpose through you in spite of the distances or difficulties you may have to travel? Will you follow the light of Christmas until it leads you to the Savior? Will you follow the light of Christmas until He leads you to the friend or family member that you know needs a personal relationship with Him? Whatever distances you have to travel in your thinking, or difficulties you have to encounter, in terms of experience, do not rest until you have allowed His light to lead you to fulfill His will in bringing others to meet either meet or to bring them back to Jesus!

2. IT WAS A DEFINING LIGHT

“When [the wise men] had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them” Matthew 2:9. King Herod was a wicked man. If he had had his wish he would have done away with the young child Jesus. The fact is that Herod was like so many people today. Ignoring what the Scriptures said about the Messiah-ship of Christ. To Herod the scriptures were not a promise but a threat to him. He was determined to do away with the coming King. But the record tells us that as soon as the wise men had finished listening to Herod and had left his presence, God’s directive Light became a defining Light. The light begins to define and reveal the true character of each one who is touched by this star from heaven.

1) RELIGION IS DEFINED IN THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS

Notice carefully that the chief priests and scribes admitted that it was written in the prophecy of Micah that out of Bethlehem would come “a Governor that shall rule my people Israel” Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6. God still uses the light of Jesus to define those who are religious from those who have a relationship with Him, those who have actually applied the Word of God and allowed the Word of God to direct them to Jesus! Christmas is the fulfillment of at least 333 prophecies concerning the birth, life, death and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We find that both Old and New Testaments point to Christ. Luke 24:27: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

John 5:39: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me!”

The tragedy of this first Christmas is that the light of GOD revealed and defined that the religious leaders were people who knew the Word but never allowed the Word to lead, illumine and direct their life. They lived their life with pride that they had the religion but they never took time to be directed to a relationship!

2) REBELLION IS DEFINED  IN THE SECULAR LEADER 2:3; 7-12 Notice the way King Herod responds to the Light of Bethlehem: He was…

A. A Disturbed Leader

B. Leader of a Disturbed People “and all Jerusalem with him.” People follow the moral or spiritual leadership of their leaders.

C. A Defensive Leader: “[4] When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. [5] "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: [6] "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 be the shepherd of my people Israel."

D. A Deceitful Leader: “[7] Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. [8] He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." Herod was deceitful in his honor of Christ. He made of profession but never took possession of the Lord.

E. A Deadly Leader: “[12] And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

A rebellious heart will always be at war with the Light of Christmas. A rebellious heart will do anything possible to put to death the influence of Christ in their life, even if it means hurting others in the process. Herod ordered the death of the baby boys born in Bethlehem that were two years old and younger.

Many a husband has killed the spirit of Christ in his home when a wife became too committed and it began to threaten his rule or when a teenager came home after finding the love in a personal relationship with Christ only to hear a cursing father do all that he could to quench the Spirit of God in their child’s heart.

3) RELATIONSHIP IS DEFINED IN THE WISE LEADERS The story tells us that the star “which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was” Matthew 2:9. Whatever Herod or the chief priests and scribes had to say about the birth of Christ did not alter the fact that Jesus, the Messiah, had really come. Men and women today try to tell us that Jesus is not alive, but we ask, once again, what about Christmas? The very fact that we are celebrating Christmas signifies that Jesus was born to be your Savior and mine. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit not only to guide us to the Savior, but to glorify Him (John 16:13-14). Through the Holy Spirit we may be led to the Christ of Christmas.

Instead of being influenced by what Herod had said their minds and steps were directed and they were protected, and they reached the place “where the young child was.”

3. IT WAS A DIVINE LIGHT

[9] “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. [11] 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 and of incense and of myrrh. [12] And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

Up until now the star had been moving, directing and defining, but suddenly it stops, standing over the residence of the young child and declaring to those who seek truth that the promised light, the true reflection of God is born in human flesh.

1) Divine Light of Discovery (v.11) “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother” Matthew 2:11. Any doubt or fear as to whether Jesus was a real person, a real King, a real Savior, vanished immediately and joy and gladness filled their hearts with this divine discovery. Notice that as in our lives and personal relationship with Christ it is GOD who takes the initiative to draw us to Himself, to give us the exact amount of Light to reveal the sin in our lives and the desperate need for a Savior and it is His Light that continues drawing us to the place of discovery!

2) The Divine Light of Dedication v.12 When the discovery of this divine Light was revealed then without delay they fell down, dedicating their lives and worshiped Him. It is generally agreed, however, that the wise men’s gifts that were dedicated to Him were intended to symbolize that they recognized and received the Deity of Christ and declared Him to be the promised King. The natural response was to bow before Him and they worshiped Him. , “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” Matthew 2:11. Scholars have speculated down through the centuries that the gifts that were dedicated had significant meaning related to the Divine Plan of God for the Messiah.

A. The gold was recognition of His sovereignty.

B. The frankincense was recognition of His deity. The frankincense was that which the priests used in offerings made to God.

C. The myrrh was the recognition of His humanity. The fact that myrrh was employed in the embalming of the dead may have prefigured His atoning death.

3) The Divine Light of Deliverance v.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” What they had seen, heard and experienced of the child Jesus, determined their future action. Despite the invitation of the earthly King Herod to return to Jerusalem they once again learned to trust the Divine Light and were delivered from this evil scheme and “departed into their own country another way.” What mattered to them was following God’s light no matter the cost. No one can face this Divine Light, meet this Lord Jesus and ever be the same again.

Will you do what the wise men did as the responded to the LIGHT of Christmas?

1. Allow the Light of Christ to direct you to His Truth?

2. Allow the Light Of Christ to DEFINE where you stand in your response to Him. Are you religious, rebellious, or in relationship?

3. Allow the Light OF Christ to lead you to dedicate your life to Him and serve Him for all of eternity. To open the treasures of your heart to Him and acknowledge His sovereignty, His deity and His humanity in your life?

He waits for your answer, your allegiance, reverence and acceptance. If only you will respond to the light of Jesus, who is the focal point of Christmas.

Dr. Stephen Olford tells of a man and his small son who were walking down the streets of Chicago one Christmas. The child was delighted to see the many service stars hanging in the windows of homes each star proudly proclaiming the fact that a son was in the service of his country. He clapped his hands excitedly as he approached each new star and was duly impressed by those homes with more than one star in the window. Presently they came to a wide gap between the houses, and through the black velvet of the sky the evening star shone brightly. “Oh look, Daddy,” cried the little boy, “God must have given His son, for He has put the brightest star in His window.” The little boy was right, for nearly two thousand years ago God put His light in the heavens to announce the gift of His Son on that first Christmas day. Ever since, each year has had its own Christmas light. What the light was to those wise men from the East, Faith Community Church can be to us and to those we bring! Praise God! We have seen the Light and His Holy Name is Jesus!

Who do you know that needs to follow the light of God that will lead them to the personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? Write their name down today and pray for them and invite them to join you this year at Faith.