Wise Men Seek Jesus

The Gospel of Matthew Wise Men Seek Jesus - Matthew 2:1-12 December 8, 2024 I think most people really love Christmas. It's pretty evident when you walk or drive through your neighborhood and see all the pretty lights ... and let's be honest, sometimes the not so pretty decorations. It's also evident when you turn on the radio and EVERY station is playing "Christmas" music ... or the same result when you go to just about any store or public space. And of course, let's not forget the road rage in the parking lots of shopping centers and the continued shoppers rage inside the centers. This is why I personally enjoy online shopping better ... less drama and no rage. However, there are also other signs that Christmas time has arrived. Christmas stories. This morning, we will be in a very well-known account of the Christmas story. Yes, the birth of Jesus and the visit of the wise men in Matthew 2. I really like how Jon described this passage last week: familiar (my paraphrase). And he followed with a great piece of advice (again, my paraphrase): read slowly and allow the text to speak, and don't attempt to fill in the blanks with the missing pieces of the story that you may have heard in the past. So, I am going to take that advice and read Matthew 2:1-12 slowly. You can follow along on the screen, in your bible or devise. 1 NOW AFTER JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA IN THE DAYS OF HEROD THE KING, BEHOLD, WISE MEN 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 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. 11 AND GOING INTO THE HOUSE, THEY SAW THE CHILD WITH MARY HIS MOTHER, AND THEY FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM. THEN, OPENING THEIR TREASURES, THEY OFFERED HIM GIFTS, GOLD AND FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH. 12 AND BEING WARNED IN A DREAM NOT TO RETURN TO HEROD, THEY DEPARTED TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY BY ANOTHER WAY. The first thing I want to do this morning is recalibrate our understanding of the well-known Christmas story. Let's begin with ... * The timing. o Matthew begins by providing some historical data as to the exact timing of the birth of Jesus. o You will see this often in the prophets, for example. o He tells us that Herod was the king of Judea during the time of Jesus' birth. o But Matthew also tells us that the account was after the birth of Jesus. o This means, your nativity scene is historically inaccurate. I'm sorry. o That same nativity scene that many of us proudly display at Christmas time usually includes "three wise men" o But Matthew clearly tells us that they came after the birth of Jesus, and verse 11 tells us that they went into the home of Mary and Joseph to see the baby Jesus. o In a couple of weeks, we'll see that Herod targeted children under the age of two, so clearly Jesus was already born and already home, and at least under the age of two when the wise men arrived. o With that in mind, let's talk about ... * The wise men. o Some of your bibles might have the term "magi" which, historically, were known experts and priests in the mystery religions in the Medio-Persian cultures and in Babylon, who specialized in astrology, dream interpretation, magic, and general pursuit of wisdom. o In the book of Daniel, for example, they were the wise men and magicians that Nebuchadnezzar called upon to interpret his dreams. o Next, contrary to popular belief, the text does not tell us that there were three of them. o Traditionally, because three gifts were given, the story is that there were three men. o There is no indication that there were three, we can only be certain that there were more than one, as the term used describes a plurality. o We also know that they were from the east. o Some traditions even go as far as to assign these men to different regions (such as Europe, Asia, and Africa), name them, and even honor them on what is known as the Epiphany, celebrated every January 6th. o So, the Magi here are an interesting people to pursue Jesus. o We'll touch on this a little more later. o Finally, let's talk about ... * Herod. o He was the ruler of Judah from 37-4 B.C. o He was also an Edomite (from the tribe of Esau, Jacob's brother) o He was under the authority of Rome. o He was known to be a ruthless ruler. o One resource says that he killed his own wife, several of his sons, and other relatives. o In the coming weeks, we'll see that he will stop at nothing to keep his power. o The text seems to confirm this understanding in verse 3 when we're told that all of Jerusalem was troubled, implying that they were afraid of what he would do, as these wise men came to see out "the king of the Jews" I provided this background because understanding those involved may help us to understand Matthew's message. With that background in mind, here's the main idea from our text this morning: Christmas is less about what we know, but more about Who we know. As modern readers, we really need to respond to this birth account accordingly. That's been the theme that's been crawling through my brain for several weeks now. Response. How to respond to what the Lord is revealing to us through His Word. This text provides TWO WAYS TO RESPOND: * The way of the priests and scribes. o Notice in verse 4 how Herod went to the Jewish religious leaders to inquire about the birth of Christ. o First, he asked "where" Christ was to be born o How did they respond? By quoting Micah 5:2 o Wait, they quoted the exact verse that showed them that their Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? o Yes. But what was their response? o Nothing. No response. Words only. No deeds. No actions. o They seemed to know what the Word said about the birth of the Messiah, but did not act on that knowledge. o They did not go to Him. o They did not celebrate His arrival. o They did not even acknowledge Him. o Even Pope Francis agrees that this is quite troubling. Here is what he had to say: * It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did, if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter him. When his place becomes our place, when his time becomes our time, when his person becomes our life, then the prophecies come to ... o There's a clear issue here with head knowledge versus knowing Jesus and seeking Jesus with your heart. o This is tricky, as we study the bible to know God, to see His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit guides us in the Word. o The priests and scribes illustrate to us today that it is not about what we know, it's about Who we know. o So, the other way to respond is ... * The way of the magi. o Pope Francis closed the previous statement this way: Today we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look, but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the center, but bow down before the One who is the center. o Just for the record, I am in no way endorsing the pope or his church, but he does have this right. o Notice what the text tells us. o Matthew said that they saw His star, and they went to find the King of the Jews. o What's the deal with this star? o Was God endorsing and using astrology to lead people to Jesus? o Unlikely, and the Scriptures may help us to understand this a little better. o The prophet Balaam spoke this oracle in Numbers 24:17: I SEE HIM, BUT NOT NOW; I BEHOLD HIM, BUT NOT NEAR: A STAR SHALL COME OUT OF JACOB, AND A SCEPTER SHALL RISE OUT OF ISRAEL; IT SHALL CRUSH THE FOREHEAD OF MOAB AND BREAK DOWN ALL THE SONS OF SHETH. o This verse seems to point to a star and a ruler coming from Israel. Maybe, somehow, they knew this reference, and when they saw the star, they knew that the prophesied King had arrived. o That's possible. Even likely. But how? o Daniel 9 may give us another clue. o Verses 24-27 speaks to a period of 70 weeks. Here is what is says: 24 "SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DECREED ABOUT YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR HOLY CITY, TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION, TO PUT AN END TO SIN, AND TO ATONE FOR INIQUITY, TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, TO SEAL BOTH VISION AND PROPHET, AND TO ANOINT A MOST HOLY PLACE. 25 KNOW THEREFORE AND UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE GOING OUT OF THE WORD TO RESTORE AND BUILD JERUSALEM TO THE COMING OF AN ANOINTED ONE, A PRINCE, THERE SHALL BE SEVEN WEEKS. THEN FOR SIXTY-TWO WEEKS IT SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN WITH SQUARES AND MOAT, BUT IN A TROUBLED TIME. 26 AND AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS, AN ANOINTED ONE SHALL BE CUT OFF AND SHALL HAVE NOTHING. AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME SHALL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY. ITS END SHALL COME WITH A FLOOD, AND TO THE END THERE SHALL BE WAR. DESOLATIONS ARE DECREED. 27 AND HE SHALL MAKE A STRONG COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK, AND FOR HALF OF THE WEEK HE SHALL PUT AN END TO SACRIFICE AND OFFERING. AND ON THE WING OF ABOMINATIONS SHALL COME ONE WHO MAKES DESOLATE, UNTIL THE DECREED END IS POURED OUT ON THE DESOLATOR." o First, I am no expert at prophecy, but here is what I can tell you. * The "weeks" are 7-year periods, so 70 weeks would be about 490 years. * Verse 24 of Daniel 9 provides a list of 6 accomplishments during this 490-year period * Verse 25 tells us that there will be a separate 7-week period, and a 62 week period, or 483 years * Verse 25 further tells us that the beginning of that period is the building of the Temple * So, we can break it down like this: * The seventy weeks are divided into three parts: o Seven weeks - 49 years, until the city and its walls are rebuilt. o 69 weeks (7 plus 62), 483 years from the decree, until Messiah the Prince appears. o A final 70th week to complete the prophecy. o So, if the Magi knew a star would be the sign to look for, and they were familiar with Daniel's prophecy, they may have calculated the arrival period of the Christ. o While we are not told this directly, the biblical hints lead us to believe that God had revealed this star to these men for a reason. o Whatever God did to lead these men to Jesus, it is as important for us today to understand what that caused them to do in response. * They left their own country to worship the King * When they encountered Him, they rejoiced * They gave Him their gifts o We are called today to respond to Jesus in same way the Magi did. With sacrifice, awe and reverence. We've seen that, Christmas is less about what we know, but more about Who we know. The priests and scribes were wise, but they failed to seek Jesus. While the Magi - the real wise men - knew that they needed to seek the King. This season, what or who are you seeking? Are you seeking happiness in a fun and festive season, or are you looking for Christ in a sin-filled world? It's no secret that many people go to church during the Christmas season, but the question has to be, why? What are you looking for? Who are you looking for? As we close this morning, may I suggest three ways to SEEK JESUS this holiday season: * Talk to Jesus throughout the day o This one may be a bit harder for some than others. o The idea here is to find moments throughout your day to put and keep Christ first in your life. o When you get up in the morning, pray o When you are getting ready to go into the office, or appointment, or wherever your first stop is, pray o When you get home and get ready for some personal or family time, pray o Next, and related. * Be thankful every day o This time of year can be very stressful for a lot of people o It is important to reflect and recall those things that you are thankful for, and in turn you can show your gratitude to God and to others. o We all have a lot to be thankful for ... you may recall that's what the most recent holiday was all about. o Finally, * Read scripture everyday o This is a primary reason that the church provides a daily reading plan. o There are tons of resources to keep you in your Bible daily, whether it be systematically through the whole Bible, or topically. o Let us know if we can help. The Christmas season is a time of reflection and a time of celebration, and a time of seeking. The question is. Will you seek Jesus like the priests and scribes, who only knew where He was to be born but didn't seek Him? Or will seek Him like the Magi, who travelled a long way to worship the King? If you want to be wise, like the Magi - which I hope that you all do - then let's begin with seeking Jesus. Let's pray. 2