Wise Guys – Christmas Message
Matthew 2
Intro: To: All Southern USA Residents From: Santa
I regret to inform you that effective immediately, due a growing population, I will no longer be able to serve the southern USA on Christmas Eve. However, I have provided a replacement for you, my 3rd cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. There are a few differences b/w us that you need to know:
1 Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers RC Cola, pork rinds and moon pies.
2 Bubba Claus’ sleigh is pulled by flying coon dog instead of reindeer – Santa made the mistake of loaning Bubba his reindeer last year and now his head overlooks Bubba’s fireplace.
3 Instead of hearing, “On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen…” You now hear, “On Earnhardt, on Wallace, On Gordon and Jarrett.”
4 The Classic Christmas movies, “Miracle on 31st Street” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” have been replaced by “Boss Hogg Saves Christmas” and “Smokey and the Bandit IV.”
5 Bubba Claus doesn’t wear a belt. Make sure you wife and children turn the other way when he bends over to put the presents under the tree.
Trans: As we enter these final days before Christmas, I would like for us to journey to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the wise men.
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Truth: In nativity scenes we often arrange the wise men around the baby Jesus along w/ the shepherds and angels. But we know from the text that the wise men didn’t arrive on the night of Jesus’ birth – it was later.
Matthew 1:11 uses the word house instead of stable and child instead of baby. Based on vs. 16, we can infer that Jesus was likely 12-24 mo. old.
Note: Most assume there were 3 magi b/c of the 3 gifts – but we don’t actually know the number. We do know they were men from the region east of Israel who’d been traveling for following a strange star in the western sky. But they weren’t just following a star, they were searching for Messiah.
Note: These men weren’t magicians or astrologist but educated men in science and astronomy. They were men from Babylon familiar w/ the ancient writings of Daniel – who 600 years prior had been deported to Babylon from Jerusalem. He didn’t just escape the lion’s den – he also ruled and wrote about the coming Messiah. Daniel 9 says 483 years after Jerusalem rebuilt.
I A Diligent Search for God Always Leads to Jesus
Note: I don’t know what is more amazing – the number of people who were completely oblivious to the Messiah’s first coming or that these wise men from a far were Johnny on the spot.
If you really think about it – the Bible most certainly gives us the impression that only Anna, Simeon, and wise men were looking for Jesus.
The masses were hopeful for Messiah – but they were neither looking for Him nor did they recognize Him (even His disciple didn’t fully comprehend that Jesus was God in the flesh).
Note: I often speak w/ people who have never truly taken the time to search for God – most people search for what works for them – but they don’t really search for the truth.
Throughout history, great minds have set out on the journey to discover God – and of those who found Him, the vast majority run smack into Jesus.
Trans: Unfortunately, too many people have never made the time or the space in their lives for Jesus. Our children spoke to us last Sunday night about this truth. When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room available for them.
Insert: I know what this feels like. Several years ago in Europe, a friend and I traveled to Zermot to ski. After skiing, we began to search for a place to sleep but couldn’t find a room. We panicked. Outside the temperature was dropping below zero and we didn’t have a warm place to lay our heads. There was no room any where nor would anyone make room for us.
Note: There are many people today who are too busy, too proud, and too self-absorbed to make room for God. I have a brother-in-law in this category. Too be honest, he thinks that he is too smart for God.
Fact: But here is to the stark reality – whether or not you believe in God and have taken the time to make room for Him in your life – he is real and He is coming again some day.
Fact: God is neither diminished nor threatened by what you think of Him.
Truth: Ultimately – one of two things is going to occur. Either (1) you will die and find out there is a God or (2) you’ll die and your life will cease. Now which is better – to believe in God, follow His teachings and die only to find out he did not exist or refuse to believe and die and find out he did exist. In the 1st scenario you lose nothing while in the 2nd scenario you lose everything.
Verse: Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. Micah 5:2
Verse: The Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Is. 7:14 (see Mt. 1:23)
Verse: Isaiah 9:6-7 – Messiah would be of the line of David. (see Mt. 1 - Joseph)
Note: In three verses we discover that the Messiah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of the line of David and shall be called Immanuel (God w/ us).
I have no idea of the odds of just those three prophecies coming true in one person, but when you add all of the other ones
II If You Are Wise, You Will Give Him Your Treasures
Trans: One of the most enjoyable aspects of Christmas is the exchanging of gifts. Now I’m not talking about the gift-for-gift exchange (when you only give b/c someone has given to you and you feel obligated). I’m talking about the exchanging of gifts motivated by love – giving to show someone how much you care – giving w/out looking for anything in return – and giving them the right gift at the right time.
Reality: Let’s be honest – some gifts are inappropriate – you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) give a toddler permanent markers or a tube of super glue. The wise men most certainly brought appropriate gifts.
Quote: Gold is the gift fit for a king. Frankincense was in constant use by the temple priests. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. In those three gifts we see who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it would cost Him.” Stott
Trans: If you are truly wise – you too will humble yourself before this child and give to Him a gift from your heart.
A Gold – Your First and Your Best
Note: Gold is considered one of the most valued commodities on earth. It is given in tribute or love to another. The wise men brought gold to honor a king – they gave the most valued gift to the name above all names.
Note: W/out going to deep into the idea of stewardship – the question at hand is, “what is the most valued commodity in your life? Where do you pour your love and affection?
Verse: Where your heart is there your treasure will be. Mt 7:21
Note: Do you regularly give to God your first and best?
Verse: Honor the Lord w/ your possessions and w/ the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled w/ plenty, and your vats will overflow w/ new wine. Pr. 3:9-10
Note: Does he get first dibs on your time, money, and words? He is worthy of your first and best.
B Incense – Your Heart and Your Worship
Trans: The wise men were eager to pay homage. They could hardly believe that they were so privileged to live in the time of the Messiah’s arrival. When the time arrived, they willingly bowed down and worshipped the Lord.
Note: Incense were used in the temple to enhance the senses in worship. The cloud created by the incense represented the presence of God that was revealed in the cloud that led Israel through the wilderness.
Note: Our incense is a spirit of expectation each and every time we approach the presence of God. Whether in our quiet time, family time, or church time, we should earnestly seek to experience the presence of God.
Unfortunately, too many people come to church and never worship or experience God. They do not know how to practice His presence.
Many people think church is a place where they come to receive – but you’ll never receive from the Lord until you come prepared to give Him your heart. That is what worship is – it‘s giving to God all of you.
Story: John 12 – Mary anointing Jesus at Bethany – She gave all she had to worship and the aroma of worship filled the air.
C Myrrh – Your Life and Your Loyalty
Note: Myrrh was an ointment used to embalm the dead to retard decay.
Note: The wise men, likely understanding the O.T. prophecies of the Messiah, knew that the Savior was to die for the sins of man.
Verse: Surely our grief He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the sin of us all to fall on Him. Is. 53:4-6
Note: The myrrh represents the need for us to offer Him all of our lives b/c of His willingness to die for us. It’s not until you have fully surrendered and given your life over to Him that you demonstrate that He is the king of your life.
III Once You’ve Met Jesus, You Can’t Go Home the Same Way You Came
Note: The wise men came Jesus by way of Herod through Jerusalem, but God warned the wise men in a dream to go home a different way. They went home a different route and as different men.
Insert: When you have had a genuine encounter w/ Jesus – you will never be the same again. Once your heart and mind have been touched and challenged by His Spirit you will be changed.
Verse: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone, all things have become new. 2 Cr. 5:17
Story: Poet T.S. Eliot was considered one of the great minds of the 20th century. In 1948 he won the Nobel Prize for literature. Although born in the U.S., he spent most of his life in England.
In his search for truth, Eliot became a cynical humanist and edited the magazine “The Egotist.” In much of his early writings, he ridiculed both Christians and Christianity. Later in his life though, he began to dabble in religion, tinkering w/ Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism – but after a time of seriously studying the Bible – Eliot turned to Christ and was baptized. And much like C.S. Lewis, Eliot became a great spokesman for Christianity.
After coming to Christ, Eliot’s life was transformed – so much so that even secular scholars recognized the stark difference b/w his writing before Christ and after Christ.
Note: It is impossible to have a face-to-face encounter w/ God and it not have an affect on you. You will either be compelled to Christ or repelled by Christ – but you certainly will not remain the same.
Quote: When a man encounters Jesus he must do one of two things. Either he must die, or he must put Christ to death. Bonhoeffer
Note: Either a man will make room in the inn of his heart, or he will Katy bar the door. He will honor God w/ the gift of his life, or he will pursue to kill Him as Herod tried. There can only be one God! But one thing is for sure – he will not be the same.
Quote: Wise men still seek Him – what are you doing w/ Jesus?
