Text: “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” (Matthew 2:1).
Who were the wise men?
Where were they from?
How did they receive the message?
Why did they come?
What did they bring with them?
The name or term “wise men” indicates that they possessed some special knowledge or wisdom that the average person did not have. The wise men talked about in our Scripture reading are also called “The Magi”.
We are told they are from the East which could be Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq), Persia (Iran), or even father east. These men were religious leaders as well as philosophical teachers.
The wise men were students of the stars meaning they had a knowledge and understanding of the stars. I believe this was something instilled in them by the Father. They were special in the sense that God incorporated them in His plan of revealing His son who would be born in Bethlehem.
The men were part of God’s plan just as we are a part of His plan. God gave them an awareness of the truth just as He gives us awareness. The difference is they listened and followed God’s direction whereas we do not always listen and follow.
They saw something different in the heavens relevant to the stars and decided this was a message from the Father. As God worked within their minds, they arrived at the conclusion this was a sign indicating a special birth. This special birth was the birth of the King of the Jews.
We know God works in mysterious ways and we are not to question, but we are to listen, believe, and follow directions. When they saw the star, the wise men began their journey to Jerusalem to see the King.
Their purpose was to go and worship the King. They had to travel some distance, but distance was not an issue. You might ask why God did not place the wise men closer or in the town of Bethlehem. When the men saw the star, they were faced with a decision and that was to follow the star or not to follow the star.
When God created man, He gave man the privilege of making choices. If He had not done this, then man’s freedom would have been controlled by God just as a puppet on a string.
Any time man makes a choice or a decision, there is the possibility that obstacles or obstructions may surface. For example, a person might get up in the morning to go to church only to find out that the car has a flat tire. The flat tire is an obstacle. Does the person change the tire and get dirty hands or does the person just forget about going to church?
What if a person is going to work and gets tied up in the traffic on the interstate and is delayed for several hours? This is an obstacle that was not expected, but did occur. Does the person say, “I am not going to work anymore because the traffic issue is unbearable or I might be involved in an accident?”
The wise men might have considered the obstacles they would have to face if they followed the star. For one thing, the distance to Jerusalem was great. Their safety might have been jeopardized and besides that, the mode of transportation was animal (camel or donkey) or walking.
Life is full of obstacles, but we have a God who can help us by-pass or get around any obstacle or obstruction if we will only follow His Word. You and I may consider some task impossible, but “….with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
The wise men were looking for a king. They were looking for a special king, one who would be king over the entire world. King Herod was king over the land of Israel at the time Jesus was born. Scripture tells us: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king….” (Matthew 2:1).
Herod was a very ruthless, mean and cruel king. He even murdered members of his own family. He had much power, but he lacked compassion. Herod did one thing that captured the respect of the Jews and that one thing involved the renovation of the temple. The renovation process made the temple larger and more beautiful and of course the Jews liked this.
Herod’s mindset and thinking is like what goes on in our world today. There are people who are really critical and even hurtful, but by doing some small positive deed, attract the attention of others who follow them and consider them very worthy.
When Herod received word that the wise men were asking “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (v. 2), he became troubled. Herod became troubled because he feared a successor. Herod feared a baby. Did he think he would live on forever?
Perhaps Herod did not understand that some day we will all stand before the King to whom we will have to give account of our life. At that time, He will pass judgment and our destiny will be determined. If Herod was trembling because of the baby, just think how much he will tremble when he stands before the King of the world.
Why were the wise men looking for the “King of the Jews”? We indicated that they wanted to worship Him, but was there an ulterior motive? Were the wise men not at peace with themselves? Had they offended someone and it was bothering them? Were they seeking Jesus because they wanted more material possessions? Perhaps worshiping the King would give them more worldly power.
There is no doubt that Jesus can take care of all these issues and concerns. He has done this many times, but what Jesus also provides for each of us is hope. The wise men were also looking for hope. Their hope was in the One who would govern their earthly life as well as their eternal life.
This same thing applies to our day. Each of us is looking for someone who is greater than us; someone who can provide the essentials we require; someone who is concerned about us and loves us unconditionally; someone willing to guide and lead us down the righteous path; someone we can be obedient to, and someone we can be truly committed to.
It is true that there are people who look to something instead of someone to help them in their daily walk through life. Some people look to alcohol while others look to drugs. Wild living seems to be a big motivator for certain people while the acquisition of material possessions plays a big part in the life of some people.
There are some people asking the question the wise men asked: “Where is He that is born King.” The wise men were looking for the King who carried a Divine title from the day He was born. I would venture to say the wise men had access to the early Scripture used by the Jews even though they themselves were Gentiles.
We are fortunate that everyone has access to the Bible in some form. The Bible is in the library, the many bookstores as well as other stores. Churches are plentiful and television carries numerous religious programs. People cannot really say they do not have access to God’s Word.
When the wise men saw the star and arrived at the conclusion that it was a sign to them the Messiah was born, they moved in a positive direction to locate Him. One might ask the question: “How did they know or how could they be so sure?”
The star in the sky that the wise men saw was obviously not ordinary star. It must have been different from all the other stars. It might have been larger or brighter. It might have moved in a certain way. Maybe it looked like a comet that has a head and vapor like tail. We don’t know for sure, but it was different.
The wise men were educated men and knew the stars well from the many years of studying them. In addition, they were searching the heavens on a daily basis and asking God for a revelation. When the phenomena occurred, they immediately knew the revelation came from God Himself because it was so different and so unusual or extraordinary.
The wise men chose to follow the star night after night as it showed over the western horizon. They followed it by day as it led them across the desert and into various towns and finally into Jerusalem. Upon arrival, they said, “For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (v. 2).
These men traveled thousands of miles following a star that would ultimately lead them to the King. They were determined to find and know more about the King. The wise men knew a little about the King, but they wanted to know more.
People in our day and age who are introduced to Jesus seek to know more and more about Him. Knowing a little about Jesus is like having one’s appetite moistened just a slightly. Total satisfaction comes from becoming well acquainted with Him.
The wise men probably thought everyone in Jerusalem would be worshipping the King, but they soon discovered this was not the case. Most people were ignorant as to who the wise men were looking for. Most could not direct the men to Jesus because they did not know Him.
This is the story today. Some people cannot witness for Jesus because they do not know Him on a personal level. They know of Him, but in reality, He is a stranger to them and they are a stranger to Him because their relationship with Him is not intimate.
It is interesting to note that Herod was not troubled until the wise men came upon the scene and began asking questions. Herod should have known the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom. Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah and Micah recorded words relevant to the coming Messiah.
There are people in our day who are concerned about Jesus only when trouble comes their way. When their apple cart is upset, they begin to ask questions about what to do. When everything is going according to their plan, they are content. Herod was content until he heard that “the King of the Jews” had been born and this might have a direct effect on him.
Contrary to what some people might think and how they picture the Nativity scene, the wise men did not appear until Jesus was about six or seven weeks of age. Joseph and Mary remained in Jerusalem for the circumcision of Jesus and the purification period.
“When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord….and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’” (Luke 2:22-24). It was then that they returned to Bethlehem.
Herod called the wise men together and inquired as to when they had seen this star. Then he sent them to Bethlehem with instructions to let him know when they found the child. “Go and search carefully for the young child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also” (v. 8).
After they talked to Herod and started to leave for Bethlehem they noticed the star appeared again. “....the star which they had seen in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was” (v. 9). The wise men were overjoyed when their eyes fell upon the Child and they fell down and worshiped Him.
The wise men present gift which they had brought. The gifts consisted of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold offering was the usual offering for a king. Frankincense is a costly and fragrant gum distilled from a tree in India and Arabia. Myrrh is an aromatic gum produced from a thorn-bush that grew in Arabia and Ethiopia.
These gift were brought all the way from the East by the wise men and were the very best they had to offer. Do we offer our best to our King? We should because everything we have has been provided by Him. They are not ours. He only gave them to us to use and to share. Nothing is ours including the breath of life He breathed into us. Everything belongs to Him.
Conclusion:
All the gifts the wise men gave were precious, but the most precious gift they gave was their time. They had time to find the King, worship the King and depart with the Good News to their own country.
We need to follow in the footsteps of the wise men. They are a wonderful example for all mankind. We should follow their example.
In 1753, John Wesley wrote these words:
“I give myself completely to you, God.
Assign me to my place in your creation.
Let me suffer for you.
Give me the work you would have me do.
Give me many tasks, or have me step aside while you call others.
Put me forward or humble me.
Give me riches or let me live in poverty.
I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you…”
The wise men saw the light in the star, followed the light and found the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ.
The Light shines forth on each of God’s children, but some chose to live in darkness. We, who have accepted Him as our personal Lord and Savior bathe daily in His light and His love.
Listen to these words of the “Twelve Day of Christmas”
On the first day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me salvation full and free
On the second day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me everlasting life
On the third day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me peace in my heart
On the fourth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me love for all men
On the fifth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me joy for my soul
On the sixth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me power from on high
On the seventh day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me a body glorified
On the eighth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me a robe and a crown
On the ninth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me mansions above
On the tenth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me streets of pure gold
On the eleventh day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me a thousand tongues to sing
On the twelfth day of Christmas
Jesus gave to me eternity to praise.
God gave His greatest gift to us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Let’s give Him our very best because He gave us His very best.
Amen.
