The Journey To Jesus

The Journey to Jesus, Matthew 2:1-12

Eric A. Snyder, Minister Farwell Church of Christ

December 22, 2002

Wise men traveled a great distance to worship Jesus, yet there were important intellectuals who wouldn’t go six miles out to see if the rumors were true... Jerusalem 6 miles from Bethlehem. And a hotbed of learning and spiritual insight.

While on a car trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, the elderly woman left her glasses on the table, but she didn’t miss them until they were back on the highway. By then, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around. The elderly man fussed and complained all the way back to the restaurant. He called his wife every bad name he could think of.

When they finally arrived at the restaurant, and the woman got out of the car to retrieve her glasses, the man yelled to her, "And while you’re in there, you might as well get my hat, too."

There are people today who aren’t willing to go back and see what really happened. Back there in Bethlehem.

But the wisest of the wise recognize the wonder of what is called impossible and the emptiness of what is called intelligent. Being Intellectual doesn’t make you wise. Technology doesn’t translate into wisdom I’ve met too many smart people who can’t find their way to the back of a store

Our society is riddled with examples of the wisdom of our age.

For example: How many reasonably intelligent people do you know that order a double cheeseburger, a super size large fry, and a diet coke.

Can anyone explain why grocery stores sell hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight or why drive up ATM machines have Braille lettering?

But the opposite is also true…

What some call foolish is sometimes wisdom

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” Certainly you have. It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t!

Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”

Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”

Michael “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”

Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.

Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”

Naomi, 15 said, “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”

Lauren, age 9 said, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”

Joel, 10 years old, said, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and

Eileen, age 8 said, “Never try to baptize a cat.”

The wisdom of God is foolishness to those who are lost and the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. Life is full of anomalies and paradoxes. Some things seem right that are wrong and some things that seem wrong are right. Listen… The wisdom of God is foolishness to those who are lost and the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom.

A prime example of this is found in the narrative about the wise men from the east who came to worship Jesus. Especially when you compare them with the wise men of Herod who where in Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:1 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.