EPIPHANY1: The Wise Men Seek Jesus
Matthew 2:1-12
How do you think you would go in a Christmas quiz?
How many wise men were there? Contrary to popular belief, we do not know if there were two, or three as the carols suggest, or more? Because there were three gifts, many suppose there were three wise men.
How much time elapsed between the coming of the shepherds to see the baby Jesus in the manger, and the arrival of the wise men? Minutes (enough time for Joseph to sing Away in a Manger); Hours (enough time for Baby Jesus to have a sleep); A few days (enough time for Mary and Joseph to clean out the stable for their arrival); A month (enough time for Mary, Joseph and Jesus to have 4 weeks holiday & return); 18 months or more (enough time to relocate). The Bible says that the star appeared at Jesus birth and its appearance prompted the wise men to leave the east and come (v2). It could have taken them 18 months to 2 years to get to Bethlehem. Otherwise, why did King Herod have all the baby boys 2 years old and younger killed (v16).
Where did the wise men find baby Jesus? In the stable; at the inn; boarding with friends at Jerusalem; in a house? The Bible says in a house (v11).
Who did the wise men meet when they arrived? Just Joseph & Jesus (Mary was out); Just Mary & Joseph (Jesus was being babysat by Elizabeth); Joseph, Mary and Jesus; or Just Mary & Jesus (Joseph was out)? The Bible does not include Joseph in the list of those present when the wise men arrived (v11).
Where did the name ‘Jesus ‘ come from? An angel told Mary to call her baby Jesus; Joseph thought of it because it means ‘God saves’; Mary and Joseph decided on it together; An angel told Joseph? The Bible says an angel told Joseph (Matt 1:20-21).
How are you going? There have been several myths around concerning the Christmas story. Hopefully today some of those have been put to rest. So, what else can we learn from these wise men about how we can deepen our relationship with God?
1.How difficult was it for the wise men to come from the east to visit Jesus?
They were not Jews, as they asked for the whereabouts of the one born the king of the Jews (v2). Also, they SOUGHT AFTER Jesus. They came a long distance from another country. Some say, Persia, others Southern Arabia or Babylon. It can’t have been easy. They followed the star as they trusted that it would lead them to the new-born king. In verse one of We Three Kings we sang we find these words, ‘field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star’. My friend, I wonder, would you go overseas with your treasures, to give them to a prince you did not know, whose parents you had not met, and who had not invited you? Such dedication! To seek for a king was their intent and to follow that star wherever it went (The first Noel). Nothing got in the way of their plans to see this new-born king, and give him their finest and best gifts. Their journey was over rugged country: desert, mountain, river, lake.
Friend, how difficult is it for you to come to worship Jesus? I’m not suggesting we try to make it harder. But, I am interested in DEDICATION. I am interested in what it cost them to make a journey that would take them so long to make, over such a long distance. I wonder friend, to what lengths would you go to follow the lead God gives you? How desperate are you to seek Jesus? You know you won’t grow much in your Christian life if you are not desperate to seek the face of Jesus. That’s what the wise men were doing: seeking ultimate truth in the true God of the universe. How strong is that passion in you? Will you seek him with all your heart today? Christian friend, how’s your relationship with God? What are you really seeking? Just to be the average Christian? Mediocrity? God calls us to leave the safety of where you are to seek after the King.
2. They brought gifts when the came to worship Jesus. Gold was the gift suitable for a king. Frankincense was the gift suitable for a deity, and myrrh was the very expensive ointment used to embalm the dead. Some scholars have spoken of the significance of each of these gifts, but these are not our concern today. Except to say, that these gifts were extremely rare and therefore very expensive. I am sure they were useful in many ways for Mary and Joseph to use when they went to Egypt to avoid the murderous plans of King Herod the Great.
But the wise men brought their gifts and treasures from the east to offer to Jesus. They were endowed with great wealth, but they freely brought their gifts to Jesus. I wonder friend, how willing are you to give God what is valuable to you? Your giving to God is a sign of what is going on in your heart. What things are valuable to you? Your time; your freedom to choose what to do; the skills and talents you have; your possessions; your wealth? Did you know my friend, Jesus is worthy of the best you can give him. I challenge you to use your treasures and gifts to bring others to worship Christ. Use your time to help grow God’s kingdom; use your skills and talents to help develop the Church; use your possessions to show grace to others; and use your wealth to release ministry to win others to Christ.
3. No change of plan was too difficult. They were warned in a dream that Herod was not to be trusted. There is always a plan B. They were told, ‘you must go home another way’. There is always another way where God is concerned. So they did not go back and tell Herod where they found the baby Jesus. Do you know friends, finding Jesus may mean that you take a different direction than you planned in the beginning.
33 years ago I applied for a job: outer area system operator. Located up in the country; Hunter valley; House and car provided; please yourself about the hours needed to work, but on call 24/7. I was happy as an electrician, but God had another plan. I was over-qualified. The job was taken off the list. I got the call to ministry and here I am.
Friend, follow the lead given to you in a dream. Listen to that still small voice. Listen to that quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit. Make a choice and do what you know to be God’s plan. You’ll never be the same again.
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So what have I been saying today? We have learned from the passions and exploits of the wise men about how we can deepen our relationship with God. The star they saw in the sky back in the east ignited their passion to travel to another country. They had a passion to worship this new-born king, and no obstacle would be too big to stop them. Preparation was required, rugged terrain was to be negotiated, long distances were to be travelled, and deprivations of food and water were to be endured. They were prepared to go to any lengths to follow their God-given lead. They were desperate to find Jesus. How strong is the passion for you? Leave behind the safety of where you are and seek the king, and what he has for you to do.
I am sure that the wise men thought about the cost of their journey. Sure, they were wealthy, but so their gifts were very expensive. The treasures they brought freely to Jesus help us discover that we are to bring to the Lord what we treasure. Whether it be our time, our skills and talents, our possessions, or our wealth. You see he is worthy of the best you can give him.
Also, the wise men were ready to change their plans, even if the king of the country they were visiting had requested them to come back to tell him where the baby was. No, they must follow the dream and take a different direction. Despite their importance, influence and wealth, they would never be allowed back into Judea. They had disobeyed Herod’s request. But how important was their decision to ignore Herod! It saved Jesus’ life. We know that finding Jesus and building a relationship with him means that we will take a different direction than we planned.
With the passion to follow God’s lead, nothing is too hard. When we are worshipping we are to bring what we treasure to offer to the Lord. When we find Jesus and grow in our relationship with him, our direction changes.
May we all grow in grace and in our experience of Jesus as Lord during 2012.
