The Wise Seek A Savior: Matthew 2

 

The Wise Seek A Savior: Matthew 2

 Introduction:

Approximately, in the Jewish year 3755  and the Roman year 750, and in the Gregorian year of 5 BC, history restarted. Just as all those calendars started based on great events, our modern calendar started based on one great event. The Jewish calendar started at the creation of the world, the Roman calendar started at the beginning of Rome, and our modern calendar started when Jesus the Son of God was born in Bethlehem. And history, our history was restarted.

From the birth of Jesus, everything was before His birth or after His birth. Today the world has tried to get away from BC (before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord) by replacing it with BCE (before the common era) and CE (common era) but the error in using era to erase from history the birth of Christ is that BCE still ended with His birth and CE started with His birth. History restarted.

They can deny and detest this but none can ignore that everything changed when Jesus was born. Those who were living when this event took place didn’t realize that history had restarted or how important was the birth of a poor child in a poor country but there were some and they are the focus of our sermon today. We find these selections few in the second chapter of Matthew and we call them “wise men.”

 Seeing the Star - Matthew 2:1-3

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Wise Because They Searched

Who were these wise men? The Greek word Matthew uses is magi. We get our word magic and magician from this word. According to ancient sources the magi were a caste of the Medes which along with the Persians captured the eastern world after defeating the Babylonian Empire. The magi were highly influential scholar, astronomer, astrologers, the scientists in Median- Persia. They had great influence during the prophet Daniel’s time and remained a part of Persian society for centuries after. 

So, why were the magi searching? According to the scripture they had seen a star, a great heavenly event and because they were astronomers and astrologists this unknown, unexpected star had to mark a great event in world history. The star could have been comet, a nova or a conjunction of the planets. Several heavenly events took place between 12 BC and 5 BC which could have been the star they saw, but we are going to see that this star, appeared twice to the magi, once in the east and they began their journey and then again after they arrived at Jerusalem and set out for Bethlehem. And the second time it directed them to the very house where Joseph had moved his young family after the birth of Yeshua, whose name to us is Jesus and means “Jehovah is Salvation.”

I would propose to you that the “star” especially in its second appearance was not a star but was the Shekinah glory of God or another miracle of God’s holy light, shining down upon the world and then upon the savior of the world.

But, what made these wise men set out for Israel when they saw the star of the “one born King of the Jews?” I believe it was because they were familiar with the writings of Daniel, the prophet of God and one of the magi himself, when he was in Persia as a captive from Israel. Daniel recorded a prophecy given him by the angel Gabriel that gave the time when the Messiah of Israel should be looked for. Going backward from that exact date they came to a time that would correspond to the birth of the King. And these wise ones went to Jerusalem.

Wisdom comes only when You Search.

The first thing I want to bring to your attention this morning about wisdom is that it must be searched for, just as the magi knew they had to search in order to understand the mystery of the Star of the King. Proverbs 2:2-4 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Ecclesiastes 7:25 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

Now you might say, "Well of course, If I saw a star, or had some great event like that in my life like that then I would also start searching for answers. ”

Life Events That Should Make us Begin to Search. But in reality, in the world we all live in today, we are surrounded with great life changing events and at each of them we should start us searching for answers.

Events like Marriage, the blending of two lives into one.  The realization of our total need upon something greater than ourselves to make these two lives worth living. What an event, what a time to begin searching for answers and seeking God who ordained marriage.

Another great even that should make us all search is The birth of a child. This is a miracle of God's creative power that we can actually hold in our hands! What could be more life changing? What a vital event to seek Jesus.

Or the death of a family member or friend. The departure of a life from this world.  To know someone who has stepped through that door that separates life from death. What a sobering time to seek God.

All those are great events in life but I think that the greatest event in life that should send you searching for a Savior is the hearing of the Gospel.

When you hear that that God did not wait for me to seek Him but that He began the search for me a lost sinner. When you realize that He has not left me to grope in the dark of my sin, but has provided lampposts leading me to the salvation in His word. When I read that I can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil, that would be the greatest event that has or can ever happen in my life.

If you are wise when the great events of your life happen, you also will begin to search for the only One who has the answers to life, death, salvation and eternity.

The wise magi saw a star, this great event and they began to search but they needed more than just an event they also needed to find the map that God had left for them and all those who begin this search. Go to vss 4-6

Searching the Scriptures Matthew 2:4-6

4And when he (Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.   

Wise because They Searched Scripture

You know what else marked the magi as wise? The went to God's word for the answer they need. I think they had a copy of the book of Daniel and when they got to Jerusalem they asked the scribes and scholar there for more information and those men searched the Bible and found Micah 5:2.

Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (This was written 700 years before Jesus was born!)

Had they the time they could have searched the scriptures and found other prophecies that foretold not just the birth of the Messiah, the King of the Jews, but also his life, his death, his resurrection and yes, his return as King of all Mankind. These are the light posts, the road signs the God has provided to those who search for the most important answer we must find before we leave this earth and can search no more. Yes, God has GPS, so the lost can find there way home. In case you’re wondering, GPS stands for God Points to the Savior.

Look at just a few of God’s GPS in scripture.

His coming at a set time.  Ge 49:10 Da 9:24,25

His resurrection.  Ps 16:10 Isa 26:19

His crucifixion, his last sayings, his mocking, his garments gambled over Ps 22:1, 7, 8

His betrayed by a friend Ps 41:9 55:12-14

Gall and vinegar being given him to drink Ps 69:21

His being born a virgin, His being called Emmanuel.  Isa 7:14

His being preceded by John the Baptist.  Isa 40:3 Mal 3:1

His being buried with the rich, numbered with the transgressors, interceding for His murderers, and his death Isa 53:9, 12

His glorious entry into Jerusalem. Zec 9:9

His being sold for thirty pieces silver Zec 11:12

His price being given for the potter's field Zec 11:13

All these and over 300 more were given to make sure that anyone who searches will find Jesus and know that the Messiah had came to die for them and that they could have slavition if they would only find and believe in Him.

Scriptures still Points us to Jesus

Are we wise enough to see the signs that point to Jesus today? We can be incredibly dense when it comes to seeing what God has provided, what God has done for us.

There will be many who try to say, "God why didn't you tell me?  But God will say, I provided my word, my church, my pastors, my children to point the way to my Son! Why didn't you listen, why didn't you seek, why didn't you look up from the sin of this world and see the lights I gave to bring you to salvation?

Are all these signs, these sure words of scripture are given that we might believe? As sure as the scriptures that Daniel left and that led the wise man to Bethlehem.  Can we, can you ignore these signs like the scribes did when the magi came searching?

Jesus said, John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Moses staff was a sign pointing to Jesus and Jesus lifted up on the cross is a sign pointing us to Salvation through Him.)

Paul said to the Athenians, Acts 17:30 the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

And to the Romans in Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (God has given signs even in the weavings of creation. Signs that point us to Jesus.)

Titanic ignores warnings.

On the night that the so called “unsinkable ship” Titanic struck and iceberg and sank killing 1500 people, warning after warning had been sent telling them they were speeding into a dangerous icefield. But the messages, the lifesaving warnings were ignored. When a nearby ship sent an urgent warning, the Titanic was busy talking to their port at Cape Race about the time chauffeurs were to meet arriving passengers at the dock, and what menus were to be ready for their meals, transportation they would never need and meals they would never eat.  The Titanic was so preoccupied with minutiae, that it responded to the warning by saying: "Shut up. I am talking to Cape Race. You are jamming my signals."

God in his word is sending us warnings, signs that bring us salvation, but many people are responding as the Titanic did that night, “Shut Up, God. You are interrupting the trivia and mundane that I want to 

There is just one more thing I want us to consider that made these men wise and it is the most important. They were wise because of the one they sought.

Seeking the Savior Mat 2:7-12

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Wise Because They Searched and found the Saviour

Look at the actions of the wise men when they had found Jesus.

The Bible says first they rejoiced. It says they came into the house where Jesus was. No longer a stable because this was about 2 years after Jesus had been born, they came into a house not a stable and they found a young child now longer an infant. There they rejoiced, they had found the one born a king, the answer to their long search.

Next scripture tells us they worshipped Him. What else could you do before a king?  Before one whose coming had been foretold over a thousand years ago. Who had been looked for, hoped for and prayed for by a hundred generations of people.  Whose life would be the price paid to bring us back to God. Fall on your knees and worship the King of Salvation.

They also gave him proper gifts. Gifts that were by the providence of God fit for the one who would be King who would give His life to save us. They gave him Gold, which was a  present worthy of a king. They also gave him Frankincense, which was the incense burned in the tabernacle and Temple that symbolized the prayer to God and they have him Myrrh, which was a perfume used in preparing the body for burial.

Jesus the King, Jesus the intercessor and Jesus the sacrifice for our sin.

Notice just one more thing about the magi, the wise men. They were Gentiles not Jews. When the came to Jerusalem and the Jewish scribes looked up the birthplace of the Messiah, the magi went to Bethlehem, which means, the city of bread and there they found Jesus the bread of life but the Jews didn’t go. It was the gentiles who came searching for a savior but those who had the word of God and the Temple of God didn’t even bother to go with them.

These Gentile were the first Gentiles to find and worship Jesus. They were a portend, a sign of the future when we the Gentiles of the world would search and find Jesus as our Savior.

How Wise Then Am I?

When it comes to searching for Jesus, Will I be wise enough to rejoice in His presence? Will I be wise enough worship Him? Will I be wise enough to give gifts worthy of who He is?

The only things I can give to Jesus that are worthy of a King, a Savior and the Son of God is my surrender, my soul and my life.  The surrender of my will and way, the surrender of my sin, the surrender of my own good works given in repentance to Him who is my savior.  My soul given to Him who will safeguard it for all eternity. My life given in service to Him who gave His life on the cross of sacrifice for me. These three gifts, are the only ones I can offer, the only ones worth of the King of Heaven and Earth.

"I gave my life for thee. What hast thou given for me?

Frances Ridley Havergal, was a poet and pastor’s daughter who lived in the mid 1800s. Sick most of her life she died at only 42 years old. During her short life she wrote 100s of hymns, poems and books all praising her Saviour Jesus Christ. Next to Fanny J. Crosby she is probably the most widely known female hymn writer and many of her songs are still sung today.  Songs like Another Year Is Dawning, God Will Take Care of You, The Half Has Never Been Told, I Gave My Life for Thee, Like a River Glorious, Take My Life and Let It Be and Who Is on the Lord’s Side?. She spoke 7 languages including Greek and Hebrew and memorized the entire New Testament, Psalms and book of Isaiah. She was a concert pianist and vocalist. All these talents of her life were her gift to Jesus the King of her life.     

“I Gave My life For Thee” was the first hymn she wrote. She wrote it as a poem before she was even a teenager when she saw a painting called “Ecce Homo (Behold The Man).” A caption on the painting read, "This have I done for thee; what has thou done for Me?" She came across the poem some years later, and thinking poorly of it, threw it into a stove, but was found later before the fire was lit by her father, who persuaded her to rework it and then publish it.

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?

Conclusion

This morning ask yourself, am I wise enough to search? Am I wise enough to search in God’s word? And Am I wise enough to bow before the One who is the answer to your search? Will you give yourself as the only gift worthy of the One who gave Himself for you?

What an incredible Christmas this would be if you would do that. Everything from this point forward would be, BC Before Christ and AD After Deliverance through Christ. If you are not living in the AD of your life this morning, end your search at the same place the wise men ended theirs bowing before the Savior.