Wise Men and Women Seek Him

December 29, 2024

Sunday Sermon

Wise Men and Women Seek Him

Matthew 2:1-12

The wise men (Magi) from the east (probably Persia), representatives from one or more foreign nations who were seeking truth.  They were influential men of learning and authority, the skilled scientists of their day: skilled in philosophy, science, medicine, and astrology.  It is thought of that they were the priestly order of Persia, the minister, and advisors to the Persian rulers.

The story of the wise men is a story that is concealed in mystery.  From tradition we seem to know all the facts and details.  But as we study the scripture, we find that there are a lot of questions we cannot answer about the wise men from the Biblical text.  For example:

How many were there?  We don’t know.

Where did they come from?  We don’t know.

How long did their journey take?  We don’t know.

They seem to just show up mysteriously - and just as mysteriously they are gone.  But one thing we are certain about is that the number of wise men and women increases in every generation as people continue to seek the Christ. 

Let’s look at three facts that we can learn from the story of the wise men.

I.  A WISE MAN’S JOURNEY IS ONE OF FAITH (v. 2).

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His Star in the East.”  What would prompt someone to leave the comfort of their homes to go on a dangerous journey?  Romance?  Yes.  Wealth?  Most definitely.  But faith?  Yes - Faith.  “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”  What a probing question - there is no doubt in their language that He had been born - the question is “Where is he?  They had seen the star - the evidence was real - now where is He?

  They had faith that He was alive - that he existed- now all they needed to do was to find Him.  Their purpose was established - find Him. 

Can you imagine their neighbor’s reaction?  Are you going on a journey?  “Yes.”  Where are you going?”  “We don’t know for sure.” 

But you know they must have said the same things to Abraham when he left his home for the Promised Land.  They must have said the same thing to Noah who was building an ark - even though it had never rained in the history of the earth up until that point.  They must have said the same thing kind of things to Peter, Andrew, John and James when they left the fishing nets to become fishers of men.  What are you crazy?  Are you insane?  Are you out of your minds?  No not crazy - not insane- not out of their minds - men of faith.

FACT:

A wise man journey always involve faith.  Seek and find JESUS.

The second fact I want to make is:

II. A WISE MAN’S JOURNEY IS ONE OF WORSHIP (v. 11)

When the wise men came on their journey it was for the purpose of worship.  They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  These gifts have a lot of symbolism associated with them.  Gold represents wealth & Christ’s deity) It is a gift fit for a king.  (Jesus was the King of Kings) Frankincense is the sap of a tree that was dried and hardened and used as incense to worship God.  Thus, we see a gift for his purity.  (Jesus was the Son of God) Myrrh is a Myrrh is a fragment perfume that was used to anoint the dead - to embalm and preserve them.  (Jesus was The Sacrificial Lamb)

But there is more to worship than gold, frankincense, or myrrh isn’t there.  WORSHIP always involves SACRIFICE.

2 Samuel 24:24, “I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost [me] nothing.”

Romans 12:1 say it this way, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to god, which is your reasonable service.”

To truly worship requires sacrifice.

What God wants most of all - above every thing is you.  Are you willing to give up your comfort zone to follow Christ?  The wise men were - are you?

The third fact I want to make this morning is:

III.  A WISE MAN’S JOURNEY IS ONE OF CHANGE (v. 12).

“Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”

Isn’t it interesting that after the wise men worshiped Jesus that they could not go back the same way that they had come?  I find that to be a fact even today.  Once you have truly met Jesus you will never be the same.  An encounter with God changes things - it changes you - doesn’t it?

Jacob wrestle with God and never walked the same the rest of his life.

Isaiah stepped into the presence of God and proclaimed “Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips.  And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the king.  The Lord of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah was never the same again.  Job met God and became a changed man.

That is what happens when we walk into presence of God.  We become changed.  That is what happened to the wise men when they encountered Christ--they were changed.  That is what happens when we encounter Christ - things become different.

It’s Christmas time and we hear the story of the wise men. 

 1.  They were wise because they had faith.

 2.  They were wise because they worshiped, and they were changed forever.

How about you?  Are you looking for a change in your life?  Find Christ this Christmas and I can guarantee that you will be changed.