LOC 010: Life of Christ: The Magi
Between the dedication of Jesus at the Temple and his return when
12, there is only one recorded event in the life of Christ. It is found in Matthew’s Gospel in the 2nd
chapter. It is the story about the
Wisemen who came to see Jesus.
We have
1. The Background and Main Characters
2. The Evil King Is Paranoid
3. The True Knowledge of the Priests and Scribes
4. The Plot Thickens--the Duplicity of a King
5. The Honorable Quest
6. The Work of God
Parts one and two
7. Joseph’s Obedience
8. A King’s Rage
9. God’s Plan
Parts one and two
1. The Background and Main Characters
Matthew 2:1 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, 2
saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen
His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
2. The Evil King Is Paranoid
3 When Herod the king
heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired
of them where the Christ was to be born.
3. The True Knowledge of the Priests and Scribes
5 So they said to
him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: :6
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers
of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.'"
4. The Plot Thickens--the Duplicity of a King
7 Then Herod, when he
had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star
appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "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."
5. The Honorable Quest
9 When they heard the
king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went
before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had
come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell
down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they
presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
6. The Work of God
Part One
12 Then, being
divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed
for their own country another way.
Part Two
13 Now when they had
departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there
until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
7. Joseph’s Obedience
14 When he arose, he
took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was
there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
8. A King’s Rage
16 Then Herod, when
he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent
forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all
its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
determined from the wise men.
9. God’s Plan
Part One
17 Then was fulfilled
what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in
Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
Part Two
19 But when Herod was
dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20
saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of
Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he
arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he
turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He
shall be called a Nazarene."
1. The Background and Main Characters
Matthew 2:1 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,
We do not know exactly where these wise men came from except by
the general direction, the East. Matthew
tells us when it is that these men came.
Herod was the Roman military ruler of Palestine and Syria. The Roam senate gave him the title, “King of
the Jews.” Thus he is here called King.
He was titled by the same name with which Jesus would be later
crowned. Introducing this name
introduces tension into the narrative.
2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
How many wisemen were there?
Three? It doesn’t say. Some think because there were three gifts
that there were three wisemen. That’s
unlikely. It was a travelling band of
wise men and probably their personal attendants.
These wise men were likely some sort of important and rich
astrologers. From the value of the gifts
they brought, they were wealthy or had access to vast resources. They may have been the astrologers of a king
from the East bringing gifts to pacify the new ruler to be. They discerned world events by observing
natural phenomena. Something miraculous
has occurred and gotten there attention, so much so, that they followed the
atronomical phenomena to Palestine. They
went to the reigning King, Herod, in Jerusalem, in order to discover where they
should go to pay homage to this new King.
They saw his star rise, they came to worship him. They must have believed him to be of some
importance if they took off on this extended journey.
2. The Evil King Is Paranoid
3 When Herod the king
heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
News spread quickly! What
would this mean? The King and all of
Jerusalem was troubled or agitated about this.
Herod took this as a personal attack.
In his paranoia, thinking himself or his office and prestigue in danger,
asks for advice....
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Note: Herod knew the implications of it all. He doesn;t ask where the King of the Jews
would be born, he asks where the Christ would be born. He knew the one meant the other. He calls the learned scholars of Judaism
together for advice on where the Christ was to be born. Herod knew enough Scripture for it to be a
threat to him, but ot enough to know the details of where and even what the
Christ would do. Surely salvation from
sins is not a bad thing, but in the mind of Herod, another King was a threat.
3. The True Knowledge of the Priests and Scribes
5 So Preists and
Scribes said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet: :6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among
the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.'"
They quote Micah 5 to Herod, they gave true knowledge to their
king. They searched and applied the
Scriptures when asked not necessairy knowing they would be used for bad
purposes. But, as we learn throughout
the public ministry of Jesus, these classes of respected men in Israel also get
a little paranoid at the piercing discourses and power of Jesus. They knew the Scriptures, but it did them no
good.
Men can have great knowledge of what the Scriptures say without
knowing the God who breathed them out.
Knowledge than puffs up because it is no accompanied with Holy Ghost
humility. Knowledge of divine things can
be dangerous. It will be used as the
standard of condemneation for those who do not submit to the God who gave them.
4. The Plot Thickens--the Duplicity of a King
7 Then Herod, when he
had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star
appeared.
Gathering facts for use in the future, Herod calls the wise men
back for a secret meeting. He wants to
know when the star appeared before he tells them where it leads. Political intrigue. He knows where they whould go, but not when
the child was born. It was a long
journey from the East, perhaps as much as two years. Herod takes action based on what he
knows. He thinks these men are on his
side now, so......
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "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."
A half-truth, or a truth and a lie. Herod wanted to know where the Christ, the
true King of the Jews was. He did not
want to go to worship him. That was the
politically expedient thing to say to travelling men of wisdom from another
country. It was propaganda to cast
himself in the best light.
With the knowledge of where the King of the Jews was to be
born. The wise men return to
5. The Honorable Quest
9 When they heard the
king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went
before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
The star they first saw in the East reappeared to direct them to
the Christ. This is their reaction to the work of God in giving them direction.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great
joy.
Why would this story be of such importance to Matthew who was
writing primarily to Jews? The Magi end
up looking good and the King of the Jews ends up looking badly. Think about
that for a few minutes.
11 And when they had
come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell
down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they
presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Their quest was completed.
Where were they? They were in a
house--not the manger. They had been
directed by Herod to Bethlehem, though they probably ended up in Nazareth
through the guidance of the star. Last
week we saw that after Jesus’ dedication and circumcision, Mary, Joseph and
Mary returned to Nazareth in Galillee.
At the end of this narrative we find them back here in Nazareth. The important point is -- They found the
child and even as Foreigners, they worshipped him and brought what they had of great
value. Gifts fit for a king. They came from afar and brought their best
stuff.
In our day, people complain if it is more than a few minutes ride
and they squirm when you take an offering.
Jesus should get our best and we should be willing to travel great
distances to serve him. The Magi are a great example of the personal cost it
may mean to us who desire to follow Chirst.
Matthew uses this to show the greatness of God to the Jews. If they will not accept and worship Christ
for what he really is, God will bring men from afar who will. God may use any means, even accomodating
himself to false religions, in order to bring those who should come to
Christ. If the Jesw reject him, he will
be good news to the nations, even to the East where the nations have always
troubled Israel.
This is the work of God.
6. The Work of God
Part One -- To the Magi
12 Then, being
divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed
for their own country another way.
God warns these wisemen in a dream to not go back home through
Jerusalem, but to go right home along some other road. And, thanks to the Roman Roads, there were
alternatives.
Part Two -- To Joseph
13 Now when they had
departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,
"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there
until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
We don’t know what Joseph’s reaction to the angel in his dream was
this time. Second encounters should be
easier than the first. Here the angel of
the Lord warns Joseph that danger in imminent.
Go to Egypt. Stay there until I
let you know it is safe to return. The
man who they call King of the Jews, will try to assassinate the real King of
the Jews.
As I saved Israel through sending them to Egypt before the great
famine, so will I save the Christ, who will save Israel.
7. Joseph’s Obedience
14 When he arose, he
took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was
there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Humanly speaking, from our proximate perspective, Joseph
obeyed. Speaking divinely, from God’s
ultimate perspective, this was as good as done when God’s prophet spoke these
words.
That Hosea 11:1, one verse of Scripture, might be fulfilled, God rescued his son by
sending him to Egypt. God is concerned
that his word be found to be true. The
prophecy of where the Christ was to be born, that he would call his son out of
Egypt, and that there would be great mourning and weeping in Israel are all
important parts of God’s plan. A plan
that he had spoken in advance. DO you
see why Jesus told Nicodemus he should have known these things?
God used the travels of a band of Wisemen to bring all of this to
pass. Another example of how things
don’t just work out. They work out
because of God’s providence in and behind all events that come to pass. Even ........
8. A King’s Rage
16 Then Herod, when
he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent
forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all
its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
determined from the wise men.
When men with authority get very mad, they take it out on
others. Herod could do nothing to the
Magi, so he sought to harm the one of whom the Magi inquired. Not knowing who that one was, he issued a
broad sweeping decree to have all of the boys born in Bethlehem from the
present to two years ago put to death.
Why two years, It must have covered the timefram revealed to him
in the deal with the Magi, he would tell them where, if they would tell him
when..... Herod had all of those killed,
all in the city and all in her districts.
He must have believed himself to be rid of that menacing thought of
another rival to his throne. Little did
Herod know about God’s workings as he trusted in his own craftiness and
political skill. It is better to trust
in the Lord than even in Princes.
9. God’s Plan
Part One -- the effect in
Israel
17 Then was fulfilled
what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in
Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
This caused great upheavel and division between the Jews and their
Roman authorities. Turmoil used by Jesus
in his ministry and by God in bring judgment on the Jews for rejecting him.
Part Two -- Christ’s Return
19 But when Herod was
dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20
saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of
Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he
arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he
turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city
called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets,
"He shall be called a Nazarene."
Four types of people:
Herod--representative sinner seeking his own ways willing to do
anything to justify himself. He had some
knowledge of God’s Word, but not enough, even when added to those who
counselled him, to be discerning.
Joseph--obedient, just and devout man. An example for all
disciples everywhere who for the purposes of God obeyed without murmurring or
complaining.
Jesus--with God’s predermined protection and plan upon him was
being prapared for the work he had to do.
The Magi--those foreigners without a natural claim to the grace
God offers. They invested their time to
discover what God had done. They gave of
themselves and their great resources to honor and to worship the Messiah, the
true Ruler of Israel.
Who rules you? By what
standard do you live? How much time do
you invest to seek the Lord? Of all the
bumper stickers I have ever seen on cars, there is only one I like for its
evangelistic value. It says, Wise men
still seek him. The implication is that
one is stupid if they don’t seek Jesus.
That’s true. The greatest thing
we can have in this life and the next is a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ as our own King, oour Lord, and our saviour. He is the one who should rule our lives by
his Word and it is to him we owe all that we are and even all that we
have. Nothing is too great to give the
Lord Jesus Christ who came to give himself for his people.
PSA 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek
Him with the whole heart!
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