The Wisdom of the Wise Men

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

From our earliest memories of the Christmas story, we have heard of the “Magi” (Wise Men) who came to visit Christ at His birth.

·       What do we really know about them? 

·       Where did they come from? 

·       Why were they interested in a king born in Israel? 

·       Who were they?

There is a great deal of myth and mystery about them.

·       Some have even ascribed names to them (Gaspar, Melchior, Belthazar).

·       Why just three? There may have been 30.

These wise men were Magi not Magicians; Astronomers not Astrologers; Scientists not Wizards. They were most likely Religious Philosophers from Persia who became familiar with Jewish prophecies through the writings of Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezra and other Israelites scattered throughout the east.

As a result, they may have been looking for someone who would bring world peace and in their search for answers read God's promise to Abraham.

Gen 22:18 “In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”

Maybe they had read the prophet Isaiah.

Isa 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

They may have read from the books of the law.

Num 24:17 “I shall see him but not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

Rev 22:16 says Jesus is the “bright and morning star.”

They may have read Isa 60:3.

“The gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

Although the magi were gentiles, the fulfillment of God's promise to the Prophets and to Abraham greatly interested them.  It must have been a magnificent sight when these wise men arrived in Jerusalem!

Despite having little information about them, we can easily establish why they were called “wise men” by carefully observing what they did. As the old saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.” There are 5 reasons!

They were called “wise men” because...

1.    They Sensed God's Leading (v 1-2, 9).

Their leading began with God's revelation, and they continued by faith.

Numbers 24:17 “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,…”

Wise men have always sensed God's leading (Noah, Abraham, Joseph).

Are we as sensitive to God's leading today? The truly wise person will sense God's leading!  His leading comes from the Holy Spirit.

How many times has God's Spirit spoken to your heart? We have the light of God's Word.

They were called “wise men” because...

2.    They Responded In Faith (v 2b).

Too often we hear God's calling without following.  We're told, “The just shall live by faith.”

These wise men must have experienced many – Difficulties, Ridicule, and Financial sacrifice. But, when faith is active, these things are secondary to fulfilling God’s purpose.  It’s Always Been That Way (See Hebrews 11).

They were called “wise men” because...

3.    They Worshiped Jesus (v 10-11). These verses tell us…

They had not been looking for an ordinary King!  They had obviously been searching for the King of King's and Lord of Lord's.

We believe this because of the gifts they brought!

·       Gold speaks of deity; He laid aside His wealth for our benefit.

·       Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of life, which He came to give.

·       Myrrh speaks of the death of Christ He came to endure.

We should GIVE OURSELVES TO HIM as a living sacrifice!

They were called “wise men” because...

4.    They Obeyed God's Word (v 12).

During their westward journey they stopped at Jerusalem to seek more specific information.

In Matthew 2 we find the magi inquiring of Herod and the religious leaders concerning the whereabouts of the King they sought. They were informed that He would be born in Bethlehem.

Amazingly, the religious crowd stayed in Jerusalem while the Wise Men were obedient to the Scripture and went looking for Christ in Bethlehem, the city of David.

This is true of men today – They have the truth, but do not obey it!

To find Christ today, you must come to CALVARY!

They were called “wise men” because...

5.    They Went Home Different Than They Way They Came (v 12).

If you say that you know the Savior, but your life has not been changed; you have never really met Jesus Christ.  Persons who have met the Savior go away different than the way they came.                                      

CONCLUSION: Wise men still seek Him; and those who seek find more than they ever imagined. For in Jesus Christ are found forgiveness, peace, joy and the promise of life eternal.

The Magi found Him as a young child; we find Him today as the living Christ, clothed with glory and honor, seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life.

John 11:18-27

Jesus receives word that His friend Lazarus is sick. Jesus purposely waits for him to succumb plus two days. Two more days would pass before Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. In the midst of those days we read…

¹⁸ Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: ¹⁹ And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. ²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

²¹ Then said Martha unto Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. ²² But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.”

²³ Jesus saith unto her, “Thy brother shall rise again.”

²⁴ Martha saith unto him, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

²⁷ She saith unto him, “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (See also Romans 10:9-10)

TIME LAPSE: The Lord appeared to Moses while he was tending sheep in the Sinai desert (Exodus 3). The title “I AM” means the eternally existent One.

Seven times in the Gospel of John Jesus ascribes to Himself this same title of deity. He said,… ¹I Am the bread of life (6:51); ²I Am the light of the world (8:12); ³I Am the door (10:9); ⁴I Am the good shepherd (10:14).

Today we will examine His claim, ⁵I AM the resurrection and the life (11:26).

In Matthew 22:29-32 Jesus said to the modernist of His day, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God...But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

1.    GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MAN’S REDEMPTION. John 3:16…, 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

·       God desires that you become a part in His plan!

·       This Truth was understood in…

The Old Testament. Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The New Testament. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2.    THE RESURRECTION IS FACT. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

·       The Resurrection is Believable, Explainable, Necessary & Natural.

·       The reality of the resurrection has been witnessed by all. To resurrect means to be brought back from corruption or death.

1 Corinthians 15:35-36 Some men will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

3.    GOD’S REDEMPTION IS A COMPLETE PLAN. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

·       It is accomplished in three dispensations. We are saved (past); We are being saved (present); We will be saved (future).

·       There is a need for the… Body, Soul & Spirit to be Regenerated.  

·       The initial result of the New Birth is the Regeneration of our Spirit placing us in a restored relationship with Christ.  

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.    Renewing [anakainosis] awakening to life.

·       Following the New Birth we begin The Renewing of The Mind.

Ephesians 4:22-23 Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt… and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

·       Our redemption will be complete when the Lord Redeems Our Body.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

4.    THE POWER OF CHRIST RESURRECTION. Philippians 3:7-14.

·       The Power of His Resurrection Discovered.

Colossians 2:9-10; 13-15 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:.. and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

·       The Power of His Resurrection Delivers From Judgment.

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. [8:34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

5.    THERE ARE TWO RESURRECTIONS FROM WHICH YOU MAY CHOOSE. John 11:24-25 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

·       The Resurrection of the JUST & the UNJUST.

Acts 24:15 There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

·       The Resurrection of the JUST.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

·       The Resurrection of the UNJUST.

Revelation 20:11-15 I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. ¹⁵ This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.