WISE PEOPLE STILL SEEK JESUS

SERIES: CHRISTMAS

TEXT: MATTHEW 2:1-12

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

The Bible is a book filled with many examples of wisdom and wise people.

• There was Enoch and Noah, they were wise enough to walk with God in their generation while the world around them refused to.
• They were both saved while others perished.
• There was a young lady called Ruth, she was wise enough to say to her Jewish mother-in-law, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God my God”-Ruth 1:16. While her sister-in-law turned around and went back to sin. Thus, she became an ancestor of Jesus.
• There was a man called Andrew, who was wise because he brought people to Christ.
• There was a man called Matthew, he was wise because he brought Christ to people.
• There was David who was wise enough to say, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!!
• There was Martha, who was wise enough to entertain Jesus in her home.
• There was Mary, who was wise enough to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word.
• There was King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived-1^st Kings 12:3. He asked for wisdom to rule the people of Israel.
• Then, there were the wise men, who came to worship the Lord Jesus when He was a child.
• There are still wise people in our world today, they have received and accepted Jesus Christ into their lives.
• They have given to Jesus Christ what they can lose and received that which they cannot lose-eternal life.
• People who are wise share the same qualities that characterized the wise men who came to worship the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Let us learn:-

WISE PEOPLE STILL APPROACH HIM-Matt. 2:1-10.

• Our text calls these men “wise men”-Vs. 1.
• The “Magi.” The magi were men skilled in philosophy, medicine, religion and natural sciences.
• They were also soothsayers and interpreters of dreams.
• They were greatly interested in astrology and astronomy.
• Their attention was arrested by the star that led them to the Christ-child.
• These wise men came from the East-Vs. 1-2. The East was Mesopotamia, from the ancient Babylon.
• Probably they had access to Jewish scriptures or God revealed to them.
• The prophet Daniel had written plenty about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ while in Babylon.
• Perhaps these learned men would have known the prophecy of Numbers 24:17 which says “There shall come a star of Jacob and scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
• These men were on a spiritual journey and were moved to go to Bethlehem by the spirit of God.
• God impressed upon their hearts the truth of the words they read and they were led to go and find the Lord Jesus.
• Legend and tradition has given these wise men the names of Casper, Melchior and Balthazar.
• Melchior was said to be an older man, grey haired and with a long beard-He brought the gold.
• Casper was young and beardless, ruddy in countenance and it is said that he brought a gift of frankincense.
• Balthazar-was dark complexion and it is said he brought the gift of myrrh.
• However, the Bible does not say how many wise men there were.
• The Bible does not mention their names.
• The names don’t really matter, what matters is that they approached Jesus Christ and worshiped Him.
• They travelled through deserts, crossed rivers and mountains, endured hardships and faced bandits all for purpose of coming to Jesus Christ.
• Even today, 2000 years later, wise men still come to Jesus.
• The truth is that wise men come to Jesus Christ, but fools do not-Psalm 14:1.
• The wisest time is when a person comes to Christ by faith.
• Today come to Jesus Christ-John 3:16; Rom. 10:9, 13; Acts 16:31; John 6:47.
• Wise men still approach Him.

WISE PEOPLE ADORE HIM-Matt. 2:2,11.

• The wise men tell king Herod-Vs. 2 that their desire is to find this young king and worship Him.
• When they did find Him-they fell down before Him-Vs. 11 and worshipped.
• The wisest of men and women are not the scholars, professors, not the scientists not the politicians.
• The wisest are those men and women, young and old, who are willing to forsake everything else and simply fall down at His feet and adore Him.
• Jesus Christ deserves our worship and praise-Psalm 126:3, “The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
• Wise people know they owe everything they have and are to the Lord Christ. They are not ashamed to worship Him.
• Wise men still adore Him.

WISE PEOPLE STILL ADORN HIM-Matt. 2:11.

• Where these men came before the Lord Jesus, they came with gifts in their hands.
• The gold presents Jesus Christ as king (potentate).
• No one comes to the king without some gift.
• They acknowledged Jesus as the king.
• Gold is a fitting gift for the king of kings.
• It is a foretelling gift. It tells us in advance that Jesus will rule and reign.
• It was a fore ordained gift, Mary and Joseph needed the gold to pay the cost of fleeing Bethlehem to Egypt-Matt. 2:15; Hosea 11:1.

The frankincense presents Jesus as priest.

• It was a priestly gift.
• It was used in worship at the temple.
• Frankincense was a gummy substance when burned it produced a sweet smelling fragrance.
• The priesthood of Jesus Christ is permanent-Heb. 7:17. The priesthood of Jesus Christ is powerful-Heb. 9:11-14; 9:24-28; 10:11-14 it procures for us entrance into the presence of God-Heb. 4:15-16.
• The myrrh presents Jesus as our propitiation for sin.
• Myrrh is used to embalm dead bodies.
• Jesus came here to die for sinners-1^st 1:15, 1^st John 2:2.
• He came to “satisfy” propitiation the holy demands of just and righteous God in regard to sin-1^st John 4:10; Isa. 53:10-11.
• Let us give Jesus Christ our love, worship, attention, tithes, praise and glory.
• Wise people still adorn Him.

WISE PEOPLE STILL ACKNOLEDGE HIM-Matt. 2:12.

• God warned the wise men in a dream that they were in danger and they were to return to their homeland by a different route.
• Wise people today turn their ears towards heaven.
• They listen to His voice and obey the Lord.
• “They departed into their own country another way.”
• If you have never been saved, you need to heed the warning and come to Jesus today-2^nd 6:2.
• Jesus Christ will save you. He is the only one who will save your soul-Acts 14:12; John 6:14.

CONCLUSION

• Herod did not go to worship Him.
• The priests did not go to worship Him.
• The scribes did not go to worship Him.
• But the wise men came from far, they found Him and worshipped Him.
• The priests (The men of God) had no idea to worship the King of Kings.
• Do you need to come to Him for salvation?
• Do you need to come to Him for repentance?
• If He is calling you to come, come now.
• Tell Him Lord there is room in my heart for you.