"They Went" Sermon: Matthew 2:1-12 (manuscript)

 

“They Went”

[Matthew 2:1-12]

January 3, 2021 YouTube

            We look at the magi again this morning – looking at the passage preceding the one we looked at last week. 

Today is Epiphany.  An epiphany is a revelation, insight, or revealing, and we see that in this text – in a text that shows us that the magi went where they were shown to go.

“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,”

Sometime after Jesus was born, magi come from the east to Jerusalem.  The magi were a class of prophets, priests, and astrologers from the near east – likely Iraq and Iran.  Thus, they were Gentiles – not Jews.  Among other things, they studied the stars and made conclusions based on what they saw in them.

Herod, as we saw last week, is an Edomite – a descendant of Esau and the enemies of Israel – and someone whose allegiance is with the Romans.  He is an evil and paranoid king who kills anyone who he thinks is coming after his throne – which includes many of his family members.

The magi come from the east and end up in Jerusalem before King Herod.  The star – as we see momentarily – leads them from their homelands to Judah.  They interpret the star as an omen of the birth of a new king of Israel – and they assume that this king will be found in the royal palace of the current king.

“saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

The magi are given an audience with King Herod.  They tell him that they watch the stars, and one of them – the uncommon star that moves and guides them to Israel – is an omen of the birth of a new king, and they have come to worship the new king.  They don’t question whether the King has been born – they know the omen says He has been born.  They understand that He is a different king – a king Who rules over the Jews and the Gentiles.

The magi assume the baby will be in the palace.  If not, they think – surely – the current king will know where his successor can be found.  Not only that, but there is something in the star – something in the omen that they conclude from it that prepares them to worship this newborn King.  Notice, they did not fall down before Herod.  They did not worship Herod.  But they know something about this new King from what they saw in the star.

We will remember that shepherds are told by angels of the birth of Jesus and they rush to see the Baby – Christ, the Lord.  And when they leave the manger, they go through hill and dale and tell everyone they come in contact about what they have seen – the coming of the Messiah.  Did anyone believe them?

Haggai prophecies, “And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:7, ESV).

God will shake the nations and send the treasures of all nations – the desire of all nations – to come in and God will fill His house with glory.

There is next to no evidence that many people believe that Jesus is the Savior prior to His public ministry.  A few did – perhaps some magi – some Gentiles – maybe a few others.

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;”

It is no surprise that when the magi come to Herod and say that they have seen his successor has been born and they want to see Him and meet Him and worship Him, Herod’s head spins around!  Herod is terrified that this little Baby is going to come after him and take his throne.  And all those who supported Herod – and who know how quick he is to slaughter people – are terrified of Herod because he could come after them and their children.

“and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

            Micah prophecies, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2, ESV).

            The Ruler is to be born in Bethlehem – and Herod probably knows that – he just wants his prophets to say it to the magi.  Bethlehem – meaning “the house of bread” – is an appropriate place for “the manna from Heaven” to be born.

As Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:48-51, ESV).

            This King comes from “of old” and from “ancient days” – from God Himself.

            Herod is terrified, but for the wrong reason:  Jesus will not depose him from his throne.  But He is the Savior, and Herod does not believe in Him as Savior.

            “Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. “And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.”

            Herod decides to set the magi up – he puts on his best suave buddy self and calls the magi to meet with him in private.  “I am so excited that you came to me!  I want to charge you to find out exactly where the newborn King is.  Find Him and come back and tell me so I can visit Him and worship Him as well.  How wonderful that this should happen during my reign.  I am humbled to know He is born and you will help me find Him.”

            The magi agree to return and tell Herod where He can find the newborn King Who is from old and sent by God – the One they are being led to by a star – the fulfillment of the salvation promise.

            The star comes out and they go.  They see Herod and they go.  They are off to worship the newborn King.

            Does the opportunity to worship fill us with the same excitement that they experienced?  Does His star rising in our hearts cause us to desire to be with Him and worship Him?  Are we more excited about Saturday or Sunday?

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Will you rejoice when the churches are all open again and we can worship together in the sanctuary?  Will you rejoice with exceedingly great joy?

After the magi leave Herod, the star appears again – and they are excited and joyful and jump up and down and hug each other.  They are being led to the newborn King!  They are being led to Him.  They are ready to fall down and worship Him for the privilege of being together in His presence.

Jesus says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16, ESV).

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Not only do they go where the star leads them.  Not only do they go planning to worship the newborn King of all people.  Not only do they plan to fall down before Him in humility and service.  They carry their gifts to Him.  From many miles away, they prepare their offering and bring it with them as part of their worship of the newborn King.

And the gifts are interesting – are they not?

They bring the Baby gold.  Gold is valuable, of course, but it is also the gift that you would give to a king.  They believe that Jesus is King, so it makes sense that they bring Him gold.  They worship Him as their king.

They bring the Baby frankincense. Frankincense is a type of incense that was to be burned in worship of God.  They believe that Jesus is God, and they give Him the incense that is for God – the incense that God said to burn for Him.

Now, the question arises – do the magi believe savingly in Jesus?  Do the magi truly understand Who Jesus is and Who He will say He is during His ministry?  Has God changed out their hearts by a work of the Holy Spirit?  Or have they been led as a witness they do not really understand?

We’re not told.  We never hear about the magi again.  We hope and pray that they were or became believers, but we just don’t know.  The most we can say is that – at the very least – they are witnesses to Who Jesus is.

The third type of gift they bring is myrrh.  This gift is somewhat odd.  Myrrh is a medicinal herb and one used in burial.

Mark records – as Jesus hangs on the cross, “And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (Mark 15:23, ESV).

Myrrh is an analgesic – among other things – is it used as a medication to help reduce pain.  It was something offered to the crucified to help reduce their pain as they suffer the most horrific death humans have imagined.

Matthew records of Jesus’ burial, “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:38-40, ESV).

This gift is as strange as the gift of frankincense – and we wonder again – did God give them insight into what would happen to Jesus?  We have no way of knowing.

We only know Mary’s reaction to all these things: “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19, ESV).

“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

The magi intended to keep their promise to Herod and tell him where Jesus is, but an angel tells them not to do it, so they go home to their country by another route.

Why?  So, when Herod rages with anger at them not returning, Jesus and His family will safely escape to Egypt – as we talked about last week.

When the magi see the strange star in the sky, they determine it is an omen of the birth of the newborn King of Israel, and they go after it.  They know the King has been born – a king for all the people.  They prepare their offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh – signifying that He is King and God, and He will die a most horrific death and be buried.  They go with exceedingly great joy to be able to worship Him.

What did they actually know?  What did they actually believe in their hearts?  We will not know until we are received into the Kingdom.

If you believe that Jesus is God and King, the Promised Savior, do you long to be with Him?  Do you rejoice to be with His people and worship Him?

May we go with more urgency and joy than the magi, for He is our Savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for the witness of the magi – that they went at the sign You gave them, prepared to give gifts and to worship Your Son, Jesus.  Stir up the fires in our hearts – even as we are limited in this time of Covid – that we would seek out ways to worship Him and worship together – and that we would pray for and long for – with great joy – the day when we can worship together as Your Church – and for the day when we will come before Jesus and fall down before Him in worship.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.