Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem…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.”   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.

Let us learn from the wise men associated with the birth of Jesus.

1. They were students of the sky, of nature, and of their surroundings.  One day they saw a star that was not supposed to be there.  They found something that did not fit into the box of known information.  They encountered something that was beyond their traditions or their history.  Something in nature, something around them, caused questions.  They were mentally engaged in the world around them.
2. They were not content to let such an event pass or go to waste.  They wanted to understand so they set into research and in that study they came across Numbers 24:17 in the Hebrew writings: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel…”   [Daniel had taken sacred Jewish writings with him when a captive in their country (9:2) and Daniel was highly revered as a wise man in two great world empires – that of the Chaldeans and in the Mede and Persian Kingdom. Dan 5:11-12, 6:1-3, 25-28].  Daniel, of 500 years earlier – like Martin Luther to us today (I have a book by Luther on my shelf) – was a wise man still esteemed.  There was possibly etched in a building at “Persia University” a quote from Daniel – maybe even Numbers 24:17!
3. Having understood the star was from God about the birth of a great King, they gathered gifts, supplies and protection (likely a small army) to trek some 500 miles west to Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews and the place of the palace.  And what gifts to take?  Gold is a pretty easy call – all kings like gold.  And frankincense is also pretty easy for bathing, laundry, and air filtration were not advanced and every king desired pleasing smells.  But myrrh?  Myrrh was associated with death, embalming, and funerals – so why myrrh?  What moved them to such a gift?  Maybe Daniel!  Daniel 9:26 reported that this very special person would be cut off – killed!  Daniel 9:24 and 25 give time frames and the appearance of the star was appropriate for this prophecy.  The star likely appeared about 5 BC (the Herod who sought to kill Jesus when he was a toddler died in 4 BC) so from the decree to return in 445 BC to 5 BC was 440 years – the prophecy said he would die after 483 years.  If that be the case then He died at 43 years of age – very logical (the times need some adjusting when moving from a Persian calendar to a Jewish calendar and when crossing through the BC to AD framework as He was most likely executed in 30 AD at the age of 33).  

4. The wisemen went to the capital of the Jews – Jerusalem.  Logical.  They were not led there by the star!  At Jerusalem they learned more from God’s Word – not from the lives of the people who should have been followers.  They learned that the place of birth was Bethlehem.  OK – but why not Jerusalem and why were none of the leaders aware of this or worshipping this Child announced by the star (they didn’t see the star sign)?  But fully convinced by the sign and by God’s Word, they pressed on six miles south to Bethlehem.
5. Their faith brought forth God’s leading as the star seen from their homeland reappeared and led them to the house of the King.  To ask Bethlehemites where to find the baby King would have likely proven frustrating for they only knew Him as the child of Mary and Joseph – no King marked out by God!
6. They entered into a situation completely foreign to what they imagined – a little house in a little village of Judea to poor people (they could not afford a lamb for their Son’s dedication at age 40 days).  Yet they bowed and presented their gifts.  They believed despite the circumstances!
7. And us?  When we encounter something in life that rattles our norm, do we turn to the Word?  Do we press on with great effort and sacrifice to learn more from the Word (born in Bethlehem)?  Do we press on when others are indifferent or even hostile?  Do we bow in worship and give gifts when nothing seems quite right (my child is sick, I lost my job, my marriage is rough)?  Are we students of His ways and will and are we obedient?  Are we given to worshipping Him, giving offerings, and following His Word?  Are we wise men?