In the last couple of days, my wife and I have been sharing
the Christmas story with the kids, as well as singing Christmas hymns with them
on a daily basis. It's been an awesome experience. There's so much to talk
about in the Christmas story that reducing Christmas to just another event in
history or a national holiday would really be a shame! Talk about the angelic
encounters. Think about the personal sacrifice of Mary (which lady would want
her grand wedding cancelled?). Talk about the courage of Joseph (his friends
must have thought he was either mad, or just plain stupid). Then, the
wonderful shepherds who kept their flocks by night and who joined the Angels to
sing, "Glory to God in the highest, peace and goodwill towards all
men". Did you give some thoughts to the role played by the innkeeper (was
he/she the one who eventually helped with the stable)?And the wise men (the
Magis)? The Christmas story wouldn't be complete without them. Please permit me
to beam the searchlight on the wise men this Christmas. Will you?
The story of the wise men is a story that is shrouded in
mystery. What we know about them is as much as what we don’t know about them.
They seem to just show up mysteriously – and just as mysteriously they are
gone. But one thing I am certain about is that the number of wise men and women
increases in every generation as people continue to seek the Christ.
Let me share with you 3 different lessons that we can glean from the story of these wisemen.
Let me share with you 3 different lessons that we can glean from the story of these wisemen.
A
wise man’s journey is one of FAITH
"Where is He who
has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East.” Mathew
2:2
What would prompt someone to leave the comfort of their
homes to go on a dangerous journey? Romance? Maybe. Wealth? Most definitely.
But faith? Hmmm – faith. “Where is He who has been born the King of the Jews?”
What a probing question – there is no doubt in their language that He had been
born – the question is “Where is He?” They had seen the star – the evidence was
real – now where is He? They had faith that He was alive – that He existed –
now all they needed to do was to find Him.
Their purpose was established – find Him. And so they were willing
to risk everything to find Him. They were willing to leave the safety of their
homes, to risk a journey to seek a King.
Can you imagine their neighbor’s reaction? And perhaps a conversations like this:
“Are you going on a journey?”
“Yes.” they would have replied.
“Where are you going?”
“We don’t know for sure.”
“How far is it?”
“Well we don’t know that either.”
"How long are you going to be gone?”
Well were not quite sure on that either.”
“ Gents, for wise men you sure don’t know much, do you?”
“Are you going on a journey?”
“Yes.” they would have replied.
“Where are you going?”
“We don’t know for sure.”
“How far is it?”
“Well we don’t know that either.”
"How long are you going to be gone?”
Well were not quite sure on that either.”
“ Gents, for wise men you sure don’t know much, do you?”
But you know they must have said the same things to Abraham
when he left his home for the Promised Land. They must have said the same
things to Noah who was building an ark – even though it had never rained in the
history of the earth up till that point. They must have said the same kind of
things to Peter, Andrew, John and James when they left the fishing nets to
become fishers of men. What are you crazy? Are you insane? Are you out of your
minds? No, not crazy – not insane – not out of their minds – they were men of
faith.
A
wise man’s journey is one of WORSHIP.
“On coming to the house,
they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh” – Mathew 2:11
When the wise men came on their journey, it was for the
purpose of worship. They were not looking for what to get, but what to give.
Compare that with what happens in our churches today and you’d really wonder.
These men simply wanted to offer themselves and their treasures to the King.
They spontaneously bowed down and worshiped. There was nothing systemic about
this worship. No music. No drums. No pianos. I am not sure there was any sound.
Only real worship. May I ask you this question? When was the last time you
truly worshiped Him?
Their worship led them to give out of their treasures to
their King. They gave very significant gifts. But there is more to worship than
gold, frankincense and myrrh. Worship involves sacrifice and what better
sacrifice to offer to the Lord than offering him yourself – your life.
The wisest choice you could make, now or ever, is to
follow the example of the Wise Men and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. Seek Him
the way they sought Him. Bring to Him what they brought Him. Recognize who He
is and say, "Lord, my wealth, my worship, my witness is yours. Jesus, You
are Lord."
A
wise man’s journey is one of CHANGE.
“And having been warned
in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another
route” Mathew 2:12
Isn’t it interesting that after they worshiped Jesus that
they could not go back the same way that they had come? I find that to be a
fact even today. Once you have met God you will never be the same. An encounter
with God changes things – it changes you – doesn’t it? It’s always been that
way.
When the wisemen encountered Christ, they were changed. When
we encounter Christ also, he changes us! He transforms our lives. That’s the
beauty of this season – when God sent his son, in human flesh, to transform us
from the kingdom of the devil, to the kingdom of God. May you experience this
change.
Are you a wise man?