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by Sandy Shaw
Matthew 2verses 1to 18 – We read of these wise men making their way from the east to Jerusalem. This whole incident has been so grossly romanticised – that the truth can easily be lost.
Their number has been limited to three – we have made them kings – and we have given them names,
The shepherds and the wise men never came together – the wise men came months after Jesus was born – perhaps over a year.
The wise men probably came from Babylon – from Persia – from modern day Iraq – where Israel had spent 70 years in Exile –from the remnant of Jews who did not return after the Exile – so they have travelled around 1,000 miles.
They were what we would call astronomers – not astrologers, as we know that word today.
They were men who studied as far as they could in those days – such education was quite advanced as we read in the book of Daniel. They were studying the sky – the stars – looking for some sort of order – looking for a pattern.
They had no Bible – but they must have had some Jewish background – they had knowledge that led them to Jesus Christ – and that is what is important.
There was a star that led them to the scriptures – and the scriptures led them to Jesus. A man can find Jesus Christ if he looks for him. You have to look for him and search for him – you have to make the effort – and take the time – and for them the cost was significant.
These wise men saw this light appear – “in its rising” – when it first rose – and as far as we know, they never saw it again until Bethlehem.
These intellectuals had to travel around a thousand miles to find Jesus Christ. The shepherds just had to travel a few hundred yards.
The poor and simple – the clever and the wise – and both have to obey the revelation given to them. The shepherds obey the angel – the wise men having seen the light had to act on it if it were to be a blessing to them in any way.
The wise men make for the palace in Jerusalem – that was logical – but they were wrong. Intellect has to give way to revelation.
Verse 2 – “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” And God introduced them to the Scriptures. These religious men in Jerusalem gave an answer from the Word – and the men from the east were wise enough to act upon it.
But there is a sad truth here – the scriptures were shared and opened up by men who did not know their meaning and significance. They did not take one step towards Bethlehem – the religious people made no effort to seek Christ.
It is not enough to know your Bible – you have got to act on this Word and put it into practice – and allow your life to reflect its truth. The devil does not mind if you memorise this whole Bible – he does not mind if your theology is good and proper – he does not mind what weapon we take in our armour – if we just keep cleaning it and polishing it or playing with it – the only thing he minds is when we take it up and use it for the purpose God intended it to be used.
The wise men came to do one thing – to worship him – they came to worship him.
They fell down and worshipped him. They had a revelation from God – they moved in the will of God according to the light they had received – they heard the Word of God and acted on it.
Verses 10,11 – They saw him, and they fell down and worshipped him. Worship is being in the presence of God and pouring yourself out in praise and worship.
They came – they saw – they worshipped – they gave precious meaningful gifts –
Gold – because the child was a king .
Frankincense – because he was a Priest – he was God’s Great High Priest – to become our Great High Priest. A priest brings men to God.
Myrrh – pointing to His Ministry of being the sacrificial Lamb – he is the king who is born to die – our Saviour.
We too come and worship and give. Bow down wherever you are and worship. Do not afraid to kneel. Nobody may notice you – except God. Offer Him your gifts as you worship – if not today, then as soon as it is physically possible – and don’t be niggardly or miserly or stingy as you give gifts of money. Invest in heaven. Invest in the Kingdom of God where there are no moths or thieves or corrupting destructive rust.
“Loving Father – enable us to kneel and bow and worship. May we never be afraid or ashamed to kneel and bow and worship. May we join with those all around the world, who kneel and bow and worship the living God – the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We do so in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord and King. Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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