The Wonder Of The Wisemen 

The Wonder Of Christmas

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

The kingdom of God belongs to the seekers!

FIRST QUESTION: WHO WERE THESE WISE MEN

Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 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.” (Matt 2:1-2)

Fulfillment of a 700 year old Messianic prophecy

Arise, shine, for your light has come, 

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 

2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, 

and thick darkness the peoples; 

but the Lord will arise upon you, 

and his glory will be seen upon you. 

3  And nations shall come to your light, 

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:1–3 (ESV)

The Clues:

  • They were from “the east” 
  • They are called “wise men” (greek “Magos”)
  • They ask about the “king of the Jews” 
  • They saw “his star”
  • They came “to worship him”

These wise men were outsiders who desperately longed to come on the inside and discover who Jesus is.

Are we open to those who are not like us?  Remember that the Gospel has always been open to outsiders.

Don’t just pray for the prophetic word, pray for the permission and right presentation as well

“People don’t care how much you know, until they  know how much you care”

SECOND QUESTION: WHY THESE THREE GIFTS

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 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 (Matt 2:10-11)

Again, their gifts fulfilled prophecy & preached the gospel

A multitude of camels shall cover you, 

the young camels of Midian and Ephah; 

all those from Sheba shall come. 

They shall bring gold and frankincense, 

and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:6 (ESV)
  • Gold – A gift for a King 

For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given; 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
  • Frankincense – A gift for a priest 

“You are a priest forever 

after the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:4 (ESV) 
  • Myrrh – A gift for a sacrifice 

But he was pierced for our transgressions; 

he was crushed for our iniquities; 

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, 

and with his wounds we are healed

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

These gifts preached  the “good news” 

What was the message of these gifts… A king has come who will be a priest who offers himself as a sacrifice for the healing of our sins

God can use anyone at anytime to communicate his message

We are all just no one, trying to every one about some one

THIRD QUESTION: WHY WERE THEY LOOKING IN THE FIRST PLACE?

1 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, 2 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.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet (Matthew 2:1–6, ESV).

One more clue

“Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon”

(Daniel 2:48).

500 years before the wisemen arrive, a young Hebrew named Daniel rescued an oder of “wise men” from death by proving himself to be a man filled with wisdom who heard from God. 

Daniel prophesied that in 483 years, a king would come

and behold, with the clouds of heaven 

there came one like a son of man, 

and he came to the Ancient of Days 

and was presented before him. 

14  And to him was given dominion 

and glory and a kingdom, 

that all peoples, nations, and languages 

should serve him; 

his dominion is an everlasting dominion, 

which shall not pass away, 

and his kingdom one 

that shall not be destroyed. 

Da 7:13–14.

These wise men would have know when to look, where to look and who they were looking for

They were looking because they believed the word of the Lord!

God used those who were far off, to preach a message to those who were close

Too often we miss what is right in front of us because we are not looking for it!

What are you seeking?

Following In Steps Of Seekers

The wise men were amongst the first to come seeking to see who Jesus was. Their steps to our Savior remind us that the kingdom of God belongs to those who seek.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

What are you seeking for the coming year? Consider these four steps of these original seekers

  1. SET YOUR EYES ABOVE

The wisemen were watching the stars for the sign of Christ’s coming. Their vision was set above.

What three God sized Goals do you have for the following year? What would immeasurably more look like in your:

  • Spiritual Life
  • Relationships
  • Health
  • Education
  • Ministry
  • Finances 

Write it down

  1. SEARCH IT OUT HIS WORD

The wise men believed the Word of the Lord they had heard from the prophet Daniel. 

What verses speak to the goals and vision you have for your life. Write them down, hide them in your heart, pray them daily. Remember faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!

  1. SOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GROW 

The wise men didn’t come before Jesus empty handed. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Remember we reap what we sow.  

Two key areas to sow into 

Where can you sow into the direction you want to grow?

  • Sow into the kingdom 
  • Sow into meaningful relationships 

Where can you sow into yourself? 

  • What do you need to learn
  • What do you need to discipline
  1. STAY CONSISTENT 

The wise men made a two year long journey one step at a time and never gave up

What is the daily, weekly and monthly habits you need to master.  Make consistency your superpower!

The kingdom belongs to the seeker… I can assure you, that if you keep asking, seeking and knocking you will find what you are looking for!

 

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