Lessons The Wise Men Of Long Ago Teach Us Today
Wise Men Came To Worship
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. 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." When Herod the king heard this he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2:1-4
Isn’t it interesting that the ones who came to worship the newborn King were called wise men. What made them so wise? These men were scholars who studied the stars. They sought divine truth in the stars and God revealed His divine truth by giving them a sign in the stars. Surely, we must consider the wise men wise because they sought to find and worship the newborn King.
Today, our reality is the same. Wise men and women still seek to find and worship the King.
I also find it interesting that when the wise men brought news of the long-awaited messiah’s birth to the earthly king, Scripture says that ALL JERUSALEM, (this included the chief priests and scribes) were TROUBLED. In other words, God’s chosen people responded to the news of the King of the Jews’ birth negatively. Their reaction was not excitement for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah.
What is that about? I thought through possible reasons for their negative response. Here are a few of my maybe’s.
Maybe they were troubled because...
They weren’t first to know about His birth. Instead wise men from the East knew first. That might have stung their pride and delicate egos to think that God would not first reveal this news to His people first.
Possibly life was going pretty good in Jerusalem, and all the people (Jews included) thought this newborn King would disrupt their world. If that was the case, they got it right. Jesus definitely disrupted their status quo, and still disrupts our status quo today.
Maybe they wanted the Messiah to come according to their terms so they could fit Him into their world how they thought best. That sounds like a real possibility knowing we all have control issues to some degree. When anything threatens our control, it can be extremely troubling.
All of these may have a place in their distress over the news of Jesus’ birth of the King, and we could probably discuss a few more possibilities. However, I can’t help but think their desire for control was at the heart of their issue. Aren’t we the same? Our first reaction to the possibility of losing control troubles us and we never meet losing control with excitement. In our tendency to over-rate control, we often under-rank Jesus.
However, the most blessed fulfilling life we will ever live is giving Jesus control of the things we most desperately cling to control.
Think about how we want to control our kids, no matter their ages. Conflict and dissatisfaction in our jobs often points to our lack of control over people or circumstances. Ministry is much the same. And, if we could only change and control our husbands, our marriages would be great! Finally, if we could control our finances, we would be problem free, right?
Control Is A Lie
We want control. But the promise of control is a lie. The truth is we only have control to the degree God allows us to have control. I can’t help but think of Proverbs 14:12.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:14
These proverbs show us that our control leads us to death, but God leads us in triumph. So, as we look to discover what makes the wise men so wise, their desire to see the King, to worship the King overrode their desire to stay in control. What makes any of us wise?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
Fear of the Lord is not about being terrified of God, but honoring and revering Him, in awe of Him because only He is fear worthy. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Ephesians 1:17. Ephesians 1:17 is a prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesian people praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory would give the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
That is exactly what God gave the wise men the night they saw the star pointing to the divine newborn king, wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. So the wise men went to worship the king. The difference between the wise men and God’s chosen people in that day was worship.
Worship the King
Worship happens when we acknowledge that there is an all knowing, infinite God greater than ourselves, with abilities beyond our own, and a better plan than ours. Our desire to stay in control hinders worship. Worship comes when we know God’s control in our lives provides safety, security, peace in the midst of troubles, and abundant blessing.
We read in Matthew 2:4 that King Herod asked the chief priests and scribes who knew the Scriptures about the birth place of the Messiah. They responded in Matthew 2:5-6
“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah: for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.
Matthew 2:5-6
They quoted Scripture they knew all too well, but the wise men believed Scripture and came to worship the coming “Ruler.” Those who worship the Shepherd follow the Shepherd. These wise men were not concerned about control. They longed for the shepherd. Wise men and women long for the Shepherd.
Think a moment about the beauty of the sheep and the Shepherd. Sheep are numbered and known. They are protected and prodded by their Shepherd. The sheep identify with their Shepherd. Sheep find their direction from their Shepherd. The Good Shepherd seeks his lost sheep. He fights for His sheep. And, He gives His life for His sheep.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:10-11
Dear Sister, Jesus, the Good Shepherd gave His life for us. That is what Christmas is about, the gift of abundant life and eternal life to and for all the people in this world who will accept and receive this beautiful gift. Let’s remember to be like the wise men and worship the King and to go tell who Jesus is and what we have been given. Tell it on the busy streets, in your businesses, in your homes, in the schools, colleges, malls, and stores that:
Jesus Christ was born.
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life.
Jesus Christ died a horrific death.
Jesus Christ rose from the grave.
Jesus Christ ascended to heaven alive.
Jesus Christ always live to intercede for us.
Jesus Christ will come again with majesty and might!
What a beautiful gift we have been given!
Have a blessed day and a wise and worshipful Christmas season!
