"THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST"

THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST

January 6, 2013, the year of our Lord

Sunday Evening Service

Matthew 2: 1-12

Preached by:  Carolyn Sissom

Paraphrased from a sermon by:  Carolyn Sissom, December 28,2008, A Time of Worship

Matthew 2: 1-2:  “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold there cam wise men from the east to Jerusalem.  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”

The shepherds were the first who took notice of Christ after his birth.  His birth was revealed to them by a visitation of the Angel of the Lord and great heavenly hosts.  The shepherds made these things known abroad to the amazement of all that heard them.

After that Simeon and Anna spoke of him, by the Spirit, to all that were inclined to hear what they said.  One would think these miraculous signs and wonders should have caused all men, and especially religious leaders in Jerusalem to embrace the long-awaited Messiah in both arms.

Some scholars believe Joseph and Mary continued nearly two years at Bethlehem and no further notice was taken of Jesus until the  wise men came.

The inquiry of the wise men was made concerning Christ in the days of Herod the king.  This Herod was an Edomite, made king of Judea by Augustus and Antonius, the chief rulers of the Roman state.  Herod was a man made up of falsehood and cruelty; yet he was complimented with the title, Herod the Great.   

 There are four kinds of people mentioned throughout Matthew 2:

1. The wise men, who earnestly sought the truth.
2. The chief priests and scribes, who rested in the letter of the truth,
3. Herod, who was fearfully alarmed at the truth.
4. Joseph and Mary who were the affectionate guardians of the truth.

Daniel gives us a description defining by the Spirit those who are “wise”.

Daniel 12:3:  “And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

The wise men not only saw the “star” identifying He who is Wisdom, but they were like the “stars”. 

The Magi were men:

1. With revelation (Mt. 2:2)
2. Led by the Spirit of God (Mt. 2:2,9)
3. With pure intentions (Mt. 2:2)
4. Who obeyed God rather than men. (Mt. 2: 8-10)
5. Who rejoiced in the truth. (Mt. 2:10)
6. Who opened their treasures. (Mt. 2:11)
7. Who were flexible in their direction. (Mt. 2:12)

The coming of such wise men created no small stir.  They arrived in “Jerusalem” meaning “habitation of peace,” in search of the Prince and King of peace.  The Greek word for “wise” men is magos, which means, “a Magian, an Oriental scientist.”  The persons here denoted were philosophers, priests, or astronomers, dwelling chiefly in Persia or Asia.  They were the learned men of the Eastern nations, devoted to astronomy, religion and medicine.  They believed that the movements of the heavenly bodies and the destinies of men were linked.  They observed the rising of his star and connected it with the birth of the expected Jewish king. 

Held in high esteem by the Persian court, wise men were admitted as counselors, and followed the camps in war to give advice.  Daniel became president of such an order in Babylon (Dan. 2:48).

Many scholars believe these Maji may have been students of the ancient prophecies of Daniel 9: 24-27 and knew from their studies of the date of the birth of the Messiah.

 In Matthew 2, it does not read three wise men.  That is commonly assumed because of the three kinds of gifts.  Legend has named them Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior.  We do not know their names.  I researched this and every Christian nationality has different names.

The Magi eventually went to Nazareth (not Bethlehem).  They came into the house (not the stable), and worshiped the young child (not the baby).  The time of the arrival of the wise men was after Jesus’ presentation in the temple.  The appearance of His star coincided with His birth.  The journey from that region vaguely called the East would occupy at least several months.

The “east” is a Greek word (Strong’s #395) which means “a rising of light, dawn, dayspring. 

Rev. 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent Mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.”

Luke 1:78: “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us.”

In the time of the revealing of the Sons of God, wise worshipers will come from the “east” (figuratively) in the dawning of a new day! The Bible reveals these worshipers from the “east” to be:

1. “And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies.  Numbers 2:3)
2. Priestly singers and trumpeters stood on the east side of the altar (22 Chron. 5:12)
3. Those who open the doors to the house of the Lord will be gathered together on the “east street”. (22 Chron. 2(: 3-4)
4. Righteous rulers “Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him and made him rule over Kings? (Isa. 41:2)
5. A people who experience God’s glory (Ez. 43: 1-4) “afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east; and behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
6. A people who experience the living waters (Ezek. 47:1) “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward.
7. The bright shining of God’s light. (Mt. 24:27)  “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

As we ascend into Zion through our worship, the whole Body of Jesus Christ shall be illumined with the understanding of resurrection life and light!

Luke 11:36:  “If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle does give you light.”

Numbers 24:17:  “I shall see Him, but now:  I shall behold Him, but not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob ,and a Scepter shall arise out of Israel…”

That the wise men came from the “east” is no small study.    Jesus Christ is the “day star”, the Sun of righteousness” who arises with healing in His rays.  He is the light of the world.  Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, described Him as “the dayspring from on high”.

The glorious church is arising in the earth, conformed to His image, “clear as the sun”.  This great army of people is like “the morning spread upon the mountains” (Joel 2:2).  As sons of light (Eph. 5:8) we have begun to arise and shine in this new day.

The wise men were firstfruits of the non-Jewish world, the earnest of the future ingathering of all nations. Matthew 2: 3-6:  “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said unto him In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, and you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.

This is the fulfillment of Micah 5:2: “But you Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Matthew 2: 7-10:  “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem ,and  said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.  When they heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Herod’s inquiry was like the kiss of Judas.

Mt. 2:11:  “And when they come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men “fell down” and worshiped Jesus, just as the “four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb.”  They opened up their “treasures” or “deposit, wealth:”

1. The  gold of kingly power; the price of Worship.

2. The frankincense of divinity; the purity of Worship.

3. The myrrh of death and embalmment; the pain of worship.

Gold symbolizes the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4).  The Psalmist described the Bride of Christ as a queen standing clothed in gold (Ps. 45: 9-13).  The golden candlestick pictures the Church.  The vessels of gold are vessels of honor.  The New Jerusalem,  the city of the living God, is made of pure gold.  Gold, the price of worship requires the fiery “furnace”

Zech. 13:9: “and I will bring the third part through the fire…and will try them as gold is tried…

Mal. 3:3 “…and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold…”

Wise men who glorify the Christ child with gold are familiar with the fire:

1. Some are by the fire. (Mk. 14:54) “…Peter…sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.”
2. Some are under the fire. (Ex. 9:23-26) “Moses stretched forth is rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder, hail and the fire ran along upon the ground.”
3. Some are in the fire (Dam. 3:20-25)”Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were cast into the burning fiery furnace.”
4. Some are on the fire (Ps. 104:4) “Who makes His angels spirits; and His ministers a flaming fire.”
5. “God is a consuming fire”. (Heb. 12:29)

To worship Him with gold is to present Him with a life that has been transformed into the image of God.

Wise men gave Him frankincense ,the purity of worship, an ingredient of the sacred anointing oil.  It was used in sacrificial offerings, as a fumigant on the golden altar of incense during animal sacrifices, and as a perfume (Song 3:6). 

This gift revealed the wisdom that is pure.  To worship Him with frankincense is to present Him with a life that has been made pure and white through suffering for righteousness’ sake. 

Wise men gave Him myrrh, the pain of worship.  Myrrh points to the death of the cross, the denial of self, laying down one’s life for others.  The mountain of myrrh is Mount Calvary.  Myrrh was also an ingredient in the anointing oil.  To worship Him with Myrrh, is to present Him with a life that has been conformable to His death---the death of the cross. 

The end-time Church will receive the wealth of the nations!

Mt. 2:12:  “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The wise men were delivered once and for all from Herod.  Once they had been in the presence of the real King of the Jews, they departed another way.

Wise men walk a different path once they have encountered the King of Kings.  This is the highway to Zion---real Kingdom living---.  It is clearly marked by the reality of:

1. Another temple (Mk. 14:58)
2. Another form (Mark 16:12)
3. Another Comforter (Jn. 14:16)
4. another King (Acts 17:7)
5. Another Gory (1 Cor. 15:41)
6. Another Priest (Heb. 7: 11,15)
7. Another tribe (Heb. 7:13)
8. Another angel (Rev. 7:2)
9. Another wonder (Rev. 12:3)
10. Another sign (Rev. 15:1)
11. Another Voice (Rev. 18:4)
12. Another book (Rev. 10:12)

The Lord Jesus Christ isn’t going to be King of kings---He already is!.  Love is not a feeling; love is a choice.  We choose to worship Him.  Whatever our present circumstance we are assured that the end is secure and that Jesus is Lord!  Magnify the Lord!  Make Him bigger than anything you have faced, anything you think you are facing, or anything you will face!  Both testaments proclaim that His Kingdom rule and authority shall never end!

Ex. 15:17  “the Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

Ps. 134:13:  “your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

2 Pet 1:11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is a six part teaching by: Carolyn Sissom in December 2008 – See Sermons on www.eastgateministries.com. At that time, I entered into the labors of Kelly Varner from The Time of the Messiah.  The book gives us a fresh look at the Christmas story (the time of Messiah’s first advent).  Our scriptural backdrop has been Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.  These four chapters provide a prophetic panorama of the end-time church, a divinely begotten people in whom Christ in being fully formed (Gal. 4:19; Phil 1:6; Col. 1:27).

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor