"WHAT WISE MEN DO!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

MATTHEW 2:1-11

1. WE SEE AN EARNEST SEARCH: VV1, 2:
1. If these men came from Persia, they traveled over 1,000 miles. They didn't take their quest lightly. They were searching for the King. They were earnest, dedicated and single-minded. Others earnestly sought Jesus, too:
1. The Greeks who came to Philip said, "We wish to see Jesus!" John 12:21 (NASB).
2. Zacchaeus who was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed into a tree to get above the crowd. Luke 19:4.
3. Multitudes sought Him for healing and demon exorcism and for other miracles.
2. While Jesus is not hiding from us or trying to elude us, we need to seek Him, too. The Bible says,
1. "Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT).
2. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 (NIV).
3. "And 'if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him." Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT).
3. But what does the secular man seek? What is the object of the world's quest? What do you seek?
1. Things related to this world: material possessions, riches, tangible resources? Some seek that but wise men seek Jesus.
2. Things related to creature comfort and ease: whatever brings sensuous pleasures, whatever feels good? Many seek those things, but wise men seek Jesus.
3. Things related to status and position: power, popularity, and lofty position? That's what a lot of people seek, but wise men seek Jesus.
4. Talk about an earnest search, when our daughter Keri was 3 years old, I promised her a tricycle. Problem was, I couldn't find one in Molalla. I drove to Oregon City, found none. Drove back to Woodburn, found none. Went to Silverton, found none. When I got back to Molalla I had driven over 100 miles in vain. Then someone told me about an old fellow who rebuilt bikes and stuff. I went to see him and sure enough, he had just the trike I wanted - and it only cost me 50 cents - and he was only two blocks from my home! Sometimes what we are seeking isn't that far away. Jesus is near. Seek Him and you'll find. We see the earnest search of the Magi and
2. WE HEAR AN EAGER QUESTION: V2:
1. The magi asked about where to find this newborn King. They had traveled long and far; some commentaries suggest that they were on the trip for about 2 years. They earnestly sought the king and eagerly asked where to find Him.
2. Others asked eager questions, too: That's what wise men do!
1. The psalmist inquired, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Psalms 42:2 (NIV) .
2. The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, "What shall I do to get eternal life?" Mark 10:17 (NLT).
3. The multitude at Pentecost who were convicted of their sins asked, "What shall we do?" Acts 2:37.
4. The Ethiopian eunuch who heard Philip's words about Jesus said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" Acts8:36 (NLT).
5. The Philippian jailer asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30.
3. People ask a lot of questions about many things, but none is as pertinent as those questions that pertain to our walk with Christ and our eternal destiny!
4. A little girl went to the mall with her mother and saw all the decorations and lights and heard the music playing, "Jingle Bells" and "I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas." She saw Santa handing out candy canes. She saw clerks dressed as elves. She saw people hustling and bustling and shopping. Her mother asked, "Isn't it nice and Christmasy in here?" And the little girl to her mother with a puzzled expression and asked, "Momma, where does Jesus fit in?" She asked an eager question. We hear the eager question of the magi and:
3. WE NOTICE AN EXPRESSED DESIRE: V2:
1. The wise men said, "We have come to worship Him!" Their desire was not to be served by Him, their desire was not to gain anything from Him, their desire was not to be elevated to high positions in His Kingdom, but their desire was to honor, revere, esteem and worship Him! That's what wise men do!
2. To worship is
1. To love unquestioningly and unreservedly.
2. To be totally devoted.
3. To honor, praise, respect and venerate.
3. The magi desired to worship this newborn King - what is your greatest desire?
1. To be served and honored and respected?
2. To always have your own way; to get what you want when you want it?
3. To have a life always free of trouble, frustration, difficulty, and stress?
4. Or do you desire most to walk with Jesus, to live for Him, to bear your cross for Him, to love, serve, honor and worship Him?
4. We may not have gold, or frankincense, or myrrh; we might have very little to give Him by way of tangible things. But the poem says, "What shall I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I'd give Him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what can I give Him? I give Him my heart!" That ought to be our expressed desire. That ought to be our worship. We notice the magi expressing a desire to worship Him and:
4. WE OBSERVE THE EXALTATION OF THE KING: V11:
1. The wise men saw beyond the lowly peasant setting in that house. They saw beyond the young maiden mother and carpenter father. They saw beyond a mere baby. They saw the King and exalted Him. That's what wise men do!
2. Rather than exalting Him some would like to make Jesus less than He is:
1. Some say, "He was merely a wise religious leader, a zealot who got himself martyred in the process."
2. Some say, "He was just a prophet like Isaiah or Jeremiah or Daniel."
3. Some say, "He was just a good, moral man!"
3. But if He is not just exactly Who He said He is, He either lied or was looney and that doesn't make Him a good, moral man or a wise religious leader or prophet of God! The wise men knew He was born King and they exalted Him, and they did it by bowing before Him and bringing Him gifts fit for a King. The gifts were costly, rare and precious. They gave their best to exalt Jesus, the King. Let us exalt Him as well.
4. A group of nobles were gathered in London when the king entered. All rose to show honor. The king said, "Take your seats, gentlemen, I count you as my personal friends. I'm not the Lord, you know." One of the nobles, a Christian, said, "No, your majesty, if you were our Lord, we would not stand to our feet. We would fall on our knees." When the wise men found Jesus, they fell to their knees, gave gifts and worshiped. They exalted Him as King!

Hopefully we all hope to attain to wisdom. I don't think any of us sets out to be a fool. But the wisest thing you will ever do has nothing to do with worldly attainment or success or recognition. The wisest thing you will ever do is to put Jesus where He belongs not only in Christmas but in your life. The wisest thing you can do right now is to exalt Him as King of your life. Seek Him and you'll find Him. Find Him and you'll fall to your knees rejoicing and exalting Him as King. As we sing our invitational carol, do what wise men do - seek, find, and worship Jesus Christ. Come, all you faithful, come joyful and triumphant, come seek Him, find Him, love Him, worship Him and adore Him, Jesus Christ the Lord. That's what wise men do!


Illustrations from Knight illustration books and original




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