The Wise Men – faith to worship
Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came 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.
There came wise men from the east - funny how we want to automatically add three. There could have been three, but to be honest, Matthew doesn’t say how many wise men came.
Who were these ‘wise men’? The word is μαγοι which we transliterate magi. This was the name given by the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, sorcerers.
"The
Jews believed that there were prophets in the kingdoms of Saba and Arabia who
were of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah; and that they taught
in the name of God, what they had received in
tradition from the mouth of Abraham. These, knowing the promise of the Messiah,
were now, probably, like other believing Jews, waiting for the consolation of
Israel.” (Adam Clarke)
This helps! They were waiting for and anticipating the coming of Christ. How did the wise men or magi know to expect Christ? I’m persuaded they knew the ancient prophecy in Numbers 24:17 (LXX)
I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.
It is interesting that "An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the east, that the fates had decreed some to proceed from Judea, who should attain universal empire."
(Suetonius (AD 69-122; Roman Historian)
"Many were persuaded, that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the east should prevail: and that some should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion."
(Tacitus, AD 56-120; Roman historian)
This is amazing! But to be honest, Scripture is silent on this – it doesn’t explain how they
knew to expect Christ. I conclude it doesn’t matter how they
knew Christ was coming and would be announced by a star, the facts are:
they did know and when they saw the star they immediately set
off to find and worship him. They believed he was coming,
they believed the star announced he had just been born,
and as a direct result of this belief they came to Jerusalem. They had faith to seek Christ.
9 When they had 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.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were 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
In 2:3-8 Herod the king learned where Christ was to be born. He charged the magi to go find him, return, and let him know where he could be found. Armed with more
information, they pressed on.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy – I love this! They were being divinely guided in their journey, they knew it, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy! They had the joy of the Lord before they had even met him!
We have found the Christ who’s all in all;
He is everything to us;
O how blest upon His name to call,
How divine, how glorious!
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
And the half has never yet been told!
(Barney Elliott Warren, 1900; you can hear it here being sung in a Baptist church)
And when they were
come into the house, they fell down, and worshipped him – this was no intellectual or academic journey, they were
seeking the King with the full intention of worshipping him. Hallelujah! They had faith to worship.
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.
They also had faith to obey. The wise men had a vibrant faith!
What does this mean for me? Faith in Christ is not merely knowing the right things about Christ, it is a spirited and vigorous conviction and trust that moves me to seek Him, to worship Him, and to obey Him.
The wise men teach us that Jesus is Christ. As Christ he is King. And as King he should be worshipped!
This also shows us a little about worship. Worship means to do obeisance to, that is to bend the knee, bow the head, fall down before. In so doing you acknowledge Him to be worthy, glorious, powerful. This is the goal of every worship service: to come to the place where we bow before Him.
At one point in a liturgical service you come to the Sursum Corda (below in bold), which dates back at least to the third century and is found in the earliest liturgies of the Church:
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
This is where we want to be, “Lord, I lift up my heart to You.” Worship can be expressed in music, prayer, lifting our hands, bending the knee, but it all begins in the heart.
I want to join the wise men and worship Christ the King!
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord
(Adeste Fideles, John Francis Wade, 1751; translated into English as O Come, All Ye Faithful by Frederick Oakeley, 1841)
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