'Appreciating God's Love'
A) Wise Men Looking for King
Mat 2:1-2 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."
The angelic host announced the birth of Christ to a group of shepherds. After worshipping the Babe in person, they proclaimed His birth in Bethlehem. Ironically, only the priesthood seemed to be oblivious to the widely circulated news.
In retrospect, six months before the birth of Christ, John the Baptist was born into a priesthood family. He was the son of Zachariah, a serving priest. John's birth was to prepare the way for the birth of the Son of God. In fact, the priesthood were expecting the coming birth of their Messiah. Yet, they rejected Him from the very beginning because of their attachment to their status, wealth, power and comfort in lives.
God had to send the wise men from the East to see King Herod, who had to summon the priesthood to find out the answer. The priesthood had to search the scriptures in order to learn the place of of their Messiah's birth! They were ignorant of scriptures pertaining to His birth because they did not want Him!
Successful Christian leaders and believers today cringed at the mention of end times and do not want Him to return because of their love of the world!
Mat 2:4-6 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "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.' "
B) Wise Men led by the Star
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
Since the wise men (non Jews) came from hundreds and possibly thousands of miles away to meet up with this new born King of the Jews, this King must be special, who was indeed the incarnate of God Himself.
God was even prepared to sacrifice many young children in Bethlehem to be massacred by King Herod by sending the wise men to meet up with him. God was hoping that these wise men would enlighten and encourage the stiff-necked priesthood to realize that Jesus was sent to be their Messiah.
As soon as the wise men found out the place of His birth as prophesied, they immediately left for Bethlehem. Unbelievingly, not a single priest nor Jewish leader led these strangers to Bethlehem.
Though they were highly disappointed by the unbelief of the Jewish priesthood, they rejoiced greatly when God again sent the star to lead them to the new born Messiah in Bethlehem.
Mat 2:9-10 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy.
C) Presents of the Wise Men
Mat 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
As soon as the wise men saw the Baby, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They also honoured Him with the following presents:-
1. Gold - respecting Jesus as the Almighty King, the Word made flesh with His physical body being the holy temple of God for everything in the Most holy Place is made of gold.
2. Frankincense - proclaiming Jesus as the sweet incense offered at the golden altar and also the sweet aroma for the sacrifices and offerings to God.
Note Frankincense was added to all sweet smelling offerings to God
3. Myrrh - acknowledging Jesus the Anointed of God, who will anoint His people, servants and disciples with the Holy Spirit and also baptize them with the Spirit of truth.
Note Myrrh was the main ingredient added to olive oil to make the oil for anointing used by the priesthood for praying for the sick, and anointing.
Brethren, though the Gentile wise men acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah but the comfortable and respectable priesthood and Jewish leaders rejected and missed His first Advent, is it likely that our comfortable and respectable pastors and Christian leaders will miss the Rapture or His second Advent?
