BE WISE, LOOK FOR JESUS
Matthew 2:1-12
SEEKING JESUS IS WISE
V:1-2. \”After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, \”Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.\”
A. This Christmas season should be full of joy, peace and hope because of the birth
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He King of Kings.
1. He is the star of the universe.
2. Every morning when we wake up, we ought to look for Jesus.
3. There is no person wiser than the one who keeps his mind focused on Jesus.
B. The Magi were men who were probably rich, but more than that men who
studied the stars and knew their significant.
1. This star they saw on the night Jesus was born probably brighter and set
lower in the sky than any other star.
2. Let me suggest that the star may have been the same bright light the shepherds
in Bethlehem saw when the angels appeared to them, the night Jesus was born
Luke 2:9
3. God does not tell us from what country the Maji came or exactly how long
it took for them to get to Jerusalem.
4. God does not tell us how many men there were who came to King Herod
look for the King of The Jews, but they came.
5. They were determined to worship the new born King.
6. Nothing should stop us from worshipping Jesus.
a. The Maji had one purpose in mind that was to lift up the name of
the king of Kings.
b. We have but one true purpose in life and that is to worshipped Jesus.
c. Everything else we do in life should support our worship of Jesus.
C. 1. God the Father, Himself set the worship of Jesus in motion with an
heavenly angelic choir before the shepherds at night
in this way: Luke 2:13-14
\”And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying, \”Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.\”
2. God made known to the lowly shepherd first, the birth of Jesus.
a. Let me suggest that it was to the shepherds first because Jesus is the
Chief Shepherd.
b. The shepherds were doing what Jesus does for us; watching over the sheep
24/7.
c. Jesus neither sleeps or slumbers.
d. That is good news to us, that were are never out of His sight.
SATAN GET\’S DISTURBED WHEN YOU SEEK JESUS
V:3-4. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
When he had called together all the people\’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he
asked them where the Christ was to be born.
A. Herod was a violent man. He came to be king by force killing anyone he thought
to be a threat to his throne.
1. Herod killed one of his wives and her sons.
2. All Jerusalem was disturbed because this news may cause a new wave of violence
by the king Herod.
B. Foreigners who were non Jews, came looking for the new King to worship Him.
1. The Jews who should have known Jesus, only looked for Him because
they feared their pagan king.
2. The chief priest and the teachers of the law had all the evidence of Jesus birth
but attached no significance to their knowledge.
a. They had the testimony of the shepherds who were eyewitnesses to His
birth. Luke 2: 8-17.
b. They had the testimony of Simeon in the temple the day Jesus was
dedicated. Luke 2:25-35.
c. The had the testimony of Anna the prophetess in the temple . Luke 2:36.
d. They had the prophecy in the scriptures all the details of Jesus birth.
3. We can get so distracted by our own agendas, that we miss the blessings
in the Word of God.
a. As believers, we are commanded to study the Word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15
\”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.\”
b. Not only that, but God gives us the importance of the scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
\” All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.\”
4. The local Church in Jerusalem had two years to find Jesus, but
never looked.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JESUS IS HIS WORD
V:5-6 \”In Bethlehem in Judea,\” they replied, \”for this is what the prophet has written:
\”But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.\” Micah 5:2
A. It is a sad thing when the Church who has the Word of Jesus take Him
for granted.
1. The Word of God should never become a text of convenience.
a. A text we got to when we are in trouble.
b. A text we go to when we need something from God.
2. The Church quickly found the Word of God, and quoted it
correctly. but were not convicted by it.
3. The worst thing we can do is ignore the wisdom that is in the Bible.
B. We have no evidence that the Chief Priest and the teachers of the law
went looking for Jesus, when they were reminded of the scriptures
concerning His birth.
1. They only used the scriptures to benefit their agenda.
2. We have no evidence that the Chief priest and the teachers of the
law were excited to know of the birth of their long awaited Messiah.
3. This Christmas season should be an exciting time because someone
who loves us was born to save us.
THE DEVIL GET\’S BUSY WHEN YOU SERVE JESUS
V:7-8. \” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the
star had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, \”Go and make a careful search for the child. As
soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.\”
A. Once you have investigated the scriptures, you put you knowledge into action.
1. Herod\’s reason for searching for Jesus was wrong, but through him
gives us directions to find Jesus.
2. We should know the time and the place that Jesus was born.
3. We should continue searching the scriptures to know Jesus in our lives
4. By all means we should go to the temple to worship Him.
B. Herod said \” as soon as you find him\” let me know.
1. Time is not on our side.
2. Tomorrow is not promised to us.
God has given us today to worship Jesus.
C. Notice Herod did not call Jesus a baby, He knew HE was a young child.
1. Herod knew when Jesus was born.
2. He knew not to look for a baby in a manger.
3. Jesus came in the flesh as a baby, but He grew to be a man.
4. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, but live in excitement of our
life with Him as the risen savior,
LET GOD BE YOUR GUIDE
V:9-10. \” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. \”
A. When you are looking for Jesus, He will always lead you to Himself.
1. No one can come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father. John 6:44
2. God start drawing us to Him when we look up out of our misery
and see the light that is in the Son.
B. Some plant and some water that which was planted/
1. God planted the seed of Jesus in the minds of Maji when the were
searching the stars in wonder of His glory.
2. It is obvious that Maji had some knowledge of the scriptures.
3. From the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we know that the Old Testament
was complete at least 300 years before the birth of Christ.
4. That seed was watered when they saw the saw the star again on
search for Jesus.
5. God gives us information about Jesus as we study His Word.
a. If you want to know where Jesus is, stop by the Bible.
b. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
c. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet.
6. When we come in the presence of Jesus we ought to shout for joy.
THE ORDER OF WORSHIP
V:11. \” On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.\”
A. When coming into God\’s sanctuary, our first thing we ought to do
is fall down and worship Jesus.
1. Worship starts with honoring God with all our being.
2. When ever you come in the presence of the Lord you ought to bring a
free will offering.
B. God gives us three gifts that were brought to Jesus in His house.
1. Let me suggest that gold represented His kingship.
2. The frankincense may represent an offering for the atonement of our sins.
a. In the temple the priest, were in charge of burning incense
outside the temple represented the prayers of the saints.
3. We know that Jesus body was anointed with myrrh after His death.
a. Therefore the myrrh may have represented the completion of His
mission on earth.
b. He was born to die for our sins.
NEW DIRECTIONS FROM THE LORD
V:12. \” And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to
their country by another route.\”
A. When you follow God, He give you insight into future events.
1. God protects those He loves.
2. No weapon formed against God\’s people with prosper.
3. While Herod may had plans to kill the Maji, God
protected them back to their home.
B. There are several points that we need to highlight.
1. The worship of the Lord is mandatory for believer.
2. Those who worship must bring an offering.
3. Those who worship the Lord are guided to a closer relationship
with Him.
4. Those who worship the Lord must constantly look for His guidance.
JESUS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, follow me on facebook
or visit my blogs: revmmitichell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
