Pilot Knob Lutheran Wise Men? 12/21/2022
Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men are truly an enigma. Who were they, why did they come in search of a king, and why didn’t they know where to look? Were they truly wise and were there only three?
Wise men (Magi) according to the Old Testament were servants of kings and would not be kings themselves. They would have very little power over their king or other royal figures and were never seen as ‘wise’ in the sense of “learned in matters of significance.” According to Daniel they were among the wizards and sorcerers of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 2:2).
They did not worship the God of Israel but served those who opposed Israel and cooperated with the dark powers that opposed the one true God. Not one of Matthews readers would ever expect magi to come in search for the child-king.
How wise were they? They needed a star to guide them to Israel, they expected to find him in Jerusalem, they needed the star again to find the birth place, they needed angels to warn them of Herod’s death threat. All that they learned about the child was revealed to them and the gifts they brought were normal for any king.
The wise men, magi, were ignorant people, but their learning led them to Christ as God revealed truth to them. We are no different. We come into this world ignorant, not naturally serving God but ourselves. It is God through His Word and the Holy Spirit that reveals to us who He is and how He impacts our lives. Only then can we sing from our hearts: Joy to the World the Lord has Come.” He has come to set us free from sin and death and to bring His kingdom to all who receive Him and to be Lord over all. Death is vanquished, Satan defeated, heaven secured for all believers. Now that is joy worth singing about, and sharing.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
December 24, 10:00 AM Morning worship, weather permitting.
Sunday school will resume January 8
GriefShare support group will begin January 15, 2:00, and meet every other week for 13 weeks. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this encourage them to attend.
~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
Sermons may be heard on KIOW 107.3 FM Sunday mornings at 7:00. Spread the word. If you would like to support this outreach with a contribution, it costs $55 each week.
