Why Did Wise Men Come?Why Did Wise Men Come?

Wise men still seek HimWise men still seek Him

Why Did Wise Men Come?Why Did Wise Men Come?

Wise men still seek HimWise men still seek Him

Now after Jesus was born in Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." and have come to worship Him." (Mat 2:1-2 NKJV)(Mat 2:1-2 NKJV)

Introduction:Introduction:Wise men, Wise men, or or MagiMagiAA priestly caste among the Persians and Medes, priestly caste among the Persians and Medes, which occupied itself principally with the secrets which occupied itself principally with the secrets of nature, astrology, and medicine. Daniel became of nature, astrology, and medicine. Daniel became president of such an order in Babylonpresident of such an order in Babylon ( (Dan_2:48Dan_2:48))..

“Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.” Dan 2:48

The word The word magi magi became transferred, became transferred, without distinction of country, to all who without distinction of country, to all who had devoted themselves to those sciences, had devoted themselves to those sciences, which were, however, frequently which were, however, frequently accompanied with the practice of magic accompanied with the practice of magic and jugglery; and, under the formand jugglery; and, under the form magicianmagician,, it has come to be naturalized in it has come to be naturalized in many of the languages of Europe. many of the languages of Europe.

Many traditions and guesses respecting Many traditions and guesses respecting these visitors to our Lord's cradle have these visitors to our Lord's cradle have found their way into popular belief and into found their way into popular belief and into Christian art. Christian art.

They were said to be kings, and three in number; They were said to be kings, and three in number; they were said to be representatives of the three they were said to be representatives of the three families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and therefore one of them is pictured as an Ethiopian.therefore one of them is pictured as an Ethiopian.

Their names are given as Their names are given as CasparCaspar, , BalthasarBalthasar, , and and Melchior.Melchior. (We really don't know-but (We really don't know-but maybe...)maybe...)

I. Where Did They Come From?I. Where Did They Come From?

A. From the east.A. From the east... ..

““there came wise men from the east to there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,”Jerusalem,”

B. How far east?B. How far east?

Babylon (Iraq)?Babylon (Iraq)?

Persia (Iran)?Persia (Iran)?

Arabia?Arabia?

India?India?

The important part is they came!The important part is they came!

II. Why Did They Come?II. Why Did They Come?

A. To come the distance & time, they A. To come the distance & time, they must have known there was a special must have known there was a special event.event.

B. God had prepared everything to be B. God had prepared everything to be just right for this event.just right for this event.

C. The Scriptures had to have some C. The Scriptures had to have some influence. Perhaps from Daniel's time influence. Perhaps from Daniel's time there was interest in the prophecy.there was interest in the prophecy.

There are people who study the holy books There are people who study the holy books of various religions.of various religions.

The Messiah's birth and circumstances The Messiah's birth and circumstances were prophesied...were prophesied...

A Star-A Star-Num 24:17Num 24:17 ... there shall come a ... there shall come a StarStar out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

A literal star/also symbolic of a A literal star/also symbolic of a PrincePrince

A Birth place:A Birth place: Mic 5:Mic 5:22

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, thoughthough thou be little among the thou be little among the thousands of Judah, thousands of Judah, yetyet out of you shall out of you shall he come forth unto me he come forth unto me that isthat is to be to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have have beenbeen from of old, from everlasting. from of old, from everlasting.

A Child / MessiahA Child / Messiah

Isa 7:14Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. name Immanuel.

Isa 9:6Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty

God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Peace.

III. They Came In Answer to GodIII. They Came In Answer to God

God prepared them-God's Word?God prepared them-God's Word?

God used them to provide for a need.God used them to provide for a need.

God changed them-they went another way...God changed them-they went another way...

God used them to get people's attentionGod used them to get people's attention

(Even today don't we wonder why they came?)(Even today don't we wonder why they came?)

They came to a house to present gifts

Gold-for a kingFrankincense-for a priest

Myrrh-for burial

These items were very valuable and These items were very valuable and worth enough to finance a cross-worth enough to finance a cross-

country trip to escape the massacrecountry trip to escape the massacre

...departed another way

...flee to Egypt...

Wise men still seek HimWise men still seek Him

Why Should Wise Men Still Seek Him? Why Should Wise Men Still Seek Him?

Act 15:17Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these

things.things.

Act 17:27Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he they might feel after him, and find him, though he

be not far from every one of us: be not far from every one of us:

Heb 11:6Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must please him: for he that cometh to God must

believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. them that diligently seek him.