Lesson Three • Wise Men
Pastor Jayson Combs
What is Christmas supposed to look like? I know in my family we have a flow of Christmas. I have a small family, just our son, my wife, and me. Christmas for us is very special on Christmas morning. We love heading off to each of the grandparents’ houses, but Christmas morning is just for the three of us. We turn the fireplace on, have our cup of coffee, and my son hands out gifts.
1. What does Christmas morning look like for you and your family?
Matthew 2:1-12 records, “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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
2. What is the nativity scene supposed to look like?
3. Do you have a nativity? If so, what pieces go in the nativity?
4. After reading this passage does it throw off your nativity scene? How? Why?
5. Why do you think the wise men crept into the nativity scene?
6. Do you know how many wise men there should be?
According to this passage, the answer is, “No.” The Bible never puts a number on how many wise men came to see Jesus. It does say that they found Him in a house and some think there could have been some 50 wise men that traveled east to see Jesus. Today, we will study those things that we think should look a certain way but do not.
What should a king look like?
7. How does Herod the king respond to information about the Jewish King being born?
This should not be surprising. History tells us that Herod murdered one of his wives and his sons. I know that most of us know this story so it is easy to blow past this point, but think about the pain that will soon come to Bethlehem.
8. Did the chief priests and scribes know where the Messiah was to be born?
9. Why do you think they did not run to find the King?
At the end of verse 11, it says the wise men came to the house and worshiped Him.
10. Why did they not worship Mary?
11. Why is this important?
12. What gifts did they bring to Jesus?
There is much debate if these gifts have any meaning to them.
Gold - Often represents royalty.
Frankincense - Sometimes refers to the worship or service of God (Exodus 30:34; Leviticus 2:1).
Myrrh - Can emphasize humanity. Joseph of Arimathea used myrrh to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
I find it interesting that these gifts point to the royalty, worship, and death of King Jesus. One man said it shows that Jesus was “born to die.”
What should worshipers look like?
This thought takes me back to the first lesson in the series. An angel of the Lord shows up to the shepherds in the field. They were the despised and looked down upon people. This is who the Lord brings to worship the King.
Here in Matthew chapter 2, we have the wise men or magi, who come from the east hundreds if not thousands of miles, following a star that God has miraculously shown them. Gentiles, nonetheless, are who God brings to worship the true King.
I am so thankful the Lord saved me. I am one who does not deserve it. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
13. How has God saved you, one who does not fit the picture of what a worshiper should look like?
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
14. How can this Christmas season be different than the others in giving Jesus the worship He deserves?
1. What does Christmas morning look like for you and your family?
Matthew 2:1-12 records, “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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
2. What is the nativity scene supposed to look like?
3. Do you have a nativity? If so, what pieces go in the nativity?
4. After reading this passage does it throw off your nativity scene? How? Why?
5. Why do you think the wise men crept into the nativity scene?
6. Do you know how many wise men there should be?
According to this passage, the answer is, “No.” The Bible never puts a number on how many wise men came to see Jesus. It does say that they found Him in a house and some think there could have been some 50 wise men that traveled east to see Jesus. Today, we will study those things that we think should look a certain way but do not.
What should a king look like?
7. How does Herod the king respond to information about the Jewish King being born?
This should not be surprising. History tells us that Herod murdered one of his wives and his sons. I know that most of us know this story so it is easy to blow past this point, but think about the pain that will soon come to Bethlehem.
8. Did the chief priests and scribes know where the Messiah was to be born?
9. Why do you think they did not run to find the King?
At the end of verse 11, it says the wise men came to the house and worshiped Him.
10. Why did they not worship Mary?
11. Why is this important?
12. What gifts did they bring to Jesus?
There is much debate if these gifts have any meaning to them.
Gold - Often represents royalty.
Frankincense - Sometimes refers to the worship or service of God (Exodus 30:34; Leviticus 2:1).
Myrrh - Can emphasize humanity. Joseph of Arimathea used myrrh to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
I find it interesting that these gifts point to the royalty, worship, and death of King Jesus. One man said it shows that Jesus was “born to die.”
What should worshipers look like?
This thought takes me back to the first lesson in the series. An angel of the Lord shows up to the shepherds in the field. They were the despised and looked down upon people. This is who the Lord brings to worship the King.
Here in Matthew chapter 2, we have the wise men or magi, who come from the east hundreds if not thousands of miles, following a star that God has miraculously shown them. Gentiles, nonetheless, are who God brings to worship the true King.
I am so thankful the Lord saved me. I am one who does not deserve it. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
13. How has God saved you, one who does not fit the picture of what a worshiper should look like?
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
14. How can this Christmas season be different than the others in giving Jesus the worship He deserves?