Wise Men Keep Divine Appointments
One of the most familiar historical narratives in the Bible is the journey of the wise men, also known as the magi. Over the centuries, many sermons have been preached on the wise men regarding what made them wise. Following in that tradition, I want to emphasize one big idea concerning what made them wise: they kept divine appointments.
Before we look at the more familiar account of the wise men in Matthew 2 and the divine appointment they had, we need to go back to the book of Daniel, where it all began. In Daniel 2, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream which greatly troubled him. He asked the magicians (magi), enchanters, and sorcerers to interpret the dream, which they couldn’t do. So the king ordered all the wise men to be destroyed.
When Daniel learned of the matter, he sought an appointment with the king. In Daniel 2:16 we read, “And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.” Daniel’s faith is on display here. He sought an appointment with the angry king before he had the answer. And before the appointment took place, he called for a prayer meeting with his three God-fearing friends (Daniel 2:17).
After the mystery was revealed to Daniel, he gave praise and thanksgiving to God before going to see the king. (Daniel 2:20-23). The purpose for God answering their prayers was not simply to save their necks, but for Daniel to be a witness for God to Nebuchadnezzar. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar and His people to know that He is the Supreme Ruler—that He removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21, 27-28). He gives wisdom to the wise and reveals deep and hidden things (Daniel 2:21-22).
The true wise men are those who call on God and with His wisdom & grace make and keep divine appointments.
In Matthew 2, these wise men or magi from the east at the time of Christ’s birth were part of an ancient tribe and priesthood that existed centuries before the time of Christ. Because the words “wise men” are also translated as “magi,” some have viewed them as mere magicians. But our modern day concept of what a magician is does not come close to describing who these men were that showed up in Jerusalem searching for the Child King.
The ancient magi, who were men of nobility, were prominent in the time of Daniel during the Babylonian and Medo Persian Empires. According to scripture and ancient historical records, the magi were learned men. They had knowledge in the sciences, they were mathematicians, they were astrologers and astronomers. And because of their spirituality, which was mono theistic, and their vast knowledge, they were advisers to kings. Although they were not kings themselves, which dispels one myth, they were king makers. The people and high-ranking officials of their day looked to them to help choose and install the next ruling monarch.
In Daniel 5, the Babylonian king Belshazzar, after acting wickedly, saw a hand appear supernaturally writing on a wall. When he saw the hand writing, he was terrified and called for the wise men of Babylon to interpret it. When they couldn’t, he became so afraid that the color of his face changed. At that moment, his wife reminded him that there was another wise man named Daniel who could interpret the writing. Daniel also kept this divine appointment with Belshazzar. As a result, we learn in Daniel 5:11-12 that he was made chief of all the wise men in Babylon, which included the magi.
Now with this background in mind, how did the wise men in Jesus’ day know who He was? In fact, not only did they know who Jesus was, they came searching for Him soon after His birth to worship Him (Matthew 2:2). I want to suggest to you that the wise men kept their divine appointment with Jesus because they knew the scriptures. They knew the scriptures because they were taught by other magi before them, who learned from other magi before them, who learned the scriptures from Daniel. Daniel knew the scriptures that prophesied of the coming Messiah and shared it with them.
The understanding that they received from God’s word gave them a desire to know more about Christ. And among other things, they learned about the signs of the times and about His star that would appear in the skies (Numbers 24:17). And when His star appeared, they went after it. They left everything behind trusting that the star would bring them closer to Jesus. Notice that when they arrived in Jerusalem after a long journey, they inquired, “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” (Matthew 2:2).
The magi were not led by a natural occurring phenomenon. They were driven by the light of the Shekinah glory of God, which was made known to them through the light of scriptures (Matthew 2:9). Now, because of the redemption that Jesus accomplished in His first coming, all who believe can know a greater glory than Moses and the magi. They knew a passing glory from the outside. We can know an ever increasing and eternal glory on the inside through Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
On this side of the cross, we don’t look to the stars in the skies, but to the light of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. Like the magi who walked in the light and were led to intimate encounter with the Newborn King, by walking in the Spirit (light), we can experience intimate fellowship with Jesus (1 John 1:7).
Do you know the joy of close communion with Jesus? Unless we’ve come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord by faith and are walking in His light day by day we will not know the joy of close fellowship with Jesus. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Remember that the moment the wise men arrived in Jerusalem they made it abundantly clear that they had come to worship the one who was born king of the Jews (v.2). Often when we hear teaching on the worship of the wise men, the focus is on the 3 gifts they presented to Jesus and what they may have represented. It’s been surmised that the gold represented His Kingship, the frankincense, which was offered in the temple, His deity, and the myrrh, which was used in burial, His humanity and sacrificial death.
Although the magi came to Jerusalem to worship the Newborn King, in essence they were already worshippers at heart. They came to Jerusalem to express in person the adoration they already possessed and was burning in their hearts. Worship is more than an event; it’s a lifestyle of sacrifice and service to the Lord. The magi didn’t just worship Jesus when they saw Him in person. The whole journey from Babylon to Bethlehem, which could have taken more than a year, was an act of worship. In the light of the knowledge of Jesus that they had, the magi worshipped Him with their time, talents, and treasures. They worshipped Him by giving their time in traveling anywhere between 400 to 700 miles to keep their divine appointment. Their time belonged to Jesus.
One misconception about the wise men is that there were only three. But the bible doesn’t exactly say how many wise men there were, only that they gave 3 gifts. The magi came from a tribe of people and no doubt many magi took that long journey. And they didn’t come alone. More than likely they came with their wives, children, servants, and animals needed for the long journey. The magi that came into Jerusalem came with a large caravan that could have numbered hundreds of people. This was a large undertaking, but to the magi, who came to worship, it was worth it all.
The star that went before them brought them to the house: “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him" (Matthew 2:11). And after falling down before the Child King, they presented Him gifts. The gifts may have had symbolic meaning, but let’s just look at them from a practical standpoint. Those expensive gifts no doubt helped put food on the table. And perhaps after Joseph was told by an angel to flee to Egypt, as we see in the verses that follow, those gifts helped to finance their relocation expenses.
The time, talents, and treasures that they gave in order to come to Bethlehem were all a testimony to how precious Jesus was to them. Beginning in Matthew 2:9 we read: “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…” What a divine appointment!
Let’s not get lost in all the trappings of Christmas this year and miss those divine appointments. There are Nebuchadnezzars in our lives who need the wisdom, consolation, care, and salvation of Jesus. Make that appointment and by faith keep it.
As Daniel Henderson observed: “When your expectations for Christmas are misguided, your experience of Christmas could be miserable. Find joy in Jesus, not Jingle Bells. Set your affections on the Savior, not Santa. Focus gratitude on His presence in your heart, not the presents in your home.”
Who are the true wise men and wise women of God? The wise are those who seek His face in worship, who receive and follow His light, and with His wisdom and grace keep divine appointments.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Before we look at the more familiar account of the wise men in Matthew 2 and the divine appointment they had, we need to go back to the book of Daniel, where it all began. In Daniel 2, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream which greatly troubled him. He asked the magicians (magi), enchanters, and sorcerers to interpret the dream, which they couldn’t do. So the king ordered all the wise men to be destroyed.
When Daniel learned of the matter, he sought an appointment with the king. In Daniel 2:16 we read, “And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.” Daniel’s faith is on display here. He sought an appointment with the angry king before he had the answer. And before the appointment took place, he called for a prayer meeting with his three God-fearing friends (Daniel 2:17).
After the mystery was revealed to Daniel, he gave praise and thanksgiving to God before going to see the king. (Daniel 2:20-23). The purpose for God answering their prayers was not simply to save their necks, but for Daniel to be a witness for God to Nebuchadnezzar. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar and His people to know that He is the Supreme Ruler—that He removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21, 27-28). He gives wisdom to the wise and reveals deep and hidden things (Daniel 2:21-22).
The true wise men are those who call on God and with His wisdom & grace make and keep divine appointments.
In Matthew 2, these wise men or magi from the east at the time of Christ’s birth were part of an ancient tribe and priesthood that existed centuries before the time of Christ. Because the words “wise men” are also translated as “magi,” some have viewed them as mere magicians. But our modern day concept of what a magician is does not come close to describing who these men were that showed up in Jerusalem searching for the Child King.
The ancient magi, who were men of nobility, were prominent in the time of Daniel during the Babylonian and Medo Persian Empires. According to scripture and ancient historical records, the magi were learned men. They had knowledge in the sciences, they were mathematicians, they were astrologers and astronomers. And because of their spirituality, which was mono theistic, and their vast knowledge, they were advisers to kings. Although they were not kings themselves, which dispels one myth, they were king makers. The people and high-ranking officials of their day looked to them to help choose and install the next ruling monarch.
In Daniel 5, the Babylonian king Belshazzar, after acting wickedly, saw a hand appear supernaturally writing on a wall. When he saw the hand writing, he was terrified and called for the wise men of Babylon to interpret it. When they couldn’t, he became so afraid that the color of his face changed. At that moment, his wife reminded him that there was another wise man named Daniel who could interpret the writing. Daniel also kept this divine appointment with Belshazzar. As a result, we learn in Daniel 5:11-12 that he was made chief of all the wise men in Babylon, which included the magi.
Now with this background in mind, how did the wise men in Jesus’ day know who He was? In fact, not only did they know who Jesus was, they came searching for Him soon after His birth to worship Him (Matthew 2:2). I want to suggest to you that the wise men kept their divine appointment with Jesus because they knew the scriptures. They knew the scriptures because they were taught by other magi before them, who learned from other magi before them, who learned the scriptures from Daniel. Daniel knew the scriptures that prophesied of the coming Messiah and shared it with them.
The understanding that they received from God’s word gave them a desire to know more about Christ. And among other things, they learned about the signs of the times and about His star that would appear in the skies (Numbers 24:17). And when His star appeared, they went after it. They left everything behind trusting that the star would bring them closer to Jesus. Notice that when they arrived in Jerusalem after a long journey, they inquired, “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” (Matthew 2:2).
The magi were not led by a natural occurring phenomenon. They were driven by the light of the Shekinah glory of God, which was made known to them through the light of scriptures (Matthew 2:9). Now, because of the redemption that Jesus accomplished in His first coming, all who believe can know a greater glory than Moses and the magi. They knew a passing glory from the outside. We can know an ever increasing and eternal glory on the inside through Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
On this side of the cross, we don’t look to the stars in the skies, but to the light of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. Like the magi who walked in the light and were led to intimate encounter with the Newborn King, by walking in the Spirit (light), we can experience intimate fellowship with Jesus (1 John 1:7).
Do you know the joy of close communion with Jesus? Unless we’ve come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord by faith and are walking in His light day by day we will not know the joy of close fellowship with Jesus. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Remember that the moment the wise men arrived in Jerusalem they made it abundantly clear that they had come to worship the one who was born king of the Jews (v.2). Often when we hear teaching on the worship of the wise men, the focus is on the 3 gifts they presented to Jesus and what they may have represented. It’s been surmised that the gold represented His Kingship, the frankincense, which was offered in the temple, His deity, and the myrrh, which was used in burial, His humanity and sacrificial death.
Although the magi came to Jerusalem to worship the Newborn King, in essence they were already worshippers at heart. They came to Jerusalem to express in person the adoration they already possessed and was burning in their hearts. Worship is more than an event; it’s a lifestyle of sacrifice and service to the Lord. The magi didn’t just worship Jesus when they saw Him in person. The whole journey from Babylon to Bethlehem, which could have taken more than a year, was an act of worship. In the light of the knowledge of Jesus that they had, the magi worshipped Him with their time, talents, and treasures. They worshipped Him by giving their time in traveling anywhere between 400 to 700 miles to keep their divine appointment. Their time belonged to Jesus.
One misconception about the wise men is that there were only three. But the bible doesn’t exactly say how many wise men there were, only that they gave 3 gifts. The magi came from a tribe of people and no doubt many magi took that long journey. And they didn’t come alone. More than likely they came with their wives, children, servants, and animals needed for the long journey. The magi that came into Jerusalem came with a large caravan that could have numbered hundreds of people. This was a large undertaking, but to the magi, who came to worship, it was worth it all.
The star that went before them brought them to the house: “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him" (Matthew 2:11). And after falling down before the Child King, they presented Him gifts. The gifts may have had symbolic meaning, but let’s just look at them from a practical standpoint. Those expensive gifts no doubt helped put food on the table. And perhaps after Joseph was told by an angel to flee to Egypt, as we see in the verses that follow, those gifts helped to finance their relocation expenses.
The time, talents, and treasures that they gave in order to come to Bethlehem were all a testimony to how precious Jesus was to them. Beginning in Matthew 2:9 we read: “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…” What a divine appointment!
Let’s not get lost in all the trappings of Christmas this year and miss those divine appointments. There are Nebuchadnezzars in our lives who need the wisdom, consolation, care, and salvation of Jesus. Make that appointment and by faith keep it.
As Daniel Henderson observed: “When your expectations for Christmas are misguided, your experience of Christmas could be miserable. Find joy in Jesus, not Jingle Bells. Set your affections on the Savior, not Santa. Focus gratitude on His presence in your heart, not the presents in your home.”
Who are the true wise men and wise women of God? The wise are those who seek His face in worship, who receive and follow His light, and with His wisdom and grace keep divine appointments.
In your service,
Pastor Marco