Matthew 2:1-12 (It is the familiar history of the Magi heard in our
Gospel reading)

 They are an interesting group.  We don't know much about them.  We don't
even know how many there were.  But what we do know is of great
importance for us to grasp.  They are a group, however big they are, that
teaches us about the importance of Jesus.  It is for that reason that you
historically find readings about the Magi on the Sunday of Epiphany.
Epiphany is a word that means: manifesting or revealing.  It is the
season of the church where we contemplate who and what Jesus is.  In
other words our focus is understanding Jesus and our faith in Jesus.  Our
theme for today will be: LESSONS FROM THE MAGI.  1st. They are fulfillers
of prophecy.  2nd. They disturb the world.  3rd.  They've got a star.
4th. They show the importance of Jesus.
 Now I realize that we have a lot to cover but I think that we can do it
with some relative ease.  Take for instance the very first lesson that we
should learn, that the Magi are indeed fulfillers of prophecy.  To grasp
this just go back and take a look at what our Old Testament reading said
to us.  Remember that reading from Isaiah 60.  Did you pay attention to
verse 6?  "Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian
and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and
proclaiming the praise of the LORD."  We find similar words in Psalm 72
also.  Verse 10 says, "The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will
bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him
gifts."
 What is unique and wonderful about these verses are that both are taken
out of sections of Scripture that are Messianic in nature.  They are both
speaking about the coming Christ and his kingdom, speaking about the
honor and glory that will be brought to him from Sheba or Seba.  What we
don't really know is the location of the country, the exact country where
this name originates.  Some feel the country is modern day Ethiopia and
some say it is found in modern day Yemen.  What is interesting to note is
that the Sheba of Yemen is historically recorded as being famous for its
exports of gold and incense.  Add to this simple fact that Yemen is to
the east of Israel and a land known for its Magi or wise men and you have
another prophecy concerning Christ fulfilled in their appearance.  In
other words, God's Word brought them that God's word might be fulfilled.
 I find this fulfillment exciting.  Did you know that there are some 350
prophecies of Jesus that are clearly fulfilled, clearly showing that
God's Word is truthful and always right?  We have before us an example of
the trustworthy nature of God's Word and the fact that God's Word almost
always is pointing to the Christ, to Jesus as the focus.  When God's Word
speaks we can know that it is true.  It doesn't matter if you are talking
about Magi coming, a virgin giving birth or crossing the Red Sea.  God's
Word is truthful and right in everything it says.  It is something you
can put your confidence in.
 Now consider the next thing to learn in these lessons from the Magi.
Look at what our text says about their coming to Jerusalem.  Verse 3
says, "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem
with him."  Isn't that an interesting thing?  This group of Magi, wise
men, learned men from a distant eastern nation come to the capital city
of Judea and say, "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."  The result of
what they come and ask about is that King Herod and the whole city are
disturbed.  It is a word that means they were deeply troubled and
bothered by the appearance of these men.  WHY?
 One would think that an appearance by such a group would simply have
brought a response like, "I don't know what you think you saw but this
birth of a king stuff is something you are clearly mistaken about."  But
we are told that the Jews get bothered or agitated.  Makes you wonder?
Perhaps there is still hanging in the air stories about an old woman, a
priest's wife, having a baby, of angels appearing to shepherds and a
virgin giving birth?  But what I especially enjoy is the fact that we are
told Herod gathered together all the people's chief priests and teachers
of the law and asked them, "Where is the Christ to be born?"  I can't
imagine that these Magi came asking for the Messiah of God and yet Herod,
at best a poor religious scholar, gathers everyone and inquires about the
Messiah.  Do you get the feeling that more is going on here than we know?
 I believe that the Jewish people, the devout Jewish people, who were
awaiting the Messiah of God heard all these things, put all these things
together with what God's Word had foretold and they were all abuzz with
talk of the Messiah.  That's what prompted Herod to ask about the Christ!
 Was it the prophecies mentioned earlier that spurred it?
 And how telling that the idea of the Messiah causes such a stir.  Some
no doubt were filled with awe and wonder at all of this and some, like
Herod and the Jewish leaders are filled with fear and hatred.  Please
note that the Messiah, the name of Jesus still causes a stir in today's
world?  That's sheer testimony to the power and majesty of God's Son,
even when that child is small.  He is truly and always will be a mover
and shaker.
 Then let's just talk for a bit about the star of these Magi.  There is
a lot of misleading information about this star.  There are those who
speak of this being a natural phenomenon something like a planet
conjunction or an alignment of some other combination of stars and so on.
 Yet none of those explanations fit what God's Word says.  Notice what
the Magi first say of the star.  Verse 2, "We saw his star in the east."
That doesn't tell us much.  That only tells us that in the east where
they lived they saw a star in the sky that they somehow knew was a sign
of the birth of the king of the Jews.  Now please note that it does not
say that they followed the star or anything like that.  It just says they
saw a star the caused them to come to Jerusalem.
 There are two important things yet to consider here.  Note that when
Herod in mock piety secretly meets with the Magi that they might come
tell him where the child is, he does inquire about the time frame for
their travels.  When Herod determines to kill all the baby boys in
Bethlehem he kills those two years old and younger in keeping with the
time he had learned.  Two years!  Keep that time in mind.
 The next thing we learn is that as the Magi leave for Bethlehem we are
then told, "and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them
until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the
star, they were overjoyed."  Please pay attention to those words.  They
tell us a few important things.  First these words imply that the star
once again appeared.  See how they were overjoyed at its appearance.
They immediately recognized it as the same star they had previously seen.
 We also note that this time the star led them directly to where the
child was.  This is no ordinary star!  This is a miraculous star.  This
is a star sent by the Lord to herald the King of kings and the Lord of
lords.  It doesn't bother me that there isn't any one clear record of
some strange occurrence in the heavens recorded in history.  In fact, the
student of history and of astrological history can find dozens of records
in dozens of countries of all sorts of heavenly things going on.  And
what is interesting is that often what one country records as important
others ignore.  Nope, I do not need the confirmation of history's records
to know that this star is a fact, a miraculous fact that God once again
sent that we might clearly grasp the importance of this child.
 Let's consider yet one more lesson from the Magi.  Did you note why
these men came?  We are told point blank, "We...have come to worship
him."  The word used here means "worship, venerate, do obeisance to."  I
don't know if these men grasped everything that Jesus was, but I do think
it is very important to recognize that they had come to give Jesus
worship.  They came to worship the King of the Jews.  They would learn
that his name was Jesus.  They would not see him in a palace or
surrounded by the trappings of royalty and still they would worship him.
Actually they gave him honor and praise in everything they did.
 Mind you, they may have prepared and been involved in this endeavor for
two years!  How that shames us.  Many of us may not even give Jesus one
hour a week, let alone two years of our life just to get there!  Remember
they have at least that much time to travel back.  What did they know?
 Or bear in mind that they may have traveled over 1200 miles in one
direction to worship Jesus.  Again we have to confess our shame.  We fuss
about a block or two or moan and groan over a mile or so while riding in
our heated, comfy cars.  I would fear what our worship attendance would
be if we had to ride camels or other animals?  Makes you think.  Makes
you think, "What did they know?"
 Then grasp that they gave not only worship but they gave of their
treasures.  Gold, frankincense and myrrh, very elaborate gifts were
given. They gave him the best they had.  They gave out of honor and
veneration.  They gave because of what they knew.
 What they knew is that Jesus was a king.  Of course, all they saw was a
kid, maybe two years old living with his parents in a house.  We know the
parents were poor.  They saw nothing impressive, no miracles, no signs
from this child.  Really all they knew and was that this is the child the
star lead them to and that was enough.  When the heavens speak of the
glory of God one should listen.
 We on the other hand know that Jesus is more than a mere king.  We know
he is God's Son and our Savior from sin.  We know how he gave his life to
pay the price of hell for each of us.  We know how he was raised from the
dead that there is no doubt concerning our salvation and the gift of
eternal life that is ours.  We know that Jesus is the very majesty and
magnificence of God.  We know His love.
 I tell you, the Magi are a great example of what Jesus is worth.  He is
worth our time and treasures.  He is worth everything we are.  Clearly
the Magi help us to grasp the importance of Jesus.  Important because
Jesus is the revelation of God.  God's love incarnate.  God's Son come to
save.
 I hope you have learned from these Magi and what God's Word reveals of
them.  I pray that like them you may find Jesus worthy of worship and
praise, glory and honor.  I know that there are many things of this world
that would distract us from Jesus but don't let them distract you.  Be
like one of these wise men, wise enough to realize and grasp the
importance of this child born to our world.  May God help us in this
faith.  Amen.