Wise Seekers

1
Wise Seekers

• Christmas Messages
• Mt 21-12

Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community
Church December 17, 2006
2
Wise Seekers

• Matthew 21-12 1 After Jesus was born in
  Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King
  Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and
  asked, "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." 3 When King Herod heard
  this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with
  him. 4 When he had called together all the
  people's chief priests and teachers of the law,
  he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5
  "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this
  is what the prophet has written

3
Wise Seekers

• 6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are
  by no means least among the rulers of Judah for
  out of you will come a ruler who will be the
  shepherd of my people Israel. 7 Then Herod
  called the Magi secretly and found out from them
  the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent
  them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a
  careful search for the child. As soon as you find
  him, report to me, so that I too may go and
  worship him."

4
Wise Seekers

• 9 After they had heard the king, they went on
  their way, and the star they had seen in the east
  went ahead of them until it stopped over the
  place where the child was. 10 When they saw the
  star, they were overjoyed. 11 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 and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And
  having been warned in a dream not to go back to
  Herod, they returned to their country by another
  route.

5
WISE SEEKERS

• Seek the Truth
• 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,
  during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east
  came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "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."

6

• Jeremiah 2913 You will seek me and find me when
  you seek me with all your heart.
• John 146 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the
  truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
  except through me.
• John 832 Then you will know the truth, and the
  truth will set you free."

7
WISE SEEKERS

• Follow the Star
• 9 After they had heard the king, they went on
  their way, and the star they had seen in the east
  went ahead of them until it stopped over the
  place where the child was. 10 When they saw the
  star, they were overjoyed.

8

• Exodus 1321 By day the LORD went ahead of them
  in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way
  and by night in a pillar of fire to give them
  light, so that they could travel by day or night.
• Luke 210-11 10 But the angel said to them, "Do
  not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
  that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the
  town of David a Savior has been born to you he
  is Christ the Lord.

9
Three Responses

• Fear Shown by King Herod
• 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed,
  and all Jerusalem with him.
• Matthew 216 When Herod realized that he had been
  outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he
  gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and
  its vicinity who were two years old and under, in
  accordance with the time he had learned from the
  Magi.

10
Three Responses

• Fear Shown by King Herod
• Indifference Shown by Religious Pepole
• 4 When he had called together all the people's
  chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked
  them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In
  Bethlehem in Judea, they replied
• John 110-11 10 He was in the world, and though
  the world was made through him, the world did not
  recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his
  own, but his own did not receive him.

11
Three Responses

• Fear Shown by King Herod
• Indifference Shown by Religious People
• Rejoicing Shown by the Wise Men
• 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
• 1 Peter 18 Though you have not seen him, you
  love him and even though you do not see him now,
  you believe in him and are filled with an
  inexpressible and glorious joy,

12
WISE SEEKERS

• Recognize the Worth
• 11 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 and of
  incense and of myrrh.

13
Jesus was Given

• Gold a Gift for Royalty
• Incense a Gift for Deity
• Myrrh a Gift for Humanity
• Colossians 115-16 He is the image of the
  invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
  16 For by him all things were created things in
  heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
  whether thrones or powers or rulers or
  authorities all things were created by him and
  for him.

14
Multitudes in Heaven Cry Out

• Revelation 512 In a loud voice they sang
  "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive
  power and wealth and wisdom and strength and
  honor and glory and praise!"

15
WISE SEEKERS

• Receive the Gift
• 2 Corinthians 915 Thanks be to God for his
  indescribable gift!
• Romans 623 For the wages of sin is death, but
  the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
  our Lord.

16
Changed Eternally

• 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go
  back to Herod, they returned to their country by
  another route.
• John 112 Yet to all who received him, to those
  who believed in his name, he gave the right to
  become children of God

17
This Christmas

• Be a Wise Seeker
• Give Your Life to Christ!