We really don’t know. We don’t know where they came from. We don’t know how many there were. Since three gifts were given to Jesus, we have concluded there were three wise man. Where we came up with the names of Melchior, Balthasar, and Casper, is a mystery.

There are several theories about the wise men.

One theory states that they were Jews who were exiled to Babylon in 597 and who chose to stay in Bablyon, when the Jews returned to Jerusalem some 70 to 100 years later.

A second theory is that they were Eastern astrologers who studied ancient manuscripts from around the world.

A third theory is that they had received a vision or message from God directing them to the Messiah, and that the wise man were each from different countries, representing the fact that the entire world should bow before Jesus.

Which theory is correct and which theory isn’t should not be of great importance. What is important is their response when they found Jesus.

You know what struck me about the wise men. When they couldn’t find Jesus, when they thought they were lost, they asked for directions.

"Where is the child who has been
born king of the Jews?"

Up until the time they asked for directions all they had to follow was a star.

If you ever want to hear a scientific explanation of the star’s existence go to the NYC planetarium’s Christmas star presentation. The star is explained as being the 6 century B.C., alignment of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. If you don’t buy that, then perhaps you would be willing to chalk it up to God creating a special star to announce the birth of His Son, instead of placing on oversized stalk outside the manger.

When you get right down to it, Does it really matter;

What the nature of the star is?

Or how many wise men there were?

Or where they came from?

Or whether they traveled thousands of miles or hundreds of miles?

Or what were their names?

Do we need all the specific details?

Is it going to make a difference as to whether you believe or not?

To say it does would be like saying the Christmas gift I received isn’t a Christmas gift because it wasn’t wrapped. Excuse me, what is more important the wrapping or the gift?

What you and I need to extract from this story is what the wise men did?

They searched diligently for the child and when they found the child,

"They knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

They brought worthy presents and worshipped Jesus for who He was. They honored Christ for who He was and they were willing to give to Him what was valuable to them.

Is this why you are here today. Are you here to find the presence of Jesus, so that you might honor Him and give to Him what is valuable to you? OR are you here out of habit?

Is the motivation behind the vows and promises we have made today as a consistory and as a congregation,

‘TO BE PARTNERS IN THE SERVICE OF JESUS CHRIST’

A desire to be like the wise men and honor Jesus with your life or valuables?

In truth, anything less would be to short change Jesus and short change yourself. In effect what we have promised this morning, is to be like the wise men: to search diligently for Jesus, not just on Sunday, not just during worship, but everyday in all places;

To honor Jesus;

To give of what is valuable to His service, basically, your time. your talents, your treasure.

If Christ is going to be found in the world today. He will not be found because of some star. He will not be found in a manger. He will be found in your life, your heart, your actions, your church.

Paul said it this way

Phillipians 2:5,
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 5:20,
"So we are ambassadors for Christ,"

The wise men asked,

" Where is the child who has been
born king of the Jews?"

The answer today, depends on you and me

Jesus said,

"You are the light of the world...No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it under the bushel basket, but puts it on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others."

AMEN

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