In the fight against cyber terrorism, cyber attack, there is something called, “Dwell time.” It is the amount of time something is in your system before it ultimately brings it down. Undetected…sometimes “dwell time” can be years...the recent Sony data breach, the recent OPM data breach, the dwell time was over 150 days…Here’s the point. Most of the time and money is being spent on walls…to keep virus’ out…but the fact is…they are already there…and the walls typically fail…We have to deal with our hearts. The sin is already there…Jesus showed us that in the Sermon on the Mount. This is why religion doesn’t work…the sin is already there…detect, decide, defeat, defend….I love that…how do we do that? Submitting to the Word.

Matthew Chapter 2 Verse 1

• So the mafia existed even then! Ha! Just kidding…actually these wise guys were, “Magi” or more accurately translated, “Magicians, or sorcerers.” They were astronomers, astrologers and we’re going to see in a moment that they actually had come because of a star. But at any rate, here they come and we have all heard of them, right? We sing about them at Christmas time…we have little statues of them there in the manger with the new born Jesus with His parents, Black Beauty and Zukerman’s Famous Pig…obviously you’ve never built a nativity playing with your kids…HA!

• But what’s interesting about these wise guys is that in general, the commercialized nativity scene gets it wrong concerning these guys. (Brace for impact! Folks love their Christmas!) Here’s the thing though, I do think they’re wise and I’ll unlock that for you as we study together. Other things about these guys that you might not know, which are pretty interesting, Matthew is the only gospel that has them! Church tradition actually names them as Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar (and Falcore…but that’s Never Ending Story)…Their skulls are even on display in the Great Cathedral in Cologne, Germany in what’s called the, “Shrine of the Three Kings.”

• But the Bible doesn’t describe them as kings and how many does the Bible say came? It doesn’t…when was the shrine built? Around 1,100. Ok…how much money does it rake in in tourism? Lots! Is it the real deal...? Probably not…but at any rate, fascinating! (Later they come to see the child and find Him where? In a house…not a stable…) So may want to reposition those wise men like in the garage…on their way to the born King, HA!

• And speaking of fascinating…Matthew continues his fascination of his target crowd right off the bat in Chapter 2 because he says Jesus was born in Bethlehem and that is a fulfillment of prophecy given in Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be the Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Matthew Chapter 2 Verse 2

• Now I like this…these guys are for sure, “wise” in my eyes and mind based on what we have seen of them and to better understand, I want you to know a little bit about this Herod. This is the guy that marvelously rebuilt the temple…Herod’s temple or the second temple, but it wasn’t because he was so benevolent…it was because he was considerably ambitious about building a name for himself.

• You see, (poor guy), Herod the Great was 4 feet 4 inches tall. Prince Farquad is his cartoon name…HA! You could describe him as a short little monster! He had severe little-man syndrome! An ego-maniac and extremely paranoid of everything and on top of that, he was just an exceedingly evil guy. All those things make you such an idiot…worrying about yourself and doing and getting and being so very concerned about you you you you…

• This idiot, so very evil, actually had his own wife and sons executed because he suspected that they were plotting some sort of treason. Now, after killing almost his entire family, he realized that there would be no one to mourn his death and so he ordered that upon his death, all of his popular officials would be executed to ensure there would be mourning. Fortunately, after his death he was disobeyed!!

• So the Magi show up and they say, “Where is the born King of the Jews?” Ok. Wrong thing to say to Farquad! Right here his heart drops. His adrenaline pumps…his eyes bulge…I mean what they basically just said is, “We’re looking for the King…and apparently, you’re not Him!” What I love about the wise men…despite Herod’s expected hate/distrust/loathing of them…aggression towards them…they don’t care! Here’s the thing about them…the reason why I do think they’re wise…
• 1) They sought Jesus. Number one mark of wisdom. Until you are doing that, you lack everything else. 2) They won’t stop until they get to Him! Folks, laziness is wickedness. And if you’ve set your hand to the plow and said, “Ima find Him”, and you’ve turned back, that is foolishness. If you’ve in a state or a mind-frame of quitting, you’re in a state of weakness…Someone asked me once if I was gonna quit…and I said, “Quit? Never heard of her.” HA! They won’t quit…they keep pressing forward…

• 3) They are bringing to Jesus valuable and meaningful gifts. 4) They will bow and worship Jesus. Why? Because of what Jesus does for them? What He has given them? No! Because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is wisdom. The rest is gravy baby!!!

• 5) They forsake all of man and all that comes with man…all the approval and pomp and stuff…they forsake man for Jesus…These are the marks of truly wise men…Do. You. Have. These. Marks? Are you seeking Jesus? Not stopping until you find Him each day? Bringing to Him a life that is meaningful and valuable…bowing at His feet in worship…bowing your flesh to Him…are you forsaking this world for the King? These are wise men…are you walking in wisdom?

Matthew Chapter 2 Verses 3 – 6

• Look at this! This is so important! The wise men see a star! They have a divine calling based on a star!? And they travel what could be hundreds of miles…carrying gifts, not selling them for a more comfortable camel…not stopping until they find Jesus and yet here, a group of learned, smart, educated people who know the Word of God and yet…ARE NOT SEEKING JESUS! What excuse will they have on the Day of Judgment!?!?

• Wisdom is not in the multitude of what you know. It is in the simple, practical application of what little you do know! These chiefs are wicked! They hear and do not do…they know and do not do…

• Are they wrong? NO way! They are right! Does it matter? Not in the least! There are still slaves to Herod! They are still doomed to live lives that are ultimately pointless in eternity…man this is such an important thing to see…
• These wise men, these sorcerers, these astrologers…palm readers…condemned by the world and the word for their profession but what are they today? Jesus seekers…soon to be Jesus finders. Ultimately to be Jesus worshippers! Do you see this? What’s the difference between them and the chiefs? Wisdom…a decision today to leave it all behind and get after the King of Kings!
• Don’t say you’re too far away…start hoofing it! Follow that star in your own life! Did Jesus drop a Bible in their hands? Did he send an emotional tragedy or a circumstantial imperative or a hyped up east-coast pastor? NO! And I love this about God. He met them right where they were at! They were into the skies…He sent a star! Every day God is sending things into your life…right where you’re at…calling out to you…but man until you get up and get a move on…your life in eternity is pointless and ultimately, you’re Herod is your king….
• Jesus will shepherd His people Israel…Israel…, “Governed by God…” You know that’s what heaven looks like…if that’s not you now…why do you think you fit there? Jesus will shepherd you…care for you…comfort you and guide you…His only ask…is that you come find Him…deal with that sin…not outwardly but give him jurisdiction inwardly…curb that dwell time man…the key isn’t just finding it…the key is to shorten the duration and move on…towards the upward calling of Christ…detect, decide, defeat, defend…today!!