Grosey's Messages

Wise Men Still Seek Him.

You Will be Wise  if You Seek Jesus.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ' But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

One of the earliest songs I was taught in Kindergarten in primary school was "we Three Kings of Orient Are.." I remember wondering at the robed and turbaned men riding on camels across many long miles of deserts. It is the story of the Wise Men visiting Bethlehem. It began with a distinctive star shining over the little village of Bethlehem, attracting scholars who travelled a great distance to view the objective of its veneration, one known to them as "the King of the Jews."

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

In 605 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem. As was the custom of the time, he carried the best and brightest back to Babylon. This strengthened his country and left the conquered remnant in their homeland without leadership and therefore being no future threat. Among those carried back to Babylon was a small group with exceptional ability. Foremost among them was Daniel, who quickly gained favour with the king and rose in leadership among a group known as Magi. They were not kings, but known as Wise Men, who were king makers. Among Daniel's writings was a prophecy which centuries later became the source of information and inspiration for the Magi's visit to Bethlehem. They were guided by prophecy made over 600 years earlier.  In that time historically astronomy was called astrology without the modern connotation. As astronomers they gave spiritual significance to the stars and their alignment.

 They would not have travelled on camels which were used for commerce like semi trailers today.  Horses were used by Romans and donkeys were for local use and not long journeys. Mules were used for such trips as they made. They would have travelled by night to avoid the daytime heat. This also made it easier to follow the star.

We speak of the star being in the east. Bethlehem was west of Babylon; Babylon was in the east. It is written "we saw his star in the east." The meaning of the statement was, "we have seen the star (while we were) in the east."

How can the star be explained? Some say it was a super-nova, others it was three stars in junction looking like one large star. As yesterday's alignment of Jupiter and Saturn. No one knows how to explain the appearance. We want to look for natural answers to miracles. The fact it can't be explained and that in part is what a miracle is. If it could be explained, it would not have been a miracle. Scripture says God created the stars. It is estimated there are two hundred billion in our galaxy and "He counts the stars, He calls them all by name"(Psalm 148:3).

The number in the small travelling band is not recorded, but it is assumed to be three because there were three gifts. There would have been a significant entourage accompanying them to carry provisions for the party including the animals. Magi would have also merited security guards.

They were not kings, but Magi, priests, scholars. Had they been kings Herod would not have treated them as he did. Any self-respecting king of the era would have welcomed other kings with a feast. Neither would he have ordered them to go to Bethlehem and come back and bring him news.

The greatest event of history. God became a man to die for sin.  Those baby hands would bare scars. Nail scars. Feet and hands.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

 Not all "wise men" are wise men. You may be a great entrepreneur, businessman, engineer, or nuclear physicist. You may be a physician, lawyer, a gifted artist. But if you don't know Jesus, you're not truly wise. There's a kind of wisdom that's not wisdom at all.  "Ph.D." may stand for "Phenomenal Dud".

Omar Bradley, a great American 5-star general, once said,   "We're living in a time when our achievement, our knowledge of science, has gone far beyond our power to control it. We have too many men of science and too few men of God. We've brought about brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We're living in a time of nuclear giants and spiritual pigmies."

What is the great need in the world today? Is it information? We're drowning in a sea of information. If information had been our need, God would have sent an educator. Is it technology? If technology had been the need, God would have sent a scientist. Is it money? Do you think your problems would be solved if you had more money? If money were the need, God would have sent an economist. Is there a need for more leisure? Maybe God should have sent an entertainer.

No. Our great need is salvation. So God sent a Saviour.

"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him..." (Matthew 2:11a).

"And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

 And they came in spite of the difficulty.

Are you seeking Jesus? Is that the burning ambition of your life? You say, "Well, I come to church." I'm not talking about that. Think about these men from the east. Do you know where "the east" was? They were from Babylon—300 miles across the Syrian desert! Think of the distance and difficulty. Christmas cards picture them coming on camels. I don't know how they came, but I know how they didn't come: by plane, bus, car, or motorcycle. I know where they didn't stay: at the Holiday Inn.

And they came in spite of the distance.

And they came in spite of the danger. It was the time of King Herod, insane with jealousy and rage, who had his own wife and three sons murdered. These men, in the face of that danger, said, "We have come to seek Jesus Christ." Wise men will seek Him in spite of the danger.

Wise men who seek Him will see Him. When they came into the house, they fell down and worshiped Him.

It's worth seeking Him because when you seek Him, you will see Him. "And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). They searched for Him, found Him, and saw Him.

They Came to Jesus Because of  The message of the Scripture

Who Psalm 2.

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."

4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.

5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:

6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."

7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ' You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

He would come as a human and not an angel. "And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Gen. 3:15). Jesus did not come to save fallen angels but sinful people, and therefore He needed to be human (see Heb. 2:16). He came in a truly human body, yet without sin (Luke 1:31–35; Heb. 10:5–7).

He would come as a baby and not an adult. Again the Genesis 3:15 passage speaks of the offspring of the woman. In Scripture there are demonstrated four ways to get a body: (1) without a man or a woman, as did Adam; (2) with a man but no woman, as did Eve; (3) with a man and a woman, as in normal conception and birth; and (4) with a woman but no man, as did Jesus who was conceived in Mary's virgin womb. (See Baby and Virgin Birth.)

He would come as a male and not a female. The Old Testament prophecies speak of Messiah as a man. Romans 5:12–21 explains that Adam was the head of the human race under the old creation, and 1 Timothy 2:14 explains that Adam sinned with his eyes wide open, while Eve was deceived by Satan. Jesus came as the "last Adam" to redeem the human race and establish a new creation (1 Cor. 15:20–22, 45–49; 2 Cor. 5:17).

He would come as a Jew and not a Gentile. Jesus made it clear that "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). In Genesis 12:1–3 God covenanted to give Abraham many descendants and from them bless the whole world, and this blessing came through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16–18). Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Heb. 7:14) and the family of David (2 Sam. 7:12–16), born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:34–38).

He would be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1–12; Luke 2:1–20).

Where Micah 5

1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

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 Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

3  Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel.

4  And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth;

5  And this One shall be peace.

"In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ' But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

When  Daniel 9 

24  " Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

25  " Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

26  " And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

The 70 sevens are divided into three separate units—seven sevens, 62 sevens and one seven. During the first time period (49 years) Jerusalem would be "built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times." The second block of time (62 sevens, a total of 434 years) immediately followed the first for a total of 69 sevens, or 483 years. It is at this point that we are told what the ending point is of the 69 sevens: "unto Messiah the Prince." As clearly as Daniel could have stated it, he taught that 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem had been issued, Messiah would be here on earth.

They Came to Jesus Because of The miracle of the star

2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

The birth of Jesus – and the star which heralded his birth – was the activity of God himself. This was nothing to do with astrology or horoscopes. At significant stages of Jesus' life, certain phenomena featured – the dove at his baptism, the light at his transfiguration, the darkness and earthquake at his death, the cloud at his ascension. These occurrences attested Jesus to those who had minds to understand. Similarly then, at his birth, there was a star.

The significance of the wise men – the 'Magi' as they have been termed – is that they were Gentiles, probably from Mesopotamia. They would not have benefited directly from the privileges of Judaism or its Scriptures. It is, however, very likely that they would have taken note of a prophecy that had been uttered centuries earlier – by a Gentile prophet, Balaam by name.

In fact he was from their own area, Pethor, by the river Euphrates (Num. 22:4, 5). His words would have been remembered down the ages:

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel (Num. 24:17).

The star stood for regal power and splendour; the second couplet here is a firm indication of kingship. Further lines point to the widespread rule of this coming individual. Consequently, when a special star came to the attention of the Magi, they decided to investigate further. It was expected with regard to the Scriptures. Daniel had lived in their region and recorded His prophecies there. And now the star came..as prophesied centuries before Daniel! By one of their own!

They Came to Jesus Because of The ministry of the Spirit

Who put in their hearts the desire to find the Christ-child and worship Him? The Holy Spirit. Do you know why we seek Him? Because first He went seeking us. 1John 4:19 states, "We love Him because He first loved us."

Do you know why I love the Lord Jesus? Because God in grace and mercy put a desire in my heart to seek after Him. The Bible says that by our nature, our flesh, none of us would seek after God—no, not one (see Romans 3:11), and that would have included these wise men.

They didn't come to Him because they were smarter than other men or because they were so intellectual. They were wise, and that wisdom caused them to be yielded to God. That's why God the Holy Spirit could work in their hearts and draw them to Jesus.

Who was this Child, the one we call Jesus? There's one right answer; there are many wrong answers. Some say He was a great man. Beyond any doubt, He was, but Jesus is more than Jesus the Great. He is Jesus, the One and Only.

The late Dr. W. A. Criswell said: "To compare the greatest men on earth like Alexander, Caesar, or Shakespeare with Jesus is like comparing a grain of dust to the whole universe, a molehill to Mount Everest."

Others speak of Him as a moral teacher, but as C.S. Lewis said, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher; he would be either a lunatic, on the level of a man who says he's a poached egg, or else he would be the devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the Son of God or else a mad man or something worse." C. S. Lewis went on to say, "You can show Him up for a fool. You can spit at Him. You can kill Him as a demon. Or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let none of us come away with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He's not left that open to us." Who is Jesus to you? Is He Lord or not? You need to find out. And if He is not Lord, you must fall at His feet and make Him Lord.

...nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Why did Jesus come? Luke 19:10 tells us. "…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

I've often said Jesus is not a good way to Heaven, not the best way to Heaven, but the only way to Heaven. When you say that, a lot of people get their hackles up, but I still want to tell you, apart from Jesus, there is no salvation. He's not just "one more Saviour." He is the solitary Saviour, the only Saviour.

Now, if He's not the only Saviour, He's no Saviour at all, because He said He was the only one. And if He's not the only one, then He's a liar, and a liar is nobody's Saviour.

I've got some wonderful news for you: He can save anyone. Because of the birthday of Jesus, each year you are one year closer to Heaven, one year closer to seeing His dear face. Jesus, the Son of God, left Heaven, came to this earth, suffered, bled, died, and walked out of that grave a living, risen Savior. He's the one who sent me to tell you that He loves you.

He wants to save you and He will save you today if you'll give Him your heart. If you have not already done so, do it today. Pray, "Jesus, I give You my heart. I believe You died to save me. You will save me if I trust in You. I do trust You, Jesus. I'm trusting You today."

Do you have a desire to know Him? To love Him? To serve Him? Do you find something drawing you to God? Remember His promise: You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart.

How should you respond wisely to Jesus?

Look at how the wise men responded to Jesus. They brought three gifts that recognised the reality of their faith in Jesus.

Many people think these three gifts were just random. No, and they weren't random trinkets; these were treasures that didn't occur by happenstance. They carry deep significance. They were planned.

Why these specific gifts? They are highly symbolic.

• Gold speaks of His sovereign dominion—He was born a King.
• Frankincense symbolizes His sinless deity—He is God in human flesh.
• Myrrh represents His sacrificial death—He was born to die that we might live.

He is a king; they brought gold. He is God; they brought frankincense. He is a Saviour; they brought myrrh. They signify His sovereign dominion, sinless deity, and sacrificial death.

Will You Worship Him?

Receive Him today as your Saviour and Lord.

He made the trip from heaven to earth.

Your prayer can make the trip from earth to heaven!  Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Oh be saved today!! Become a wise man or woman this Christmas!