Technology Will Take You

 To Jerusalem

 

Mathew 2:1-12

 

2- The second group that I see in this passage is the Chief Priests and teachers of the law. They were in charge of the religious knowledge and worship in the in Temple.

 

These leaders went to the Books of prophecy. They knew that the messiah is coming. They knew about the prophecy of Micah, who said seven centuries ago:

“ But You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, one of you will some for me, one who will be ruler over Israel” (5:2)

 

These group knew the news. They studied and the news was passed from generation to generation. They gave the Good News of God. They gave the REVELATION of GOD, yet, they did not believe in it.

 

Knowledge is not enough. Knowledge will not change you. Knowing about the birth of Jesus did not change single thing in their life. Celebrating Christmas time will not change your life if you do not know Jesus personally.

 

Today many knows about Christmas, many knows that something did happen in Bethlehem, yet nothing is changed in their lives.

They were secure in their Temple. They were feeling secure in knowing and not doing anything.

Today many are feeling secure in being in church Christmas time. Nothing wrong feeling secure in Christmas time. But do we have real security with God?

In the name of Religion these religious leaders were hiding.

 

3- The third group is Wise Men, the quest group, the seekers.

 

This scientific group did studies and did arrive to Jerusalem by their calculation and by the Star. By human wisdom they did arrive to Jerusalem and not to Jesus.

 

Human wisdom is important but not enough. We need God’s wisdom and direction. GPS is wonderful technology, especially for people like me who are usually lost in this new land.

GPS can lead your car to the destination that is asked, but not to the destination that God will reveal. You NEED GOD for God’s revelation.

Study all the religions of the world. There are wonderful ideas in it. NONE will take you to Bethlehem to Jesus. NONE, NONE.

Only when God reveals himself, we as humans with limited knowledge, can find God.  They needed God’s direction. They asked questions.

“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.”

 

They went their way without the king Harold. Now the star that they saw in the east directed them to the Bethlehem and stopped where the child was born. Without God’s direction nothing we can do. Without God’s wisdom all our technology is waist. We need God. Technology will take you to Jerusalem but God’s revelation will take you to Bethlehem.

 

In Renaissance period there was a famous painter who painted with wonderful biblical themes on the ceiling of the cathedral.  He saw that people came and could not see the pictures very well, because the ceiling was too high, and people got tiered by looking up. So he put a mirror on the floor, so people could see the picture. Well, this Christmas all about, God is revealing himself. The “ceiling” is too high. We can not see God well. We can not understand his revelation. His son will reveal more about God.

Without God’s wisdom all our technology is waist. We need God. Technology will take you to Jerusalem but God’s revelation will take you to Bethlehem.

 

4- They have not arrived for the sake of seeing something new, or curiosity. No they have arrived so that they will worship the king.

 

Worship him is more important than gifts. Yes, they did have gifts, but the focus was on worshiping this new king.

How much is changed the image of Christmas from its origin to this day. Yes, I see Jesus as a gift and because of that we give gifts to each other, yet the giving gift became more important than Jesus and celebration with Jesus.

 

Let me give an example from former Soviet time.

In the time of Soviet regime, the orphanages were in bad shape. So they asked help from the West. There were some missionaries decided to go and help these orphanages.

One of them tell us a story happened during Christmas time. He told the children about the Jesus being born in Bethlehem and in a manger. He told them that the wise men and shepherd came with gifts. Then this missionary gave them papers to make a manger and put little Jesus in it.

Suddenly he saw little girl doing something different. Instead of putting one child in the manger she puts two children in it.

He asks her why?

The little girl says, “That is Jesus and the next baby is me.”

She says, “Everyone brings gift to Jesus. I do not have gift, I want to sleep next to Jesus so I can keep him warm.”

 

This is best gift is to be with Jesus. You know, if we come to Jesus like that little girl, God will do miracles in our lives. As you realize, today’s worship was different. I wanted that we as church worship him in a celebration.

 

Paul summaries it:

“For by him all things were created … And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist …. For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, … having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:16-20)

 

Where are you today?

Are worried that your authority is in DANGER? 

Do you know much about Christmas, yet nothing changed in your life?

Do you have false security?

Are you seeker like the WISE MEN?

Are you ready for worship him?

God is seeking you. Jesus wants to “ warm” your life. Allow

Jesus to be born in your life.

Amen