Aster Traveling
In this second sermon of a 4-week Advent series, Pastor Lukes considers WHERE did the Magi's journey take them? From the East to Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem, to a humble house, and finally back home—tracing David's lineage to find the newborn King.
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:1-12
"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 saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled. And all Jerusalem with him, and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them, where the Christ was to be born. They told him in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet, and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way, and behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him amazing. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh, and being warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They departed to their own country by another way."
Series Outline
This Advent series asks four questions about the Magi:
WHO - Who were these mysterious visitors?
WHERE - Where did their travels take them? (Today: Jerusalem → Bethlehem → The House → Home)
WHY - Why did they journey so far?
WHAT - What did they come to do?
Sermon Outline
I. Jerusalem - The Capital City — Limited, but certain knowledge after up to 2 years of travel. Good deduction: divine king born in Judah must be in Jerusalem. Mysterious parade arrives like Prince Ali in Aladdin. Nobody knows what's happening—they hadn't seen the star. Herod troubled: crumbling kingdom threatened by newborn king. Sin's foolishness—rejecting the Savior to hold a dying kingdom. Contrast: Foreign Magi come to worship; Jerusalem's king wants murder. Scribes know exactly where Messiah will be born (Bethlehem) but have little interest. Magi's naivety shows genuineness. Herod's massacre: first martyrs taken to heaven.
II. Bethlehem - The Small Village — Micah's prophecy emphasizes insignificance—mirrors David the runt chosen as king. Magi retrace Daniel's exile journey in reverse (same Euphrates path Daniel marched as slave). Redemptive: Daniel longed for Jerusalem/Bethlehem, planted Messiah seeds that bore fruit 600 years later. Fuller prophecy: ruler "from ancient of days"—the God-man. Star reappears at night, goes before them, rests over Bethlehem. Scripture and stars work together. Rejoice exceedingly—didn't give up though no one cared.
III. The House - The Humble Dwelling — Moving smaller: universe → capital → village → one house. Timeline: 2 years since star, moved from manger/stable to house with family. Christ's humility: no royal palace, no room, small place. CS Lewis: Narnia's stable bigger inside than outside—something in manger bigger than universe. Small outside, but Trinitarian God and angels inside. They see Jesus, worship immediately, finish their purpose.
IV. Back Home - Another Way — Warned in dream, obey God, don't return to Herod. He feels mocked when they leave. Expect to see them in heaven.
Four Applications
May the Nations Stream to Zion - OT prophecy of nations worshiping at Jerusalem pictures all nations turning to Christ. We're from the nations. Magi brought star knowledge, whole culture/system to bow before Christ. That's the Gospel now—our cultural flavors serving Him.
Be Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves - Their naivety (not far from nativity!) showed genuineness—innocent as doves. God gave wisdom to be shrewd as serpents. Jesus' persecution instruction: need both childlike faith AND using noggins. Can't control everything; trust God while making wise choices.
Seek the Sure Mercies of David - Davidic journey: Jerusalem → Bethlehem → Christ. Isaiah 55: Come buy without money, everlasting covenant, steadfast love for David. In Christ we have everything—covenant promises, Father's favor. Bethlehem = "house of bread." Metaphor: eating/drinking freely, spiritual nourishment, eternal life.
Enter the House Together - They stuck the landing, entered house, SAW the child. Saw star (foreshadow) but real sight was Christ. Like Simeon holding baby Jesus. One day we'll see Him—not just with faith's eyes but actually see Him together. Great Christmas promise: we'll be together with Him.
Key Themes
🗺️Daniel's reverse journey—exile path retraced 600 years later
🌠Contrast: Magi's faith on limited knowledge vs scribes' knowledge with little faith
🏠Moving smaller: universe to city to village to house to baby
👑Herod's crumbling kingdom vs Christ's eternal kingdom
🪐Something in a manger bigger than the universe
📖Star and Scripture working together
💛Nations bringing cultural splendor to worship King
🧙🏾♂️Childlike faith meets shrewd wisdom
Tying it all together
The Magi's journey traces the lineage of David—from Jerusalem (city of David) to Bethlehem (David's village) to find the Son of David in a humble house. What they discovered reveals the stunning humility of the incarnation: the King of the universe born with no room at the inn, laid in a manger, residing in a small house. As CS Lewis observed, once there was something in a manger that was bigger than all the universe.
This is the Gospel breaking into history through the Davidic line. When God called Abraham and pointed him to the stars, promising descendants through a son, that ultimately pointed to THIS Son—Jesus, born in "the house of bread" (Bethlehem). The Magi traveled the same path Daniel was forced to walk as an exile, but in reverse—a redemptive reversal. The seeds Daniel planted about the Messiah and coming kingdom finally bore fruit as his spiritual descendants came to worship.
These Gentile scientists saw what Israel's religious experts missed: their limited knowledge moved them to full faith, while the scribes' full knowledge sparked little interest. But the Magi entered the house and SAW—not just the star (which was a foreshadow), but the real sight: Christ Himself.
We are like the Magi—from the nations, bringing our cultural treasures to bow before the King. We haven't seen Him yet with our physical eyes, only with faith. But the great promise of Christmas is this: one day we WILL enter the house together and see Him. We will be together with Him. That's the hope, the joy, and the destination of this journey—the sure mercies given to David, now ours in Christ, the true Son of David who reigns forever.
Christmas Magic | Matthew 2 - Who were the Magi? Scientists from Daniel's school in Babylon who studied the stars and discovered the King. Part 1 of Advent series.