The Wise Still Seek Him

Matthew 2:1-2:12 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV)

The story of the wise men visiting the Christ child is an interesting one. Kining mga
tawhana began a long trip to Israel simply tungod sa star nga ilahang nakita sa kalangitan,
mao kini ang naghatag kanila og signal mahitungod of the birth of the king of the Jews.
They traveled for several months finally meet the Christ child in person. I believe subra
pa kini sa usa ka story nga mag intertain kanato, kay tungod kini nga story is meant to
teach us something, about seeking the Christ child. That is why I titled the sermon, “The
Wise Still Seek Him.”

Of course nahibulong ko unsay kalahian sa mga wise men to the wise women? Kay
tungod kong wise women pa kato:
1. They would have asked for directions before they arrived in Jerusalem to alert evil
king Herod.
2. They would have arrived on time and helped deliver the baby
3. They would have cleaned the birth place and brought something practical for the
family– like a lampin, diapers, and baby wipes.
4. And there would have been peace on earth!

Four Lessons the Wise Men Teach Us

1) God makes every effort to reach every person who is far away from Him. Ang
Ginioo nagbuhat og pamaagi aron ang tanang tao nga layo kaniya iyaha gayod maabot–
Sa unsa nga pamaagi? God used the star to reach pagan Gentile magician/astrologers in
order to bring them to Christ.

una atong mabasa dha nga kining mga wise men sang niaabot na sila sa Jerusalem, the
Jewish capital. It says, “ang mga Magi gikan sa sidlangan niadto sa Jerusalem aron
mangutana, "Asa giaanak ang hari sa mga hudio? Among nakita ang iyahang star sa
sidlangan, niadto me dinhi aron sa pagsimba kaniya. " kining mga wise men were on a
mission, to find the newborn king of the Jews and worship him. Karun unsay ka nindot
aning mga tawhana, kining mga tawhana nagtudlo kanato mahitungod sa Ginoo nga ang
Dios nag buhat ug pamaagi aron ang tanang tao makab-ot sa iyahang presensya og
gugma. First, atuang tandaan nga kining mga wise men were likely Gentiles, and not
Jews who had come seeking the king of the Jews. Ang mga Judio naghunahuna that the
promised Messiah was for the Jews only, not for the Gentiles. In fact, kung atong tan-
awon nga ang tanang unang followers ni Kristo were almost exclusively Jewish. Ang
Kristo nga ilahang ginapaabot was supposed to deliver them from their sins . He was
supposed to deliver them from their oppressors, and pero ang signal sa kining mga wise
men kay ang Ginoo nagtawag kanila to the Christ. Kay ang ilahang pagtuo nga para
lamang sa mga Judio ang hari nga matawo. Second, they didn’t even share the religion of
the Jews, they were Magi, which was a combination of a learned scientist with cultic
astrologer. Ang ilaha ra nahibaw-aw science as well as magic. They were the academians
of their time, sila ang mga maalamon sa ilahang panahon, but they were still
magician/astrologers, which were practices God specifically forbidden for his people.

What this tells us is that God never abandons anyone. Wala gayud gepabay-an sa Ginoo
ang tao bisan unsa pa kini kalayo sa ihang presensya. Kung naabot man sa Ginoo ang
mga pagan Gentile astrologers like these three magi, take note of this he is still working
on people who we may think are too far gone, padayun nga nagalihok ang Ginoo sa mga
tao nga hunahuna nato layo kau sila sa presensya sa Ginoo. God never gives up on
anyone, iyahang ginahimo ang tanang pamaagi a4ron matabangan ang mga tao nga
madala sa tiilan sa Ginoo. Ang panguta Ginabuhat ba nato ang tanang pamaagi aron ang
mga tao nga wala pa diha sa presensya sa Ginoo atong madala sa iyaha aron maluwas
pud sila, kabalo ko daghan pa nga mga membro sa atong pamilya ang wala pay relasyon
sa atong Ginoo this is the right time to tell them nga Higugma gayud sila sa Ginoo. God
uses whatever means he can to help lead them to Christ. Sa unsa nga pamaagi God sent
them a message using an astronomical event, a star, to signal to them that they needed to
search for the child born as king of the Jews. Even though God said astrology is wrong,
he still used the star to bring the wise men to Christ. God used a language they
understood. Perhaps if an angel had appeared to them like the shepherds, it would have
been misinterpreted, but God knew the best way to reach astrologers, was through a star.
God used the star as a way to bring the Magi to Christ.

atuang hinumdumon nga dili tanan nagdaku sa church, they don’t know church
language, and they don’t understand their need to seek out Jesus. Mao na sometimes
matingala ta nganung ang mga tao dili naga participate sa simbahan. Usa mga rason kay
tungod they have no foundation, it was not part of their upbringing. Wala sila nakahibalo
nga gikinahanglan diay nila pangitaon ang Ginoo, and so ang Ginoo niaadto kanato sa
pamaagi nga atoa siyang maintindihan, That is why God came in the flesh nagpakatao
ang Ginoo as in literal nga tao pareha nato, so that he could be like one of us, and talk to
the people in their own language, eat their food, experience their culture through their
eyes, so that he could tell us of our need for him and seek him out. God expects us to do
the same for others nag expects ang Ginoo kanato nga mao pud ni atuang buhaton sa
uban. Dili gusto ang Ginoo nga atong ma compurmiso ang atuang integridad o atuang
masupak ang iyahang balaod, but he expects us to be like him to use whatever means we
can to reach people in a languagea they understand in order to bring them to Christ.

Think of a person, nga feel nimo layo kau xa sa Ginoo kana bang wla pa jud nakadawat
kang Kristo as their savior. Remember, God continues to love them and is still working
on them, he wants to bring them to Christ. And he wants us to help him. Buhaton nato
kini pinaagi sapag tan-aw kung paunsa ang ginoo galihok sa ilahang kinabuhi aron
makuha ilahang mga attention, example ni ana kay sakit, problima usa kana sa pamaagi
sa Ginoo aron dali nato sila madala sa Ginoo.

[Illustration of a young man I visited in prison who was there perhaps as a way for God to
get his attention]

2) God wants us to diligently seek him – nagkinahanglan ta sa duang kahibalo about sa

kang Kristo aron mas atoa pa siyang pangitaon.
ang second thing nga itudlo kanato sa kining mga Wise Men is that God wants us to
diligently seek him. Mag kugi ta sa pagpangita sa iyahang presensya aron ang atuang
relastion sa Ginoo mahimong meaningful pa gayud. Sometimes ang danger kay atung
gihunahuna nga enough na atung kahibalo sa Ginoo. The truth is we can have all the
knowledge of the Bible, we can follow God’s commandments, and still miss what the
Christian faith is all about, take note seek Christ until we find him. Kining Gentile or the
wise men, pagan astrologers, with only partial information about a Jewish Messiah mao
kini ang ang nagtuklod kanila to set off on a journey of faith to find the Christ, the king of
the Jews, ang ilahang journey which is estimated at 500-1000 miles. Ilaha kining lakawon
sulod sa 3 months o subra pa aron makaabot sila sa Bethlehem. That journey cost them
time, money, and it cost them their precious gifts. Nakahibalo ta nga kining mga Magi
naa ra silay partial knowledge about the Bible and the Jewish Messiah tungod ni aning
gamay kahibalo ilahang gepangita ang bata ng age anak sa Bethlehem, kay tungod naa
silay pagtuo naghibuhat silag pamaagi aron pangitaon si Kristo.
On the other hand atuang makita the religious community in Jerusalem. Ang mga tao
didtoa nga naay kahibalo sa Bibliya, mga tao nga ilahang gikanabuhi ang matag pulong
nga nahisulat sa balaang kasulatan, ilang gibuhat ang tanang ritual and followed all of the
commandments. They knew about God from their Holy Scriptures. Yet, ang problima
when the Wise Men show up, Herod ug kining mga religious leaders, they were shocked
ug ilang gipangita kung asa kining Messiah ge anak, in fact gingun diha they were
“disturbed,” or “troubled” sa pagkadungog nila sa balita. Ni wala man gani nila nakita
ang star sa kalangitan, arun ma interpret nila ang meaning niini. Wla gayud silay idea o
clue that their king had been born, og nganung pianagi pa aning mga pagan, Gentile,
astrologers to tell them about the Messiah. Can You imagine kung paunsa kini nahitabo.
Imagine karung panahuna ang mga practitioner of witchcraft or magic, muduol sa mga
Bible believing church ug mag ingon naa na si Jesus sa inyoha karun apan wla kini nila
napansin kay tungod they were more concerned about following the letter of God’s law,
than about seeking Christ and establish relationship with him. You get the idea kung
paunsa kini nahitabo. Instead nga magkalipay sila sa balita kay tungod ge anak na ang
Messiah, unsay ilahang reaction they are worried, probably doubtful, ug wala sila gibuhat
about it. Unlike the wise men who have traveled hundreds of miles to worship the Christ,
kining mga religious leaders couldn’t even travel six miles aron pangitaon og simbahon
si Kristo. King Herod even sends the Wise Men off to find the Christ child in his place so
they can report back to him. Ni wala na mentions nga nisugo siya usa mga tao aron tan-
awon kung kining ilahang mga gipang sulti tinood ba gayud kini.. nganung wla man kini
nila cge check, kay tungod ba nga kining mga pagan Gentile astronomers wala
nakahibalo about their Messiah? Nganung wala man sila giingnan sa Ginoo about the
Christ and not the religious authorities? Maybe because they were more concerned about
laws and rituals kaysa sa ilahang relationship sa Ginoo, ang ilahang concerned unsa ray
naa sa ilahang kasing2.

We can have knowledge of the Bible, we can even have religious convictions, we can
even live out God’s commands to the letter and still miss the point. God is seeking a
relationship with us through his Son Jesus the Christ, and he wants us to seek him. What
we find out is that when we seek him, we will find him. Jesus once said, “Seek and you
shall find, knock and the door shall be opened.” The author of Hebrews wrote

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews
11:6).”

And when we find him, meaning have a relationship with God through Christ, everything
else falls into place. The magi were rewarded for their journey of faith to meet Christ.

When we come to church, when we live good lives is it because our primary focus is on
seeking Christ, to search for him to try draw nearer to him? Or are we like the religious
leaders in Jesus day who think that doing our religious duty is enough, following God’s
commandments, being at church, maybe even knowing the Bible really well?

3) We need to worship Christ – atung simbahon si Kristo, kung atung makita kining
mga wise men they offered valuable gifts, ang pangutana what do we offer to God?

take note of this: Worship is not an option with Christ. Ingon pa gani sa akong nabasa
kung dili ka gusto magkinabuhi dinhi sa kalibutan kauban ang Ginoo, nganung mag
expect man ka nga makaadto ug langit kauban ang Ginoo? Gikinahanglan nga atu
gyud siya simbahon kay siya nianhi niining kalibutan aron kung kinsay mutuo og
mudawat niya makaadto og langit. Sang niabot og nakita na sa mga wise men si Hesus
giingon diha ang unang butang ilahang gibuhat was worship, pareho sa mga shepherds
who had already visited Jesus and worshipped by singing praises to God. mao kana ang
gi ingon sa mga Magi:

Matthew 2:11 ug sa pagsulod nila sa balay, nakit-an nila ang bata kauban si Maria,
nangluhod sila ug ilang gisimba si Hesus, tapos ilang geablihan ang ilahang bahandi ug
gihalaran sang mga regalo gold, insenso, og mirra.

They bowed down and worshipped. One way to worship was to bow low before another.
Nagpakita kini og submission sa usa ka tao nga naai authority over them. That is why
atuang gidawat si Jesus as Lord, kay tungod he is in control and we submit ourselves to
him. Karung panahauna murag dili na nako kini siya makita, wala ko kabalo kung
naganu, (sa usm ko dati) pero instead of bowing literally, we bow our heads in prayer,
which is a similar sign of our submission to God, pero in this modern days our posture
doesn’t show our humbleness before our King of kings and Lord of lords.

kining mga magi ilahang gesimba ang GInoo pinaagi sa ilahang mga dala, They
presented an offering, three gifts were presented to Jesus as a sign of worship. Remember
to worship God also means to offering something. Atung gisimba siya pinaagi sa atuang
mga halad, we worship by giving our time and money, we worship by offering ourselves
to God. We worship by offering that which is valuable to us. Kung inyung makita ang
mga regalo nga gedala sa mga Magi is very valuable, naghatag sila sa mga butang nga
grabe ang bili niini sa ilahang kinabuhi. Jesus Christ deserved a gift worthy of his
kingship. Ang una of course is gold, a treasure deserving of a king. The second,
frankincense was a fragrant scent offered up to God during sacrificial worship, it could
only be offered to God by a priest (Jesus is called our high priest in the Bible). Lastly,
myrrh was used as an oil to prepare a body for burial. In fact myrrh was used to embalm
Jesus when he died (it is interesting to wonder if it was the same myrrh he had receive
from the wise men). It was a gift symbolizing the preservation of life after death. It was a
gift for a savior who would die for us all.

kining mga regaloha nga gedala sa mga wise men naay significant cost kini sa ilaha. Take
note of this, Worship should cost us something. Naay usa ka pastor nga ni wali sa
iyahang simbahan, ingon niya, Yesterday many of us received gifts, and as I was
preparing a children’s sermon, naghunahuna ko og perfect sermon for the children, gusto
nako sila sultihan mahitungod sa regalo sa mga Magi and how they gave something
valuable, and challenge the kids to give one of their gifts to Christ, by giving it to
someone they knew was in need. But Amy challenged me on this idea by saying so what
gift are you going to give up? Exactly, what gift was I going to give up? Good question.
It was more difficult than I thought.

What do we bring/offer to Christ which is costly to us? What do we lay at his feet?

4) We need to continue to be open to God’s Spirit – padayun ta nga mahimong open

sa leading sa balaang sipirito, kining mga wise men obeyed God’s direction by not
returning to Herod. The journey to the Christ and their reward of faith had taught them to
remain open to

God’s leading.

wala siguro niabot sa atung kinabuhi nga makaingon ta nga sukad gng nahimo kung
Kristohanon diri na lng ko taman ok nako ni aning akong kinabuhi, igsuon. We need to
seek him, we need to worship him, dili ni one time event. We must continue to remain
open to God’s leading. Scripture concludes by telling us about the Magi:

Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned
to their country by another route.

Even though kining mga wise men nakita na nila ang Christ child ug ilaha ng gesimba,
wala pa sila nahuman didto, dili nahuman ang ilahang duty didto, wala sila nag ingon oi
salamat kay human na jud let’s go back to regular life.” Ang ilahang pagpangita sa Ginoo
wala ra nahuman sa ilaha ng nakita si Kristo. They continued to remain open to God.ang
Ginoo naghatag kanila ug mensahe pinaagi sa damgo. Remember nga kining mga
tawhana whose job it was to interpret dreams, and so ang Ginoo nakigsulti na pud kanila
sa paagi nga ilahang maintindihan, pinaagi sa damgo, ilang gi recognoze kining .damgo
as a message from God and they obeyed it. Wala sila nibalik sa ilahang dalan aron ingnan
si Herod, tungod naa silay gamay nahibal-an nga si Herod naghimog plano aron patyon
kining hari sa Judio.

igsuon ang punto klaro na sa atua, tungod nga atuaa ng nadawat si Kristo ug na
experyensyahan kung kinsa siya, dili ni nagpasabot nga dinhi ra nahuman ang atuang
Journey kaniya,. It is only the beginning. God wants us to be open to the leadings of his
Holy Spirit. mao ni dapat atuang mga pag ampo nga mahimo tanmg sinsitibo sa leading
sa balaang spirto. dili man pinaagi sa damgo, pero ang Ginoo padayun nakigsulti kanato
through the Scripture, through prayer, to lead us away from danger and to stay focused on
his plan.

What place are you at today? Ikaw ba katong tao nga layo sa Ginoo aron madungog ang
iyahang pagtawag para pangitaon siya? Remember ang Ginoo nagpadayun sa pagpangita
nimo walay sapayan aha man ka Gikan, ug unsay imohang background? Dili disgrasya
nga Naa ka dinhi karun mao ning very good place to begin the journey with God. ang
Ginoo nag promisa that if you seek him, you will find him and be rewarded for your
journey of faith. Ikaw baa ng tao nga padayon nagpangita sa iyahang presinsya aron
mutobo pa gayud ang imong relasyon diha kaniya, my challenge to you dear friend Don’t
give up on the journey because God has not given up on you. Are you a worshipper of
Christ? Unsa baa ng imong mahalad kaniya? Ingnon taka ang gusto sa Ginooo mao
imong tibuok kinabuhi, dili ang imohang kwarta o panahaon though gusto sa Ginoo
ihatag kanang mga butanga, but what he really wants is you, all of you, every part.

Lastly, are you opening yourself to God’s continued leading in your life. Ang Ginoo
padayun nakigsulti kanato aron mahibaw-an nato unsay atoang buhaton og dili dapat
buhaton, pero dapat gekinahanglan nga willing kita maminaw kaniya through prayer ug
pinaagi sa iyahang pulong nga nahisulat sa Bibliya. Kung dili man nato makita atuang
kaugalingon by putting ourselves in the shoes of Herod and the religious comm unity in
that day who claimed nga gusto gyud nila makita si Kristo ug simbahon kini nilat, but
were really only interested in their own selfish agenda. God wants us to follow his
agenda, wherever it may lead us.