Christmas, pt. 3

12.23.18

Review from last Sunday:

Joseph: Fear

Mary: Overwhelmed

Innkeeper: Occupied

Shepherds: Amazed

https://youtu.be/suowe2czxcA

"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. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. 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." (Matthew 2:1-12, ESV)

Messiah: long-awaited, God-anointed Ruler

-over all earthly rulers

-establish the Kingdom of God on earth

-His reign would never end

"Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men." (Matthew 2:16, ESV)

"and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he [Herod] inquired of them where the Christ was to be born." (Matthew 2:4, ESV)

Two kinds of opposition that come against Christ and His followers still today:

indifference and hostility

Herod relied on his own power.

He thought he could overcome the significance of this event.

Joseph relied on God's power and he stepped out in faith.

Our problem is not that we do not know what to do,

it's that when we weigh the cost of fully obeying Him, we choose ourselves and our own desires over pleasing HIm.

What we do not know about the wisemen:

-how many there were that night

-their names

-their mode of transportation

-their country of origin

What we do know about the wisemen:

They were extremely intelligent and most likely astronomers or astrologers

How do these wisemen respond when they are in the presence of Jesus?

1. They honored Him by falling down before Him (v. 11a)

"And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11a, ESV)

2. They experienced great joy in His presence (v. 10)

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." (Matthew 2:10)

3. They offered Him sacrificial gifts (v. 11b)

"Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11b, ESV)

The wisemen's gifts were a visible sign that they desired the Messiah more than they desired any earthly treasure.

We are to joyfully come and bow before Jesus, recognizing that He is great and mighty.

While we have nothing to offer Him assistance, we demonstrate our love and devotion to Him by sacrificially giving.

Jesus' story begins with the horrible killing of children and it ends with the violent murder of the Son of God.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we remember that He was born to die.

He was born to pay our debt so that we might inherit eternal life.