King Herod, the religious leaders, and the Magi all responded differently to Jesus…

Transcription

Merry Christmas!

ILL: Paul Wulff, former head football coach at Eastern and WSU told me  over lunch one day about playing in his first preseason game for the New York Jets in the NFL.  He went in for his first play ever, as a long snapper on a field goal. All-Pro and Hall of Famer Reggie White (a strong believer known as the Minister of Defense) and two other All-Pro’s lined up opposite him.  Reggie asked him, “Do you believe in Jesus?” Paul and the others didn’t know what to say. Reggie asked again, “Do you believe in Jesus?”  More silence. Then just before the snap Reggie said, “Here He comes.”  

When Paul heard Reggie say that, I don’t think it was good news.  I’m not sure what Paul’s response was, but I doubt it was happy! He probably got knocked on his keister.  

Here He comes!  That’s the Christmas story: God came to earth as one of us.   Here He comes! When God announced His arrival, He got a mixed response. 

The first people to hear were Mary and then Joseph.  Mary responded by saying,  

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

“Yes Lord to whatever You want, no matter what it costs me.”  And it would cost her.

Joseph’s story is found in Matthew 1 (p. 827).  Joseph didn’t believe Mary’s story and had decided to end the engagement.

Matthew 1:20–21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  (Mark your place.)

What was Joseph’s response?  He obeyed—he took Mary as his wife.  Like Mary, Joseph said, “Yes Lord to whatever you want.”

Please don’t miss why Jesus came.  Look again at verse 21. “He will save his people from their sins.”  He came to save us! If your life is perfect—we’re really happy for you— this won’t mean much to you.  For all the rest of us, this is good news!

If you’re stuck in an addiction, a habit, a behavior that you just can’t overcome…

If you carry a load of guilt or shame from your failure…

If you feel far from God and wish you were close…

If you just wish you were a better person, a better spouse or parent…

This is good news!  Jesus came for you—to save you, to free you, to change you!  Here He comes! What’s your response?

Michael read the story of the shepherds and their response.   They rushed to Bethlehem to see Jesus and then gladly spread the word about Him!

And that brings us to our text: the visit of Wise Men or Magi, found in Matthew 2 (p. 828).  You’ll see three very different responses to Jesus’ arrival in this story.

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Someone said that this is the first Star Trek!

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 

for out of you will come a ruler 

who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had see