Worship Jesus the King
Matthew 2:1-12
Key Verse – Matthew 2:11
Introduction
Jesus is the Son of God, the King of kings, and the Good Shepherd for all men.
In last week’s message, we looked at how Jesus came to be born of Mary. She became pregnant with child through the Holy Spirit, so Jesus is the Son of God.
But can we as sinful human beings accept Jesus as the Son of God within our own reason and human persuasion? No! Because it is under the power of sin and death, the human mind simply cannot fathom such a thing as God becoming a human being! It was impossible for Joseph to accept Jesus as the Son of God, so he decided to divorce Mary. But God helped him through the angel’s message – that Jesus would be the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. On his own, Joseph would have failed to recognize Jesus as the Son of God.
In today's passage, Jesus is worshipped by magi with gold, incense, and myrrh. Along the way, God revealed Jesus to be their king and gave them true joy and peace through their worship of Jesus, the mighty and transcendent King.
1. We have come to worship the newborn king of the Jews
This event began far away from the land of Israel.
There were Magi in the east (Matthew 2:1-2). We do not know exactly where they were from; there are quite a few ideas, including Persia, Babylon, or Egypt. Although God did not bother to disclose their origin, we know that they were Gentiles, not Jews, and that they were wise men or astrologers from far away.
They saw a star that indicated the birth of the king of the Jews. When we come to face this story, we are puzzled as to how they came to know about a king’s birth through a star in the sky. Did they have genius intuition that could read such a heavenly event? Were these astrologers the only ones capable of such a reading in the world? Highly unlikely! We all know that even with such rich knowledge as we see in modern astrology, this is not possible with all human capabilities. What do we need to understand about this then?
One thing we know about the stars is that they are beyond our control or manipulation. We can observe and analyze what is happening, but no men can ever move or change their activities. Who can move the stars according to his own will? Who can make the link between one bright star in a sky filled with millions of stars, and the birth of Jesus, the king of the Jews? Who can give such an intuitive message to a particular people?
Long before this, there was a man named Balaam, who practiced pagan divination. He was forced to prophesy against Israel for Moab’s sake, but he said this:
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17).
Balaam was a Gentile, who was bribed to prophesy against Israel, but, out of his mouth, this prophecy came; to his understanding, a star would come out. It is interesting that the magi were also Gentiles and they saw the star. The sign of the star was not for the Jews, but for the Gentiles, like Balaam and the magi.
It is clear that, in His will and purpose, God revealed this prophecy’s fulfillment to these Magi. Only God could do such a thing! When His Son, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem in Judea, as we read in Luke’s Gospel, no one knew about the Messiah’s birth; he was just a baby and his kingship was hidden to the public eye. His birth was too humble and inconspicuous for anyone to notice that the baby born was the promised King and Savior.
Yet God decided to make this known with a particular purpose and to honor His Son, Jesus, as he deserved by revealing this message to these Magi.
As they followed the star, they arrived in Jerusalem. They knew that the baby born was the king of Jews; most likely, they assumed that they would find where this baby king was born in Jerusalem, the capital city. So they asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ (Matthew 2:2a).
2. Where is the one born king of the Jews?
How did the people of Israel respond to the Magi’s questions?
At that time, Herod the Great was the king of the Jews (Matthew 2:3). He was shocked because he had not heard any hint of such news. Let's think about Herod and his people.
Herod the Great was half-Jew and half–Idumean, so the Jews did not like him as their king. Early in his rule, he did many good things for the nation and had earned some respect, but later, being obsessed with power, he killed his wife and her two sons. It was clear that King Herod would not share his power with anyone else and would go after anyone who challenged his power.
The news about a newborn baby king was a great shock to Herod. Yet this news came from far away, from Gentiles in a distant country. The baby king was so famous that even men from such a distant country knew of his birth. This baby would be far greater than anyone could imagine.
King Solomon was the most prosperous king in Israel’s history. His wisdom and power were well-known throughout the entire region surrounding Israel, and many kings either sent their delegates to honor him or visited him themselves.
Think about how even a newborn baby was known to a distant country as the king of Jews! What was this baby king going to be? He would be a far greater king than Herod could ever be! Essentially, this baby was a great challenge to his power and authority.
So Herod’s mind became so much obsessed with his own power that he would do anything to eliminate any such possibility. Knowing this, it was quite natural for all of Jerusalem to be shocked at this news.
Herod immediately called all people together to find out where the new king was to be born.
He recruited all the biblical scholars, chief priests, and teachers of the law to find out the answer to one question: where was the Christ [Messiah] to be born (Matthew 2:4)? For these Magi, they also needed to find the answer, but it was far more serious for Herod and his people.
So what did they find?
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2).
Judah had many children, so his was the biggest tribe in Israel. One of his territorial cities was Ephrathah, located in Bethlehem, one of the smallest clans within Judah. Here, in Bethlehem, the coming Messiah would be born. Matthew paraphrased this prophecy in this way:
"'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 be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:6).
King David’s hometown was Bethlehem. It was a very small town, not far from Jerusalem [6 miles away]. It was a small enclave surrounded by hills. This town was not much of any significance, except for the fact that it was the hometown of King David and, eventually, the birthplace of the Messiah King.
When we know about someone’s birthplace, it is very significant. This helps us verify the prophecy and its fulfillment.
When we make an appointment, we like to know three things: who is coming, where, and when! The coming of the Messiah had been addressed by many prophets. Did they address about at what time he would come? Yes, in Matthew 1:17, when Matthew references 14 generations, he indicated that, from the time of exile, Jesus would come in the 14th generation. In this way, the time had been set and the place was set as Bethlehem. This made them certain of what they were waiting for - the coming of the Messiah.
The king would be born in Bethlehem in Judea. If he was to be the Messiah, he must be born in Bethlehem!
The Messiah is described as a ruler that would be the shepherd of God’s people, Israel (Matthew 2:6). This would be the Messiah’s characteristic nature. ‘Ruler’ here means one that governs people with power and authority. At the same time, the Messiah-ruler would have the character or duty of a shepherd. No ruler had ever had those two characteristics together, but Jesus the Messiah would rule with a shepherd’s heart.
‘Shepherd’ is someone who cares sheep; they do this in two ways: by providing protection from all harms, and leading them to where there is food. Jesus said he was the good shepherd that lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
So, now all the information is out: the Messiah King was born in Bethlehem. He is a ruler and a shepherd. The coming Messiah was also described as the king that would establish an everlasting godly kingdom through his rule as a shepherd.
How did Herod handle this news?
3. Herod's choice
Let's think about what Herod did.
“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 make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." (Matthew 6:7-8).
Herod had a secret motive: to kill the coming king. In order to do so, he asked the magi about the time of Jesus’ birth and requested that they report to him after they had worshipped the king. He wanted to know where the newborn baby king was.
Through such a vile scheme, he showed his rejection of God’s purpose for the nation of Israel. He also rejected God's plan for his life. What does this tell us about him? He upheld his will and his truth as the utmost rule over the nation; he recognized no other authority other than himself. So rejecting Jesus is rejecting God, His rule, and a godly way of life. When Herod did so, then there was no other way for him, but to snub out the little baby Jesus.
There are many modern examples of similar rejections of God. In the United States, a strong voice has risen against Christian thinking and Christian culture. With such opposition, they reject biblical truth as well. We can read these changes in people’s minds in a few ways:
1. Though society is flooded with Christian messages, many have rejected the message of Christ, building a wall of a resistance and hostility against it.
2. People are seeking alternative answers to life since they have failed to get the true answers from the culture into which they were born. In their search, so many have even invited many pagan religion or ideas into their lives.
3. Their rejection of the gospel is a rejection of God; they also refuse to accept Jesus as the Son of God and their King.
What will be the consequences for those who reject Jesus as their king?
Recently, there was a mass killing by a gunman in Connecticut. I further investigated similar mass killings by other individuals; there are many recent examples:
13 people died in the Fort Hood shooting in 2009, 33 died in the VA Tech shooting in 2007, 13 people were killed in the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, 6 people died in a shooting at Northern Illinois University in 2008, and 26 died when a shooter attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Also, we know that there are many suicide bombers in the Middle East. In their hearts, these people are more or less the same; they believe that people are evil and deserve judgment, so they decide to bring justice by killing so many. They implemented their own justice with their own hands. This is utter contempt for God and outright demeaning of God's authority and justice!
Are these people somewhat similar to Herod?
Jesus is the king, Savior, and the justice of God. When one rejects Jesus as Lord, he himself becomes the utmost master of rule and judgment in his life. After all, he is rejecting God’s justice and resorting to personal justice; he believes he is right and they are wrong.
This is the final outcome of those who reject Jesus as the Lord and Savior. Rejecting God’s authority, provision for justice, and mercy to forgive and accept sinners is to uphold one’s own justice.
So there are only two choices: to receive Jesus as Lord and King or to reject him in order to pursue one's personal justice and rule. This becomes more clear as we look more in-depth into the Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5].
In this sermon, found in Matthew 5-7, there are three teachings about three types of human relationships: man to man, man to woman, and man to God. About man-to-man relationships, there are two kinds: love and hate/murder; when one hates and curses his fellow man, he is as culpable as a murderer. Likewise, the love they expressed is the kind that prompts him to give his own life. So there is no middle ground here; if one does not love with the love of God, we end up hating our brothers, which is as bad as murder.
What am I saying? When one does not accept Jesus, the other only choice is to hate him.
What I mean here is that, when one rejects God’s authority and Jesus as their king and Savior, who is at the center of his or her life? Who is Lord in his life? It is none other than himself; he is the ultimate justice, authority, and truth in his life. This is what happens when one defies God’s truth in Jesus.
4. Worship the King
What we are to do? God sent the Magi as a great example for us.
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.” (Matthew 2:9).
The truth of the coming Savior, Jesus, was revealed to the Magi. They traveled a long way and spent much time and energy to come to see and worship Jesus. On the way, they became lost for a short while, because they followed their own thoughts and ideas. But just as God had led them from the outset of their journey through a star in the sky, they were overjoyed when they found the star again. That star led them to the baby Jesus, their Lord, King, and Savior.
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matthew 2:10).
Why were they filled with joy or what filled them with such joy?
We can think of a few here, including them finally finding the one they were looking for after their long journey! Was seeing the greatest king of the century the only reason for their joy?
The star that led them to start this journey reappeared and stopped where the baby was; it had led them from the beginning of this journey to the end. Who or what were they hoping to find when they arrived? How was Jesus relevant to them? Jesus is none other than the Son of God, who led them on such a long journey to reveal much truth about himself. He is the King Almighty, who transcends time and space to bring peace and salvation, even to these people! Their joy was not just in seeing a great king, but the King who would give them peace and salvation forever!
When they saw Jesus, what did they do?
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11).
They bowed down and worshiped Jesus. Have you ever bowed down to someone? It was to honor the King who had absolute authority over their lives! In this, they honored Jesus as their Lord and King. They fully submitted themselves to him, and by doing so, they fully entrusted their lives into his hands. Here is where true joy and peace came from! The essence of our entire being is taken care of by this king, which enables us to have peace and joy!
How did they express such honor, submission, and trust to the king?
They offered him three things in their worship: gold, incense, and myrrh.
Why did they offer these three items? When we offer something to someone, we offer it because the receiver is worthy of such presents. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were all very expensive items. It probably cost a fortune to buy these items, yet they bought them, carried them on their long journey, and offered them to Jesus. And they were very happy to do so!
Finding Jesus filled them with great joy! Offering him the three presents was a great joy for them! I remember the day that I accepted Jesus. I was filled with so much joy and could not hide my smile! I never had such joy and peace in my life before. What went on in the magi’s mind? What did they think of Jesus? We can find these answers as we explore the meaning of their gifts.
Their gifts tell us about what they believed and how they gave honor and respect to Jesus:
1. Gold: Gold is very expensive and is offered to kings. King Solomon received much gold from surrounding nations to inlay the temple of God that he was building. When these Magi offered Jesus gold, they were honoring him as the king. Was him being the king irrelevant to them since they lived far away? If that was so, why did they bother to travel such a long way? They accepted Jesus as their king; though he was born king of Jews, for them, he was the only king of the world, the King for all nations! Though he was just a baby, he was the king for them, both now and forever!
We must accept Jesus as our Lord and King; he is the Son of God and the Lord of the entire universe, including the whole human race. What does this mean for each of us? I am willing to accept and obey what he says because he is our mighty God and a true shepherd. Therefore, I can comfortably entrust my life into his hands! How happy can we be when the king of the world becomes our Lord?
2. Incense: In Exodus 30:22-38, God ordered the Levites to use incense in the tent of meeting; it must not be used personally and should be used only by a priest in holy service to the Lord. So incense was used by the priest to honor God and His holiness. Jesus is the Holy One and the only priest who can mediate with God on my behalf to cover my sins.
3. Myrrh is a spice used to make sacred oil in the tent of meeting. God forbade the use of myrrh for ordinary purposes; it was used only in the tent of meeting by a priest, as with incense. Nicodemus used myrrh on Jesus' body to honor his suffering and death on our behalf. His suffering and death were to appease God's wrath and created a great fragrance in the presence of His holiness. For us, myrrh is a symbol of Jesus’ work in redeeming our sins.
Simply, Jesus is the Lord, King, Savior, and Redeemer for all sinners! He transcends time and space because he is the Son of God. He was the king for these three magi 2000 years ago, far away from the land of Israel; likewise, he is the true king for us now! These magi came to worship the baby Jesus in this way. They were led by a star from beginning to end; it was none other than God Himself who led them. He gave them such truthful insight about the coming Messiah. They sought the truth in perseverance; they saw Jesus, fully honored him, and went home happy! The joy of Christmas comes when we honor Jesus as our Lord, only mediator before God, the high priest, and redeemer of our sins.
Worship the King! See life’s true resolution in peace and hope. Let joy and peace come upon each of our hearts!
Merry Christmas to you all!
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