Matthew 2:1-12 - Welcome the King with Joyful Worship

Our reading is from Matthew chapter 2 verse 1 to 12. That's on page 9666.

Matthew 2:1–12

! After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem 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.

When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.

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.

In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, for this is what the prophet has written.

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea.

For out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

When Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared, 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.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way.

And the star they had seen when it rose, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

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

Amen.

Good morning, everyone.

For those of you that don't know me, I'm Ray.

I have the honour of sharing the Lord's word with you today.

Will you join me in a prayer as we look at the word together?

Father, thank you for the wonderful, true story of Christ coming to this world.

To be born as a baby, to live as a man and to die as a saviour for us.

Open our eyes this morning, open our hearts, Lord, that we may hear your word and we may respond in the right way.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Well, last week we looked, if you were here, we looked at Matthew chapter one, verses 18 to 22.

And we saw that central to the passage was that the birth of Jesus.

Jesus was a fulfilment of what God had promised through the prophets years before.

We again see that this week in chapter two, the verses one to 11 that Lucia read to us.

But the surprises in this week's passages are the responses of those who witnessed his birth.

So we'll work through this together.

OK, right now I've got the hand of the clicker, hopefully, hopefully be OK.

So the story as you as it was read to us by Lucia, if we follow it, it's something like a dramatic film script.

Now, if you've been watching the TV over Christmas, it's kind of one of those unnecessary, unfortunate, necessary things, isn't it?

You see the films Home Alone 2 was on yesterday.

Home Alone was on yesterday.

And whether you like it or not, you've got to admit it is pure fiction.

All right. It's beyond the realms of possibility.

This is like a dramatic film script, but it is truth.

It is gospel truth.

That's a wonderful thing we're looking at today.

A child is born to an obscure poor family in a small rural village in Judea in humble circumstances.

But this child produced extreme reactions from the influential and from the wealthy.

A king in nearby Jerusalem wanted to kill him.

And a strange nobility from another country fell down and worshipped him.

If we really understand this morning who Jesus is, it should produce a profound reaction in us as well.

It doesn't matter who we are, what age, what background or education, ethnicity, religion or any other label or way you like to see yourself.

Whoever we are, when we come face to face with the claims of Jesus, there must be, there will be a response.

Nobody can hear the gospel story and stay neutral.

Verse one sets out the scene for us and we're introduced to the three main characters of the story.

We have here, well, let's read the verse.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem.

So here we have the three main characters, Jesus, Herod and the Magi.

The passage presents them each with a defining characteristic.

I think this is true and not something I've made up, but this is how I see it, okay?

The promised child, a troubled king and wise visitors.

So we're going to look at those in turn now quickly.

The promised child.

Who was this child?

We saw in last week in chapter one, verse 21, that his name is Jesus.

But in the passage we're looking at today, we're told his name in terms of what he would do more of a title.

The wise men called him King of the Jews.

Verse two, Herod called him the Messiah.

Strangely in verse four, the chief priests and scribes quote the prophet Micah,

who called him a ruler who would be a shepherd.

In verse six.

So Jesus is King, Messiah and ruler promised years before by the prophet sent by God, the father for his people.

Just want to look very, very briefly with you now at what these titles mean.

Very briefly.

The promised king.

He was God's king to lead his people.

To govern them with justice, but also mercy.

The promised Messiah.

He was the Christ, the one anointed by God, anointed for a purpose.

Again, chapter one, verse 21, to save his people from their sins.

He was also the promised ruler.

He was a ruler who strangely we hear from this passage was to be a shepherd.

Putting all this together.

He was no ordinary child, but God's chosen king sent to rule his people.

Promise to God's people for centuries before in the scriptures.

So why a shepherd.

Why a shepherd.

Why a shepherd.

Prophecy that the religious leaders are paraphrasing.

is found in Micah chapter 5 verses 2 to 5 which describes not only where he would be born

Micah 5:2–5

but what he would do and this is where the shepherd comes in in what he would do how he would do it

not sure if you can see that on the screen but it's the words of Micah chapter 5 verses 2 to 5

Micah 5:2–5

and I'll read those to you 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 verse 3 then tells us that there's a woman who will bear a son

and the Israelites that were away from the other body of Israelites would come together

verse 4 says he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the

name of the Lord his God and they will live securely for then his greatness will reach to the ends of

the earth so where does this ruler shepherd come from we're told to be born in Bethlehem

but Micah tells us more in verse 2 he says out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over

Israel now this is it whose origins are from old from ancient times so we're told that this baby was from

ancient times in other words he existed long before his birth John chapter 1 tells us that he was in the

John 1 · chapter mention

beginning what with God you may recall that verse and with God he co-created the universe

so Bethlehem was not the start of Jesus's life

so what would he do he will rule his over his people and how would he do it he would do it as a

shepherd verse 4 Micah says he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord

so his mission was from the Lord and he would stand in the strength of the Lord displaying the majesty

of his father and his rule his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth this was a promise

made to God's people of Judah about 700 years before Jesus was born which we continue to see unfold now

today 2025 as people from every nation across this globe now accept the rule of Jesus the king

with that mission and that power God promised God's promised ruler would stand and shepherd his flock

so the important question for us this morning is how should we respond to that shepherd ruler

we're going to see how the two groups Herod and the wise men responded first of all Herod

now he's a troubled king who was he historians call him Herod the Great he was installed by the Roman

senate as king of Judea or king of the Jews he was known as a ruthless man who even had his wife

and his three sons executed he thought his wife was trying to poison him so he got rid of her before

he thought she could get rid of him

at this point I've got to say this is the guy we are not to follow all right this is not the example

we are supposed to follow he was also a Jew and he would have been familiar with some of the prophecies

and and the expectation of the coming Messiah

so we're now going to take up the story again in verse 2 if you're reading in your bibles it's page 966

or hopefully I thought it was going to be here on the screen so if you've not got your bibles you'll

just have to listen along here

there it is sorry where is the one who has been born king of the Jews

we saw his star when it came when it rose and have come to worship him

when king Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him

when he called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law

he asked them where the Messiah was to be born

in Bethlehem in Judea they replied

but this is what the prophet has written

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

then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them

the exact time the star had appeared

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

why was Herod disturbed

and that word disturbed can mean

agitated or troubled

the reason is because in verse 2

the visitors

the Magi

were looking for another king of the Jews

not that one day this king would rise to power and perhaps become a king

but this king was born a king

Herod was installed as a king by the Roman Senate

Jesus was born as king by divine order

a completely different order of king

this is why he was worried

so he calls the wise men secretly

he plays them along and he pretends he wants to worship the child as well

later chapter 2 verse 16

we see his real ambition

he hatches a plan

to get rid of the child

but in so doing

he would wipe out

all the boys in Bethlehem

aged 2 and under

Herod knew the scriptures

he knew who the child was

but he determined to get rid of him

he would not tolerate

what he saw as a rival

to his throne

but in so doing

he rejected God's king

and God's rule

let me take you back to Genesis chapter 3

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Herod's

reaction

though very extreme

has been the story of mankind

since Genesis chapter 3

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Adam thought he knew best

he disobeyed the one God had given

the one rule God had given him

and we still do that today

look frankly we may not be as bold as Herod

but we often still want to be king

or queen

we still want to make the rules

we do not want to live subject to God

or under his rule

I wonder whether you can relate to some of this

we don't want to kill the king

but we may behave as if he wasn't there

and therefore

if he's not there

we needn't be subject to him

we may be troubled or agitated

when we hear of the exclusivity

of the rule of King Jesus

that there can't be any rivals to him

such as friends

such as

even family

there can't be rivals in

the things we have as a priority

maybe work or studies

everything must be

subject to him

if Jesus is king

he's king over all

but those of us

that have come under that rule of Jesus

those of us

who have submitted to him

we do know him to be a shepherd

one who cares for his sheep

he leads his sheep

he feeds his sheep

he protects

and provides for them

so that's Herod

he wanted to get rid of Jesus

the last group in the story

who also knew who Jesus was

but their response was completely opposite

the Magi

I call them the wise visitors

and I read to you those

I have that

yeah

I read to you that text

if you may be able to follow it on the screen

or if not in your Bible

starting at verse 9

after they had heard the king

they went on their way

and the star they had seen

when it rose

went ahead of them

until it stopped over the place

where the child was

when they saw the star

they were overjoyed

on coming to the house

they saw the child

with his mother Mary

and they bowed down

and worshipped him

then they opened their treasures

and presented him with gifts of gold

frankincense

and myrrh

and having been warned in a dream

not to go back to Herod

they returned to their country

by another route

so who were these visitors

they're called Magi

in the text here

their precise meaning of that word

is a little nuanced

it can mean several things

but verse 2

shows us that

they were probably people

who studied the stars

some kind of astronomy

and they also studied

the ancient scriptures

including of course

the Old Testament prophecies

we pick that up from verse 2

they followed the star

and sought the child

born king of the Jews

we're told they were from the east

we're not told exactly

where in the east

and that doesn't really matter

but the point is

they were strangers

they weren't Jews

they were foreigners

from another country

they were rich

highly educated

and respected

by those in their region

we sometimes think of them

as being three guys

with crowns on camels

in fact I might have got

a picture of that somewhere

I've got a picture of that

no that was the one before

there they are

three guys on camels

going across the desert

but it wasn't quite like that

these were rich guys

who were very influential

they would have had

servants with them

they would have had

camels behind them

carrying

the various things

they needed for the journey

it was a big retinue

and they would have made

quite a big impact

as they came to Jerusalem

and although

not part of God's people

they recognised Jesus

as one greater

than themselves

their response was

completely opposite

to Herod's

they couldn't wait

to see the king

I don't know

whether you've ever

asked yourself

as you've read this account

but why does

Matthew include them

in the gospel account

they're strangers

you know

in some senses

they shouldn't have been there

or maybe a better question

is

why does God

include them

in the events

of the saviour's birth

and I think it's precisely

because they were

outsiders

it's because the gospel

is not just

for the Jews

Jesus wasn't just

king of the Jews

the gospel

is for all people

whoever we are

whatever nationality

background

rich

poor

secular religious

whoever we are

we all need

a saviour

so it's for us

all of us

and it's for you

so when they see

the star again

in verse 10

it directs them

to the house

where Jesus was

and we read

in the

NIV

that they were

overjoyed

now

if you have

an English standard

version

it puts it

a bit more flowery

and I like this

it says this

they rejoiced

exceedingly

with great joy

all right

that's pretty

overjoyed

isn't it

that's pretty good

that's pretty accurate

to how

how they responded

when they went

into the house

they prostrated

themselves

so they fell

flat

on the floor

and worshipped

before Jesus

now this

is the right

response

to the king

of kings

this is the

right response

to the king

at Christmas

and always

joyful worship

falling on our

faces in wonder

and submission

that God's ruler

come to earth

in humility

as a helpless

baby

how much did

they understand

about Jesus

how much did

they understand

about the king

we don't know

exactly

but the gifts

they bought

were not only

very costly

but they also

were loaded

with prophetic

meaning

they bought

gold

a suitable

gift

for a king

so they were

saying by

presenting this

king

this gift

he is a king

they bought

frankincense

which is an

incense used

by priests

in worship

in worship

of God

so by giving

him this gift

they were saying

he is God

myrrh

is a gum

resin

which was

used

in embalming

dead bodies

so they were

saying by

presenting this

gift that he

was born

to die

did they know

it was so that

he would save

his people

from their

sins

we don't

know

but their

limited

knowledge of

the king

was enough

to produce

awe

wonder

and joyful

worship

how much

more

with our

knowledge

of Jesus

through

the gospels

through the

cross

through the

resurrection

through the

ascension

how much

more should

we fall

prostrate

before him

in humble

in humble

but joyful

worship

i'd like to

show you a

little picture

to illustrate

this

this is

emerald pool

in dominica

it's probably

my favourite

place on the

planet

you can

probably

appreciate

some of its

beauty just

by this

picture

but look

if i was

to tell

you how

you get

to it

you'd

be surprised

you get

to it by

leaving the

hot caribbean

sun

trekking

down through

the cool

rainforest

and you're

surrounded by

towering

trees

and beautiful

fauna

you can hear

birdsong

and as you

get closer

to the

waterfall

you can hear

the increased

sound

building up

of this

waterfall

and then it

comes into

sight

and this is

what you

see

so i think

maybe now

you appreciate

even more

than just

the picture

you have a

little more

knowledge

but let me

tell you this

the only way

you can

fully appreciate

it is to

go there

if you ever

get the

opportunity

i recommend

it

you get the

full experience

you don't just

hear you don't

just see

but you are

you are

you are there

to experience

it

so we can have

some knowledge

of the poor

or a fuller

knowledge

but experience

brings more

wonder

and in a

similar way

the wise men

had knowledge

of who

jesus was

but we

have a

fuller

knowledge

through the

new testament

we know

more of who

he is

what he

came to

earth to

do

his ascension

and his

rule in

heaven now

but beyond

head knowledge

if we've

experienced

jesus

forgiving us

and bringing

us into

god's

family

being our

kind shepherd

we of all

people

should fall

to our

knees in

joyful

worship

so let me

just draw

this to

a conclusion

we've seen

that the

arrival of

god's

promised

king

provoked

heart

responses

of

aggression

from

herod

and

adoration

from the

wise men

we're left

with some

questions

perhaps some

personal

questions

what is

our heart

response

to jesus

god's

king

messiah

and savior

have you

experienced

this forgiveness

this

reconciliation

to god

the purpose

for the

king coming

have you

experienced

that yourself

he came

for you

and you

can

receive

that

forgiveness

and that

new life

even today

lastly

we should

all be

moved

in joyful

worship

my question

is are we

moved in

joyful worship

as we

look at

jesus

today

let me

pray

father

we

christmas

time

we're

faced

with so

much

myth

and so

much

things

that aren't

true

but are

exciting

in various

ways

but lord

when we

dig deep

into the

real

christmas

story

we see

the king

of the

universe

being born

as a

baby

born to

die

as a

messiah

who gives

his life

for his

people

father

help us

today

and going

forward

to have

the right

reaction

to the

king of

the jews

the king

of the

universe

jesus

amen

as

Thank you.