OverJoyed (2)
Christmas Sermon • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsThe joy Christmas offers begins with an encounter with the King and leads to daily surrender.
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Joy of Surrender (2:1-10)
Joy of Surrender (2:1-10)
The text reveals that joy does not just happen. Joy happens after a big-war encounter. One King gets threatened by the arrival of another king! King Herod was invaded by another king.
The text reveals that joy does not just happen. Joy happens after a big-war encounter. One King gets threatened by the arrival of another king! King Herod was invaded by another king.
Herod understood what Christmas meant. Someone arrived at his territory and challenges him to a war. The resident king either goes into rage and fights the invading king. Or he could run away knowing the new king has greater power than his. Or he could surrender to the new king.
Herod understood what Christmas meant. Someone arrived at his territory and challenges him to a war. The resident king either goes into rage and fights the invading king. Or he could run away knowing the new king has greater power than his. Or he could surrender to the new king.
These wise men were overjoyed to see the star.
These wise men were overjoyed to see the star.
Matthew brings out this story to point us back to Numbers 24:17-19. There Balaam, the hired prophet, receives a message blessing Israel, instead of cursing them, by pointing the coming of a new king, a star, a sceptre and ruler who will destroy His enemies.
Matthew brings out this story to point us back to Numbers 24:17-19. There Balaam, the hired prophet, receives a message blessing Israel, instead of cursing them, by pointing the coming of a new king, a star, a sceptre and ruler who will destroy His enemies.
The new king arrives and declares war over the land.
The new king arrives and declares war over the land.
When Jesus comes into your world, into your life, into your family, your business, he will come not in the way you think. Most people he comes only as a Saviour. But He actually comes more than a saviour. He comes as a king challenging our right of rule. He says, I am king and want you out of your throne.
When Jesus comes into your world, into your life, into your family, your business, he will come not in the way you think. Most people he comes only as a Saviour. But He actually comes more than a saviour. He comes as a king challenging our right of rule. He says, I am king and want you out of your throne.
He does not come bringing joy…that comes later. But at the start, he comes and brings war. He declares war.
He does not come bringing joy…that comes later. But at the start, he comes and brings war. He declares war.
The resident king either goes into rage and fights the invading king. Or he could run away knowing the new king has greater power than his. Or he could surrender to the new king.
The resident king either goes into rage and fights the invading king. Or he could run away knowing the new king has greater power than his. Or he could surrender to the new king.
You could joy only when you acknowledge that his war is a way of peace and salvation. He dethrones us to save us.
You could joy only when you acknowledge that his war is a way of peace and salvation. He dethrones us to save us.
And then, after the initial surrender. He stays and demands more surrender. Of course, we do not easily yield. We have a Herod in all of all. We are threatened. We get angry. He appears to claim too much. He trespasses. He demands too much. So there is way and ongoing war, then peace, salvation, change, and growing joy....ever deepening joy, or as Peter says, indescribable and glorious joy.
And then, after the initial surrender. He stays and demands more surrender. Of course, we do not easily yield. We have a Herod in all of all. We are threatened. We get angry. He appears to claim too much. He trespasses. He demands too much. So there is way and ongoing war, then peace, salvation, change, and growing joy....ever deepening joy, or as Peter says, indescribable and glorious joy.
How Joy Proceeds (Joy of Worshipful Service) (2:11-12
How Joy Proceeds (Joy of Worshipful Service) (2:11-12
These wise men, having seen the star, experience joy. The joy of discovery and being discovered. The joy of finding and being found led to something else. Their joy overflowed into worship, then obedience and service (worshipful service).
Matthew 2:11-12 states 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, frankincense and and myrrh.
Then Matthew says, these wise men, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. That was a dangerous act they did. They were directly told by the king of Israel that they should inform him, so he too could come and worship. But now they are defying the earthly king, powerful, brute, ruthless, but evil king. They were standing up against him. They disagreed with him and showed it with their actions.
Joy of worship, of sacrifice, of obedience, of advocacies of justice.
They were standing up against darkness by siding with the star, the light, the words and the commands that they receive. And that again their joy.
Joy of Sorrowing (2:13-23)
Joy of Sorrowing (2:13-23)
What follows the wise men’s obedience are a series of difficulties and challenges that Matthew describes as sorrows.
What follows the wise men’s obedience are a series of difficulties and challenges that Matthew describes as sorrows.
First, there is the massacre of the infants (2 years and below) in Bethlehem. He had all the babies, ages 2years and younger killed.
First, there is the massacre of the infants (2 years and below) in Bethlehem. He had all the babies, ages 2years and younger killed.
Second, there’s the flight to Egypt. They became a refugee in Egypt, then when they wanted to return to their homeland, they could not for fear of the king. They ended up settling at the least of all the places, in Nazareth, the worst place to live.
Matthew describes these events as part of the disappointment, the sorrowing of Israel, of Rachel. Matthew quotes Jeremiah who prophesied about the Rachel’s weeping (sorrowing). Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. Those who went to exile pass through Bethlehem. The prophet saw this terrible scene and declared Israel is dead. Rachel weeps and can’t be comforted.
Matthew describes these events as part of the disappointment, the sorrowing of Israel, of Rachel. Matthew quotes Jeremiah who prophesied about the Rachel’s weeping (sorrowing). Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. Those who went to exile pass through Bethlehem. The prophet saw this terrible scene and declared Israel is dead. Rachel weeps and can’t be comforted.
What is the message Matthew sought to convey? He points to all these disappointments, sufferings, as grief over death. Someone dies and appears to be gone. But he is saying, it only appears that way. In reality, the dying is the gateway to greater joy and greater life. Death then joy and life!
What is the message Matthew sought to convey? He points to all these disappointments, sufferings, as grief over death. Someone dies and appears to be gone. But he is saying, it only appears that way. In reality, the dying is the gateway to greater joy and greater life. Death then joy and life!
Actually, Matthew subtly points to a beautiful biblical truth. Real, lasting, ever deepening joy comes as a result of dying, or surrendering, or yielding, of embracing God in the midst of mourning. Joy comes in the morning! Joy comes after the mourning!
Actually, Matthew subtly points to a beautiful biblical truth. Real, lasting, ever deepening joy comes as a result of dying, or surrendering, or yielding, of embracing God in the midst of mourning. Joy comes in the morning! Joy comes after the mourning!
And why is that? Well, look at Rachel? Look at Israel. God killed His beloved bride, nation, son. He appears to have given them up. But no, because, He remembers them. He said, I will restore your fortunes. I will come to you again. I will come as the King-Savior, and will forgive your sins, adopt you into my family, I will take you in, and be united with me. I will cause you to rejoice exceedingly, rejoice megally.
And why is that? Well, look at Rachel? Look at Israel. God killed His beloved bride, nation, son. He appears to have given them up. But no, because, He remembers them. He said, I will restore your fortunes. I will come to you again. I will come as the King-Savior, and will forgive your sins, adopt you into my family, I will take you in, and be united with me. I will cause you to rejoice exceedingly, rejoice megally.
When you see Jesus that way, when you see Him revealed this way, and you say, I too am dying, lost, weak, hungry, and thirsty. Jesus went through all these things, so I could receive life, find the way, become mighty in faith, filled and satisfied in Him. You will find that joy in Him.
When you see Jesus that way, when you see Him revealed this way, and you say, I too am dying, lost, weak, hungry, and thirsty. Jesus went through all these things, so I could receive life, find the way, become mighty in faith, filled and satisfied in Him. You will find that joy in Him.