Anticipation Pt.2
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
#1 Look for the King
2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
v.2 “we saw His star in the east”
The wise men were looking for signs in the sky.
Then out of nowhere this star appears.
They investigate the star and found that it belonged to someone, the “Messiah” the King of the Jews.
Are you looking for something? Do you know someone who is looking for something?
This something is bigger than lost car keys, we are talking cosmic, purpose of life level stuff.
Have you heard of Jesus?
#2 Search for the King
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem,
v.1 “Arrived unexpectedly”
The wise men journeyed searching for the “Messiah” the one to whom the star belonged to.
They show up in Jerusalem one day and cause quite the commotion.
This was not a quick trip to the local Wal-Mart, This journey took the around two years to make.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.
So profound was the impact of the star and the results of their investigating it that these pagan astronomers sought out the Jewish “Messiah”
You cannot find what you are not looking for.
Are you searching for Jesus? If you are not reading and searching in the Bible then you cannot answer that question as yes. What about your those you know who are looking for something, have they heard about Jesus? Are they searching scripture or watching YouTube or the News to get their understanding of who Jesus is.
#3 Follow the King
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.
v. 9 “It led them...”
It could have been real easy for the Wise Men to have stopped in Jerusalem and to have not finished the journey to Bethlehem.
But they continued on and the Star led them to Him whom they were seeking.
It is not enough just to be looking for something, or to searching for something, to find Christ and not follow Him is pointless.
Have you wrestled through the “is Jesus Lord, a liar, or a lunatic question?”
Is Jesus a liar? Jesus made up the things about himself, they were not true. The Cross is the proof - Why would Jesus die if He knew He was lying about being God and that God would raise Him on the third day?
Is Jesus a lunatic? Jesus believed His lies, making Him crazy. The Resurrection is the proof - Why would the disciples willing die for someone who claimed to be God, and said He would be raised from the dead, but who ended up being wrong and never resurrected. Would you die for a lie?
Is Jesus Lord? Jesus is who He claimed to be. If Jesus is not a liar and not a Lunatic then the only option is that He is Lord.
If you believe Jesus was a liar or a lunatic then don’t follow Him. But if you believe He is Lord then you must follow Him for there is no one else worthy of following.
Who do you say that Jesus is?
#4 Worship the King
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
v.11 “they worshipped Him”
The end result of this two year journey was worship.
There was no other fitting response to being in the presence of the King.
They didn’t worship Herod. Who was king of the Jews.
The reason we follow Jesus is so we can worship Him.
Is Jesus to object of your affection?
Do you long for Him?
Do you desire to make much of Him, even when that means making less of yourself.