Is Christmas a burden for me?

Nicholas Chiang King Hung

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Scripture reading

Matthew 2:1–7 NASB95

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.

King Herod and all Jerusalem

Matthew 2:1–3 NASB95

There came three Gentile magi who came not to bow down to Herod the king, but to the king of the Jews. This Herod was already the most paranoid. He killed his wife, his brother, and even his son, anyone who posed a threat to his throne. This is very human. Every president has applied for a second term.

The word for ‘troubled’ here is tarasso, meaning ‘to shake up, to disturb, to agitate.’ This is the effect that Jesus has on people who try to keep their hands on the steering wheel of their lives. Jesus takes the throne, and those who want to keep their throne will be shaken up and disturbed. Are we like this?

The people in Jerusalem were all troubled as well. Why is this? They had returned from the Babylonian exile, and there had been a system in place for several years already, and they didn’t want a change in their current circumstances.

Chief priests and Scribes

Matthew 2:5–6 NASB95

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

These were the theologians and pastors of the time. They told Herod that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

They knew all this, but they couldn’t be bothered. It takes 1 hour 10 mins to take a bus ride from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and it’s about a 2-3 hour walk. If the chief priests and scribes celebrated Christmas today, it would only be a ‘feast of mere words.’ (Rev. Abraham Park). There would be no action, and they would remain in their comfort zone. Has Christmas not brought about a change in our lives each year? Then we are just like them, remaining comfortable and not being bothered to change. This means that we are in danger of being puffed up.

1 Corinthians 8:1 NASB95

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Jesus is the Word of God, and if we receive Him truly, we would respond in action.

Three Magi from the East

Matthew 2:10 NASB95

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

These three Magi braved the long journey to chase the star. Their hearts rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. The same word appears here four times in different conjugations.

Matthew 2:11 NASB95

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Their posture was that of falling on their knees. Even though Jesus was but a baby, they worshiped Jesus. Not the parents, but only Jesus.

The three Magi didn’t come empty handed; they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold was given to gifts. Gold also symbolizes a refined faith that has gone through the trials. Gold symbolizes loyalty to one’s king. It was a symbol of their allegiance to Jesus.

Frankincense. This was the raw material used for incense. Pure frankincense was required by God to be burned for its sweet aroma. And God says that our prayer is an incense to God. Frankincense was given to priests.

Myyrh was a perfume, but also an antiseptic. Myyrh was a golden yellow liquid that was harvested by trees. Esther was prepared for her beauty pageant with myyrh for six months. It was used on death bodies so that they wouldn’t rot. Myyrh was given to dead people to preserve their bodies. The world’s values are rotting away, but myyrh symbolizes an unchanging faith that doesn’t decay.

How can we bring these gifts to God this Christmas? We need to bring ourselves to God in faith and action. We must focus our heart to be at attention toward God.

Shepherds, Simeon, and Anna

Luke 2:8 NASB95

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds usually wouldn’t work at night, but only during the lambing season, when the female ewes were about to give birth. If the lambs give birth at night, the wolves would smell the blood and predate on them.

The shepherds would also work at night during the Passover season, when the sheep had to be in mint condition for the Passover feast.

The angels came to them and told them about the Messiah, and they left their flocks to find Him. They were faithful in their duty to the sheep, and so they received the call.

Luke 2:15–17 NASB95

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Luke 2:25–28 NASB95

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luke 2:36–38 NASB95

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna told everyone about the Messiah’s birth.

What are the common points?

They were faithful in the little things. The shepherds were faithful each night, and so they were present that night. Simeon and Anna were constantly on the watch for the Messiah in the temple, and so they were at the temple at the time Jesus came.

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NASB95

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

They were willing to sacrifice their comfort

Hebrews 11:24–26 NASB95

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 11:24–26 NASB95

They took action and boldly evangelized

Ephesians 6:19–20 NASB95

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Conclusion: How am I preparing for Christmas this year?

Can we switch on our joy like a light switch? We can’t. But the Magi had 4x joy. Joy is defined as ‘great happiness’. We need to find the cause for ourselves to be joyful. We need to reflect upon this year and the blessings that God has given us.