3: Will We Bow Now? (Mt 2) + Communion

Last week we celebrated the birth of the Messiah, whom Joseph was told to give the name JESUS - YESHUA - Yahweh saves, because He would save His people from their sins.

The name Jesus answers the BIG PURPOSE of why He was born to a woman, why he lived as a human, and why he died like a villain.

From the very beginning of this writing, Matthew wants his audience to know why the King had come and why He was given the name Jesus (Yeshua), because...

Sinners need a Savior

Today we contrast the difference between how the “wise men” and King Herod responded to the announcement of the newborn king. And then we’ll see how WE respond to Jesus by asking this question:

Will We Bow Now? OR will we wait until it’s too late? You see, there is a day coming when all us WILL bow before King Jesus - some will bow willingly and others will be forced to bow before our Maker.

So, let’s pick up where we left off last week, with the birth of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1–2 (NIV)

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.”

First, note that Jesus had already been born. I know this might mess up your manger scenes, but we don’t know how much later these magi showed up, but we can theorize on that in a moment, based on the biblical text.

Second, we note that these men showed up in Jerusalem, searching for the one they referred to as the “King of the Jews.” Jerusalem is the likely place for the King of the Jews to be born - the capital of Judea. OF course, we know that Jesus was in Bethlehem, a small town where King David grew up - just 6 miles south of Jerusalem.

Third, Matthew introduces the villain of the story - King Herod. Known as Herod the Great, this non-Jew was given authority by the Romans over Judea for 33 years - making HIM the “King of the Jews”.

Herod was the father to many sons, 3 who ruled after his death who are referred to in the New Testament (Archelaus, Antipas, & Phillip). When Jesus was born Herod was almost 70 years old (born in the 70s B.C.). R1

King Herod is known for his massive construction efforts that included the massive renovation project of the Temple in Jerusalem that began around 20 B.C. and continued well after his death until completed in A.D. 63 (over 80 years!).

As he grew older, Herod became known for his brutality and paranoia, even imprisoning family members, and killing a wife and a son who he thought might try to overthrow him. R2 We will see more on his brutality in just a moment.

Forth, these men are referred to as magi from the east. Magi is the Latin term from the Greek magoi, and is translated as “wise men” in most modern translations (CSB, NET, ESV, NLT).

The Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures) includes magi as some of the people that King Nebuchadnezzar used to interpret dreams when Daniel was in Babylon (Dan 2:2). R3

In fact, Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams raised him to the leader over all the wise men in Babylon (Dan 2:48).

These men were not kings, regardless of what the song songs (“We three kings of orient are”) but were likely royal court officials whom the king consulted for guidance.

The Scriptures don’t say how many magi there were, but the number 3 is often thought of because of the number of gifts they brought.

These men likely made this long trip from Yemen, Babylon, or Persia certainly would have come with an entourage to protect them. Babylon was 900 miles away from Jerusalem, a trip that would have taken several months (Ezra’s trip with 4-5000 people took 4 months - Ezra 7:9).

Fifth, we note these men traveled all this way to Jerusalem following a the STAR, which they concluded told of the birth of the King of the Jews . They had traveled all this way to see the child, bow before him, and bless him with their gifts.

The magi were likely familiar with Hebrew Scriptures as the Jewish people had been taken captive to this area. Maybe they knew this passage that first spoke of King David but ultimately of Jesus.

Numbers 24:17a (NIV)

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.

I have linked a video by a Christian scholar Dr. Michael Heiser, talking about the awesome astronomical things that were happening in the sky at that time (https://bit.ly/StarOfJesus). In short, the astronomical models show the SUN in the midst of VIRGO (the virgin). The MOON is at her feet. REGULUS - the King Star and JUPITER - the King Planet are superimposed together - making an extra bright “star” in the constellation LEO the LION (Jews recognized lion as a symbol for the tribe of JUDAH). All this is just above the constellation VIRGO - the woman. And the SUN is the middle of her.

So, these magi likely interpreted this as why the KING, the LION of the tribe of Judah, was being born from a woman.

Matthew 2:3–4 (NIV)

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

Why would this cause such concern? Remember when I mentioned King Herod’s brutality and paranoia? This could be BAD for everyone.

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.

Matthew 2:5-6 (NIV)

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for 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.’”

This is a prophecy 700 years before the birth of Jesus - Micah 5:2,4.

Matthew 2:7–8 (NIV)

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.”

If you know the rest of the story, then you know Herod is up to something diabolical now.

Matthew 2:9–10 (NIV)

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.

Matthew 2:11 (NIV)

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 myrrh.

We don’t know how old Jesus was at this point, but he could have been an or a toddler - more on that in a moment.

Look at the difference between how the magi & Herod respond to the birth of Jesus.

Herod said he would BOW, but the magi DID bow and worship Jesus. Can you imagine this scene as this group of foreign Gentiles who have come so far, bow their knees before this little one and recognize Him as king of the Jews?

And they lay their treasures at His young feet. We shouldn’t read too much into these gifts as what they symbolize, but they were valuable and likely were able to be used by the family for what was about to occur.

Gold is obviously a valuable metal.

Frankincense was is a gummy tree resin used for perfume, but also was part of the recipe for the only incense allowed on the altar of God at the temple.

Myrrh was “from a small tree found in Arabia, Abyssinia, and India,” used in incense, perfume, and “to stifle the smell of a body as it decayed.” (Jn 19:39) R4

Matthew 2:12–13 (NIV)

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

These Gentiles seeking the King of the Jews were thrilled to find him after this long trip, but they are warned in a dream that trouble is brewing.

So too, Joseph warned in a dream about Herod’s plans to kill the young Messiah, and God gives Joseph the escape plan.

Notice how God knows the future events and uses a STAR and multiple DREAMS to protect His people.

Matthew 2:14–15 (NIV)

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” [Hosea 11:1]

This reference from Hosea 11:1 was referring to Israel, whom God brought out from Egyptian slavery 1500 years before the birth of Jesus.

But now Jesus follows in the footsteps of his Jewish family, living in Egypt for a brief period of time, and then coming back to the Promised Land.

Matthew 2:16–18 (NIV)

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” [Jer 31:15]

What kind of wickedness is THIS? Bethlehem was a very small town - estimated by scholars to be a town of about 1,000 people, where about 10-30 baby boys were likely murdered by Herod. [R5] Of course this would have been tragic for the people of Bethlehem.

The weeping of mothers losing their baby boys was reminiscent of the weeping that happened in 586 BC when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar gathered the captives of Judah in Ramah to be taken off to Babylon (Jer 40:1-2).

The killing of baby boys up to 2 years old is why we wonder when the magi showed up to bow before Jesus.

Why would Herod do such a wicked thing? Herod refused to humble himself, step off his throne, and BOW before the true King of the Jews. He wanted to rule. More on that in just a moment.

Matthew 2:19–20 (NIV)

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

King Herod died at age 69, with a gross terminal disease that couldn’t be healed, despite all his money, physicians, and palatial buildings. Yet even facing death, Herod’s murderous heart rounded up influential Jews to kill upon his death…so that his many enemies. instead of rejoicing over his death, would be mourning - as if mourning over his death. (That plan did not come to fruition.)

But finally - Herod is dead! Now Jesus and His family can go HOME, which - evidently was going to be Bethlehem, but…there was another twist in the story.

Matthew 2:21–23 (NIV)

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew doesn’t quote a particular prophecy from Scripture, so it seems this comes from prophets and prophecies that are not recorded in Scriptural texts.

They go to live in Nazareth, a beautiful mountainous town that probably only had around 500 residents. [R6]

But this is NOT the place where the King of the Jews would be expected to be raised from.

Years later when Philip told Nathanael they had found the Messiah - Jesus of Nazareth - Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46 NET)

And so it is that Jesus - Yeshua - “Yahweh Saves” - was born in Bethlehem, but grew up in Nazareth.

In conclusion, I want to draw your attention to...

The contrast between the magi and King Herod sets the stage for the rest of this Gospel - as we see the 2 responses to Jesus, those who BOW before Him and those who refuse to step off the throne and bow before the true KING.

Of course, the day is coming when YOU and I will either DIE or be alive when the Lord Jesus returns. The question really isn’t “Will we bow?” but...

BIG QUESTION: Will We Bow NOW?

The apostle Paul, once an enemy of Jesus and His disciples, points back to the day that the KING of kings humbled Himself, stepped off the throne and came to earth, to die on a cross for our sins. And then Paul tells us of our future response to Him.

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV)

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The day is coming when ALL…that includes ALL of us - will bow our knees and confess with our mouths that Jesus - not YOU or ME, no other false god - but JESUS is Lord.

That IS going to happen. The only question is...

BIG QUESTION: Will We Bow NOW?

Are you confident that you are a forgiven follower of Jesus?

We want to help you - STAFF or DEACONS/WIVES

PRAY (Deacons come up for Lord’s Supper)

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Lord’s Supper

Today we conclude by celebrating the night that Jesus literally bowed His knee to wash the feet of His disciples - a task expected of a servant, NOT a KING! That meal was more than a meal, it was the last night of Jesus life before He carried the cross to pay for our sins.

Let me briefly remind you who SHOULD participate and who SHOULD NOT.

Our deacons will now pass out the bread and juice, and as the do, let’s pause and reflect on what Jesus has done for us as we sing together.

Read from Luke 22:14-20 and take Communion.

Luke 22:14–20 (NIV)

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Remind of Paul in 1 Cor 11:26 “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”)

__________

Melton B. Winstead, “Herod the Great,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 62.

Mark Krause, “Wise Men, Magi,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 101.

Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 112.

James F. Strange, “Nazareth (Place),” ABD, 4:1050–51.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? (You might need to look back in your notes to help explain your answer.)

Read Matthew 1:1-2 and Numbers 24:17. What’s the significance of the star that pointed the magi to the birthplace of Jesus? Consider watching this video together and discuss it’s significance. (see QR code or https://bit.ly/StarOfJesus).

Even though Jesus is “the king of the Jews” (Mt 2:2), why is it significant that Gentiles (non-Jews) are seeking Jesus and bowing before Jesus?

What’s the difference between the character/humility of the magi & the character of Herod? What are some characteristics that we are following in their footsteps?

What does God’s use of the star and the multiple dreams (Mt 2:12-13, 19-23) say about God’s knowledge of the future & ability to protect His people from wicked people?

Read Philippians 2:5-11. What does this say about Jesus’ humility and obedience to the Father? How are WE to follow in Jesus’ footsteps? Thinking about the day that Jesus returns and all bow their knees to Him, what excites you and what concerns you about this moment?

Who are some folks we need to pray for and share with to see them BOW NOW rather than be forced to bow on that day?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.