Matthew 2:1-12 Hope is Born

Intro:

To really enjoy Christmas, you must embrace hope.

This happens in many ways

Two students were describing their xmas to my wife this week

One girl, the oldest in her family, knew every gift she was getting because she had picked them out

The other was a boy who couldn’t believe she knew everything

Hew didn’t know one gift

He then told of how he was bummed this Xmas because his church was having their xmas eve service in the morning

He wanted his parents to find a church with an evening service because he loved the anticipation of getting thru the service because afterwards he got to open one gift

I know how he feels. It was the same way for me

Kids miss out on looking thru the JC Penny’s catalog at all the gifts

Scrolling thru amazon isn’t the same

This hope that every child feels is pointing to something bigger, greater, and more meaningful than any earthly store can offer.

As fun as it was to make lists and wait to open presents during the holidays, the bigger picture behind this holiday is that because of Jesus’ birth, we have hope that our greater desires, beyond electronics, toys, and jewelry…things like purpose, meaning, significance, forgiveness, and wholeness are available to us.

These are gifts that we don’t have to wait to open.

When we place our faith in Jesus, they are ours, and that reality fills us with hope no matter what circumstance or situation we find ourselves in.

That hope was born on the first Christmas day

Read Matthew 2:1-3

Transition:

The events described in this passage probably occurred several months after Jesus was born

The fact that she offered “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24) instead of the normal lamb (Lev. 12:6–8) indicates that the family was poor.

Bethlehem was then a small town five or six miles south of Jerusalem, in the fertile hill country of Judea

Bethlehem means House of Bread

It was rich in History

Jacob buried Rachel

Ruth married Boaz

David grew up and tended sheep

The prophet Micah promised the Messiah would come from this village

Now the Messiah was born and he had visitors

Hope in a Star vs. 1-3

vs. 1-2a Wise Men Seek Him

Few biblical stories are as well known, yet so clouded by myth and tradition, as that of the magi, or wise men, mentioned by Matthew

During the Middle Ages legend developed that they were kings, that they were three in number, and that their names were Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior

The magi became skilled in astronomy and astrology

They were involved in various occult practices, including sorcery, and were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams.

It is from their name that our words magic and magician are derived

Because of their combined knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, history they were sought out for their wisdom

The OT prophet Daniel became their leader in Babylon and we can assume that is how they knew of the coming King of the Jews

Several things we know about these men

Magicians

At least two

Came from the East

First Gentiles to Worship

vs. 2b The sign of the King

The whole reason they were there was because they saw a star that appeared on the day that Jesus was born

These busy, wealthy, influential men dropped everything and traveled from modern day Iraq to Bethlehem

That route was 1500 miles along the fertile crescent and took four months

Hope was born in their hearts that night they saw the star of Bethlehem

This wasn’t just a cordial visit to a foreign king

The was the Messiah who was going to change the world

When we put our hope in Jesus our lives change

We are made new on the inside

Our Eternal destination changes too

That is the hope we live with

Fear & Indifference vs. 4-8

One thing we can surmise from their reception was that the people of Israel were indifferent and the king was fearful

King Herod

This Herod, known as “the Great,” is the first of several Herods mentioned in the New Testament.

Julius Caesar had appointed his father to be governor of Judea. He then managed to have his son Herod appointed governor of Galilee.

He was a clever and capable warrior, orator, and diplomat

In 19 b.c. he began the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

Herod was also cruel and merciless.

He was incredibly jealous, suspicious, and afraid for his position and power

He had his wife Mariamne killed, and then her mother and two of his own sons

At the same time they arrived in Jerusalem and no one knew of the Messiah’s birth just five miles away and it appears they didn’t care

When the religious experts explained the prophecy they gave Herod the facts

They didn’t go with the wise men or inquire on their own

They were too busy with their lives

The world fears Jesus today

They are doing everything they can to destroy the church

While at the same time the religious people yawn with boredom

How do

Exceeding Joy in Worship vs. 9-12

vs. 9-10 Exceeding Joy

This phrase, “rejoiced exceedingly with great Joy” means that their joy was off the charts

On a scale of 1-10 it was way beyond ten

They were besides themselves with joy

This is surprising because they were noble educated men who were older in age

The fact that they were acting this way was outside the norm

Being in the presence of Jesus changed them

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Joy is result of the presence of Jesus being in your life

Hope Chapel’s theme verse

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

vs. 11 Worshipped

They laid prostrate before Jesus

The position of complete submission

Men who had everything the world says is successful didn’t hesitate to humble themselves and worship the King of Kings

Closing: Story of Teddy Martin

Dr. James Dobson relates a story of an elderly woman named Stella Thornhope who was struggling with her first Christmas alone.

Her husband had died just a few months prior through a slow-developing cancer.

Several days before Christmas, she was almost snowed in by a brutal weather system.

She felt terribly alone—so much so that she decided she was not going to decorate for Christmas.

Late that afternoon the doorbell rang, and there was a delivery boy with a box.

He said, "Mrs. Thornhope? Would you sign here?"

She invited him to step inside and closed the door to get away from the cold.

She signed the paper and said, "What’s in the box?"

The young man laughed and opened up the flap, and inside was a little golden Labrador Retriever.

The delivery boy picked up the squirming pup and explained, "This is for you, ma’am. He’s six weeks old and completely housebroken."

The young puppy began to wiggle in happiness at being released from captivity.

"Who sent this?" Mrs. Thornhope asked.

The young man set the animal down and handed her an envelope and said, "It’s all explained here in this envelope, ma’am. The dog was bought last July while its mother was still pregnant. It was meant to be a Christmas gift to you."

The young man then handed her a book: How to Care for Your Labrador Retriever.

In desperation she again asked, "Who sent me this puppy?"

As the young man turned to leave he said, "Your husband, ma’am. Merry Christmas."

She opened the letter from her husband.

He had written it three weeks before he died and left it with the kennel owners to be delivered with the puppy as his last Christmas gift to her.

The letter was full of love and encouragement and admonishments to be strong.

He vowed that he was waiting for the day when she would join him in heaven.

He had sent her this young animal to keep her company until then.

She wiped away the tears, put the letter down, and then remembered the puppy at her feet.

She picked up the golden furry ball and held it to her neck.

Then she looked out the window at the lights that outlined the neighbor’s house, and she heard from the radio in the kitchen the strains of "Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”

Suddenly, Stella felt the most amazing sensation [of hope] washing over her.

Her heart felt a joy and a wonder greater than the grief and loneliness.