The Joy of Jesus’s Birth!

If you are in here, you have likely heard the story of the birth of Jesus multiple times in your life and just listen and let it go in one ear and out the other.

You’ve heard about the angel talking to Mary that she would be pregnant and then Joseph telling him to stay with Mary because it was a miraculous pregnancy. John the baptist leaping in his mother’s womb after meeting little zygote Jesus for the first time. You’ve heard about the decree to go back to their hometown for a census and having to stay in the manger. The shepherds that moseyed on over at the command of the angel. Simeon at the temple miraculously healed at the arrival of Jesus. Wise men traveling from afar to bring gifts to the newborn king. Herod’s fearful attempt at Jesus’s life.

All of these moments, I am sure, are at least somewhat familiar to you in your recollection of the written events of Jesus’s birth. So what I want to do over the next three weeks in light of that is look at some of these different perspectives a little closer and see what we can learn from these individuals.

Tonight we will look at 3 actions we can take from examining the perspectives of The Wise Men and Herod.

Who are the Wise Men? “Kingmakers” from the east, likely Parthia. They are astronomers and astrologers by their namesake. They were religious leaders that some scholars believe actually may have at some point in their lineage been trained by Daniel when he was “Master of the Magi” (you can read about that is Daniel 5 and on). They believe he taught these Magi the way of the Jews and that at least some of them persevered in their faith and from that lineage we have the Magi or Wise Men. Their title of Kingmaker meant that they were high ranking and well respected leaders in the governmental structure (probably how they were able to afford such luxurious gifts). They also would have likely traveled with a guard presence, not just some old bums with three expensive gifts.

Who is Herod? He is the King over Israel (see Pic) this would have been his territory with his capital in Jerusalem. Tiberius Caesar is the Roman Emporer and he appointed Herod to rule here.

So now that we know who we are looking at here, let’s look at the 3 actions we can take after examining the perspectives of the Wise Men and Herod.

Demonstrate faith not fear of Jesus, our Lord.

v. 9 - the Wise men acted in faith after their meeting with Herod and continued their journey to find the newborn King.

v. 8 - Herod wanted the wise men to bring the new born king back to him so that he could dispose of him. He knew the prophecy. He knew the name and title.

To bring this into a bit of a modern context, Herod was similar to say the Governor of a state here in our country. The difference being that he was appointed to his role by the president rather than elected and he had more freedom and power than a Governor does here. To here of the Messiah, the King of the Jews, is to hear that his power and position and life that he had built is in jeopardy of being taken away from him. So instead of demonstrating faith in the coming messiah who would save many, he was fearful that he would lose his “freedom” to live how he wanted.

We must acknowledge Jesus with faith not fear and give up our desired sinful life, our perceived power and authority over our life and submit it to the Lord.

Offer Worship not wrath to Jesus, the Savior of the World.

v. 2, 11 The wise men knew what the arrival of Jesus meant on a spiritual level, and therefore they wanted to worship. He was the savior of the souls of man.

v. 12, 16 Herod was only focused on what it could mean for him and his sinful life. He wanted to continue living in sin and thought with the arrival of the King of the Jews that way of life was being threatened.

How many people do you know that struggle with being mad at God because they wanted to live life THEIR way and they know if they place faith in Jesus that they can’t do those things? Ultimately that’s what we are talking about here. Herod was angry because the arrival of Jesus threatened his perceived freedom to live life his way.

We need to understand that Jesus’s presence in our lives offers us freedom to live a life of worship to him. When we angrily reject God because we know we can’t keep on sinning our way, we only enslave ourselves more to sin.

Be Joyful not Jealous of the Jesus, the King of Kings.

v. 10 The wise men, so in awe that they had found Jesus could do nothing but rejoice! Joyful that they had met the Messiah.

v. 3 Herod and those whom he has power over, on the other hand are “troubled.” Herod is jealous that these kingmakers from another land would come into his territory and declare some little baby a King.

I remember when I was playing football my senior year. At the end of the year they gave out an award to the best offensive lineman. It was given to a guy who was two years younger than me and I thought I was better. Instead of rejoicing for him, I found myself a little jealous because I didn’t think he deserved it. It’s kind of trivial in comparison but when you look at Herod and what we know, that pride at the root of this “troubled” feeling sprouts up in many forms and one of them is jealousy of the King of the Jews. That ultimately, as we saw, took even more evil turns but it begins with a pride that I am better and I deserve more than X.

If you have repented and placed your faith in Jesus, you have reason to be joyful because you are no longer enslaved to sin. You are saved from the sting of death. That is a reason for JOY and

Conclusion:

The process that Jesus went through to secure that salvation begins with his birth. That is why the Magi or Wise Men were so eager and excited to meet this future savior! That is why they fell down in worship of Jesus when met this little boy. They knew that his little hands would grow to save the world. And that was a reason to celebrate!