CHRIST our ROYAL KING

REFLECTION TEXT: Isaiah 60:1-3

SERMON TEXT: Matthew 2:1-12

INTRO / TRANSITION

Most of us know the song, WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE

All

We Three Kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, Moor and mountain, Following yonder Star.

Refrain

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night, Star with Royal Beauty bright, Westward leading, Still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

Gaspard

Born a King on Bethlehem plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King for ever, Ceasing never Over us all to reign. Refrain

Melchior

Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh: Prayer and praising All men raising, Worship Him God on High. Refrain

Balthazar

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom;— Sorrowing, sighing, Bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain

All

Glorious now behold Him arise, King, and God, and Sacrifice; Heav’n sings Hallelujah: Hallelujah the earth replies. Refrain[2]

We Three Kings", was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America. John Henry Hopkins Jr. wrote the carol in 1857 for a Christmas pageant in New York City.

Let’s start right off and acknowledge…

We don’t know exactly how many wise men there were…but there were 3 gifts.

Writing a song for a Christmas play is different than preaching a sermon, AND YET, the song paints a picture of three personalities to accompany the three gifts.

Each stanza written to be sung by a different “wiseman”

Today, let’s look at this account as we kick off this three week series on these three gifts and what they say about our soon-coming KING - the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Let’s take a few moments to learn about the PEOPLE involved before we shine the light on the GIFTS GIVEN.

(SIDE NOTE: KIDS, that’s great advice for you if you receive gifts this year…enjoy the people, engage with the people around you before you rip open the gift.)

A LOOK AT THE TEXT

THE WISE MAGI

IDENTITY (v1)

Mostly likely from Persia

Dating back to the Babylonian Empire - influence continued long after that empire was gone

Israel had been on friendly terms with Persia for many years by this time

Most likely familiar with OT prophecy

Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther held prominent positions in the Persian government

The Characters of Christmas: The Unlikely People Caught Up in the Story of Jesus 7. Seeking and Finding: The Wise Men

This story has a connection to the Old Testament. There is an obscure story in the book of Numbers (22–24) of an irascible prophet named Balaam and a talking donkey. God asked Balaam to deliver three blessings to his people. One of those, the final message, contained these words:

Numbers 24:16–17 ESV

16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

JOURNEY (v2)

Guided by a star

They were astrologers - this is condemned in the Bible as idolatry.

Astrologers look to the stars to predict the future

The Bethlehem star signaled an event that had already occured

The Characters of Christmas: The Unlikely People Caught Up in the Story of Jesus 7. Seeking and Finding: The Wise Men

Scripture speaks pretty strongly against looking to the stars for meaning, but here is God meeting these seekers where they are, utilizing His power over the heavenly bodies to direct them to His Son.

This doesn’t mean the Bible condones astrology, but it does show us that God is willing to meet those who genuinely seek Him. Consider how God met us. My guess is very few of us were completely sound in our theology when we first met Jesus. And yet God can meet a seeking sinner, with impure motives and uncertain beliefs, and point that soul to His Son.

The star:

Comet? Supernova? Alignment of more than 1 star to form massive light?

Supernatural star created by God for this special occasion?

All of Creation is at God’s disposal to tell His story!

Psalm 19:1–5 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

A WICKED KING

Herod - (v1)

part Jewish - not a worshiper of God

his rule was resented by Jews since he wasn’t fully Jewish

he is old and sick by this time - living in fear of rebellion and losing it all

had some of his own sons put to death

when he heard about the new king - he knew his reign was in trouble (v3)

troubled when he heard about these wise men

The Characters of Christmas: The Unlikely People Caught Up in the Story of Jesus 7. Seeking and Finding: The Wise Men

The prominent and wealthy men from the East traveled far and wide, not to sit at the feet of the one who sat on a throne in Jerusalem, but to bow before an infant in a house in Bethlehem. The star from heaven didn’t point to Herod, but to Jesus.

Wickedness on full display (v13-18)

After Wise men didn’t return

Angel warned Joseph to leave

HEROD KILLS CHILDREN (vv 16-18)

In spite of a WICKED King with an empire at his disposal, the Wise Magi worshiped the Wonderful Savior!

THE WONDERFUL SAVIOR - A YOUNG CHILD AT THIS POINT

EVEN though Herod wanted him dead…

Jesus wouldn’t die until the time of God’s choosing. (v14-15)

Herod tried and failed.

Others would try during his ministry and failed.

Jesus willingly laid down His own life. John 10.18

John 10:18 ESV

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

In the end, He will prevail. (vv 19-20: Angel tells Joseph it’s safe to return)

WORSHIP FROM THE WISEMEN

LET’S LOOK AT THE APPROACH - EXCEEDING GREAT JOY

Matthew 2:10 ESV

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

EXCEEDINGLY GREAT JOY!

These wisemen worship Jesus joyfully with dignity with their sacrificial and costly gifts.

We don't add to Christ. God is not served with human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25)

The magi are not meeting a need. They are not trying to get a bribe.

They are gifts that represent the exceeding great joy that they have in being able to ascribe to Christ gifts that show we treasure him more than things.

Think about HOW PRECIOUS THESE GIFTS ARE.

Matthew 2:11 ESV

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

NOTICE HOW UPSIDE DOWN THIS IS:

The Young child receiving the worship of older and esteemed.

The wealthy bowing before the impoverished.

But isn't that just like the nature of the kingdom of God?

They had not come with joy, but with great joy.

They did not simply rejoice, but they rejoice exceedingly.

This is not calm and collective. It is explosive and excessive.

These men from afar did not come to cuddle him, they did not come to play games with him.

They fall and worship HIM! Why would they do that?

To Call these men Wise Is a positive spin

To call them kings is definitely an overstatement

These were more like sorcerers and stargazers, who upon finding an anomaly, found themselves connecting it to the little they knew of scripture and searching for the king.

- but they were familiar enough with the prophecies of the Anointed One from Heaven coming to Earth.

SIDE NOTE: don’t be afraid of prophecy in Scripture / a significant portion of the BIBLE is actually prophecy

But here is Jesus, even as a young child, turning wizards into worshipers.

Here is Jesus, claiming sheep from the priestly cast of a pagan religion.

If these sinners can approach Christ and fall down in worship, surely we, the Saints, should worship.

It seems like more is going on here than just foreigners, paying homage to an earthly king as a child.

The text says they fell down and worshiped. Worship comes from the heart.

They bowed, knowing that they were in the presence of the one who was born king of the Jews!

Somehow, in someway, I believe by God's spirit… These men recognized that Jesus would not simply JUST reign over Israel, but over the whole world.

These Magi would one day be his subjects, even though they weren't Israelites.

Theirs was not a cheap worship.

It was not a casual event.

This was costly worship.

These gifts mean something though…

Born a King on Bethlehem plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King for ever, Ceasing never Over us all to reign.

GOLD - the first one is likely the most obvious, but let’s look at the GOLD

And gold is a gift that would be presented to a king.

Gold was the most precious metal of that day.

And in Bible times, and even today, gold is symbolic of royalty.

So, when these wise men came to the Lord Jesus Christ and presented to Him gold, what they were saying is that He is a king.

Gold said LOUDLY, “We recognize His sovereign dominion.”

But he’s a kid. A young child.

He has no court that he is keeping.

He has no entourage around him.

He has issued no royal decrees.

And yet they know him to be king.

Somewhere, in this country, right now, there are probably three or four children or young people under the age of 18 who are going to be President of the United States some day.

But nobody really cares about this, or sets out to find them or honor them.

The magi are bringing their gifts to the child, NOT the parents as most people often do.

They are bringing rich and costly gifts to this child King.

I want to flesh out one theologian’s observation here about the WORSHIP from these MAGI.

“This act of worship joyfully ascribes authority, dignity to Christ with sacrificial gifts.”

THE WISE MEN APPROACHED WITH GREAT JOY

Matthew 2:10 ESV

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

We’ve seen this in their approach to the young child who had DONE NOTHING…BUT BY HIS VERY NATURE, BROUGHT HOPE AND GREAT JOY!

Now on this side, WE KNOW JESUS - the perfect lamb of God.

Heaven’s solution to Earth’s sin problem.

We know Jesus who spoke as the very Word of God.

We know Jesus who never sinned.

We know Jesus who would say of Himself

Luke 4:18 ESV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

THEY APPROACHED WITH SUBMISSION (ascribing Authority)

Matthew 2:2 ESV

2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

They ascribe him authority As they refer to him as the king of the Jews!

They ascribe Him authority as King with the GIFT OF GOLD!

THEY WORSHIPED WITH HONOR (ascribing Dignity)

Matthew 2:11 ESV

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Falling to the ground is what you do to say to someone else you are high and I am low.

It is humility on the part of the one getting low while we honor on the one whose feet you are kneeling at.

THEY WORSHIPED WITH GIFTS (sacrificial gifts given)

Matthew 2:11 ESV

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

You would dishonor a monarch if you came empty-handed.

These gift givers honor him with the richest treasures they can bring.

We will focus on the next two in the coming weeks… But these are costly treasures.

A young child has no use for gold.

But the worshipers must lavish their treasures on the Christ child as an expression of affection and Adoration.

WHAT DO WE NOW KNOW OF THIS KING - THAT DISTINGUISHES HIM FROM OTHER KINGS.

Jesus Christ is declared king at his birth.

He descends from the royal line of David.

People rejected his kingly claims at his crucifixion but He resurrects from the dead after three days demonstrating that He has all authority.

Though rejected here on earth, God exalted him to his rightful place of power and majesty.

At the end of time Jesus Christ will rule the nations for ever and ever.

Unlike earthly kings, JESUS REFUSED WORLDLY KINGDOMS.

John 18:36 ESV

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Unlike earthly kings, JESUS REFUSED TO COMPROMISE FOR POWER.

Matthew 4:8–10 ESV

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Pilate questioned his kingship

Jesus claimed to be a spiritual king

Pilot appealed to the crowd on behalf of Christ as king

The crowd rejected Jesus as King

Jesus was mocked as king

Jesus was declared King at his crucifixion with the inscription that pilot had placed over his head on the cross

God, the father has exalted Jesus Christ to his rightful place as King

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus Welcomes believers into his kingdom

He is the king of all kings (Rev 1:5)

He is the king for all eternity (Rev 19:11)

CONCLUSION

SINCE HE ALONE IS THE KING…HE IS WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP

We know that the Bible does not record the early church acknowledging the birth of Christ. Be we know the whole church revolved around remembering and celebrating his death, burial, and resurrection AS THE KING OF GLORY!

The most important Christmas tree for the child of God is the CROSS OF CALVARY.

It stands as the only bridge that you and I have to cross the great divide that sin brought into our life.

We are sinners by birth, and we are sinners by choice… And our sin separates us from God!

And religion won't bridge the gap… And Goode works, won't bridge the gap… And keeping the law won't bridge the gap…

Only the cross of Jesus Christ, meaning his death, burial and resurrection can bridge that great divide.

That cross represents the gift to wonderful for words for mankind.

That God would so love us while we were yet sinners that he would send his only son to die for us.

In light of all that, for us seated here in 2024 preparing for Christmas, the question is, how does our worship compare with these pagan priests seeking after a sign?

“Are we joyfully ascribing authority, dignity to Christ with sacrificial gifts.”

JOY - Let’s pursue HIM for JOY…not “things” FROM Him.

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

AUTHORITY - Let’s live like HE IS OUR KING AND LORD! Not just our life enhancer and flame retardant.

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

DIGNITY - Let’s GET LOW (Humbling ourselves in worship, service, loving) and LIFT HIM HIGH!

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

GIVING - LET’S GIVE UP THE THINGS WE ARE TEMPTED TO TREASURE - So that we might demonstrate to ourselves and to all who peer in - CHRIST IS OUR TREASURE - NOT MONEY or STUFF.

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

WE WILL WORSHIP THE KING - HE IS WORTHY!

EVEN WHEN TRUE WORSHIP IS COSTLY

We are all worshiping and serving something. We are all spending great energy and resources to get somewhere and do something.

BUT JESUS IS THE TREASURE WORTH IT ALL!

If everyone lived like you, gave like you, served like you, loved like you…what kind of church would Mission Bible be building.

Is it wise for you to continue down this path?

Worship the Lord because He is worthy.

Whatever the cost…whatever the sacrifice.

Glorious now behold Him arise, King, and God, and Sacrifice; Heav’n sings Hallelujah: Hallelujah the earth replies.