The Followers of Jesus Matthew 2:1-12

Last night, I was so proud of our church family. I watched our folks put in a lot of hard work to open our facility to our community. We shared bathrooms, cookies, and hot chocolate, but most of all, we shared the love of Jesus. We didn’t do much in advance by way of advertisement, so there was a little bit of a question: “How will people know that this is open and available for them?” The answer ended up being pretty simple. Our folks went out and told them and invited them in. There’s good news for us today as well. We are invited to come to Jesus!

As a follower of Jesus, I must:

I. Receive the Good News vv. 1-2

In our passage this morning, God uses a sign in the heavens to make the arrival of Jesus clear

A group of wise men, most likely from Persia, see a new star rise in the heavens

They are astrologers and they interpret the sign as a message from God that a king has been born

I think we need to be careful about how we read this:

This is not an endorsement of astrology

It is, however, a noteworthy way that God reached out to people who were far from Him and brought them near to receive the Good News

Let’s pay attention to the Magi and their actions here:

They are ready to do something about the news that they receive

They are not content to just sit idly by, a King has been born

They are ready to come and to worship Him

The birth of Jesus is news that changes everything

In life, whether through busyness or boredom, it is entirely possible for us to ignore the Good News

Our apathy does not change the Good News, but the Good News will change our apathy, if we will receive it

What does the birth of Jesus mean for us?

God has entered the story of Creation

He is working to rescue us from sin, death, and separation

He is bringing us, righteousness, life, and relationship

It’s good news, if you will receive it!

II. Repent Because of the Good News vv. 3-8

As our story continues on, the wise men go to the most natural place possible, the court of Herod, the current King

He is quite troubled at the news that he hears, and all of Jerusalem with Him

Interestingly, the Good News could be bad news, depending on your perspective

Think about the message that Herod received:

There is a King

You are not Him!

The reality of the birth of a king means the end of Herod’s kingdom

Pay close attention to how Herod responds:

Herod believes the Good News v. 4

Herod has good information: He hears that the king was born in Bethlehem vv. 5-6

Herod acts on what he hears vv. 7-8

However, we will find that Herod misses the Good News completely

He is a liar! He does not want to worship Jesus alongside the wise men

Instead, Herod is looking for ways to kill Jesus

If Herod is going to experience the Good News, he must repent of his own kingdom

It will mean laying aside his own will in the pursuit of Christ

It will mean recognizing Jesus as King

I think that this is the hard truth of the spot many of us find ourselves in

We may believe in Jesus

We may be interested in Jesus

We may even have some fear or/respect for Jesus

But, we are not repenting and committing to Him!

Luke 2:34

[34] And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (ESV)

While we seldom think about it, the call to Christ is, for most of us, a call to falling down. It is a call to humility.

At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana's failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest, until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth! Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, "Ma'am, oh, ma'am, I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't recognize you without your crown!"

"It was so much Sir Robert's evening," the queen replied, "that I decided to leave it behind."

III. Respond to the Good News vv. 9-12

In the final scene, we see the Magi arrive at Bethlehem

I think we can learn something from the example of the Magi:

They rejoice, because they recognize Good News as Good News

This season is the season for joy

It is a reminder that God is truly with us

They worship, because Jesus is worthy of their adoration

I think some of us really struggle with the idea of adoration

We need to consider exactly who Jesus is and let that reality fill us with wonder

They give (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), because Jesus is worthy of their gifts

Gold- a royal gift for a king

Frankincense- a divine gift for a God

Myrrh- a burial gift, for the dead

All of these gifts are shockingly appropriate and identify who Jesus is and will be!

They serve (listen and go home by another route), because Jesus is worthy of their obedience

The affections of their hearts have been transformed

Their allegiance is now with a greater king than Herod or their own!

How do you need to respond to the Good News?

Is it with joy?

Is it with worship?

Is it with a gift?

Is it with your service?

Have your received the Good News by repenting of self and responding to Jesus?

"When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song," tenor Luciano Pavarotti relates. "He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, 'Shall I be a teacher or a singer?'

"'Luciano,' my father replied, 'if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.'

"I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it's laying bricks, writing a book--whatever we choose--we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that's the key. Choose one chair."