1.4.4. 12.22.2024 When Jesus was Born Matthew 2.1-6 (Functionally Christmas Sunday)

Start:

Entice: In years past when coming to today’s text I would often invoke the names of the great villains of Christmas Past. We know them well.

Scrooge.

The Grinch.

The abominable Snow Monster of the North.

Scott Farkus.

Engage: Perhaps in your many Christmas’s you have encountered villains which made the holy season hard to bear. In our house when I was growing up, there was one Christmas when the villain was the flu! Other’s have experienced finical hardship, or interpersonal squabbles that meant someone—maybe against their intent—function in your memory as villains, or at least as antagonists. There was no one quite as villainous as the villain in the first Christmas, the Idumean pretender to the throne, the Roman puppet,

Herod the Great.

Expand: His reign really was a reign of terror. His appearance in the Christmas story would never have been invented by anyone. His reaction, his scheming, and his violent behavior are all “in character.” and make Scrooge look positively admirable, even before his Christmas Eve haunting and transformation.

Our focus is rightly on the Magi. They wander into Jerusalem as wise seekers who understood the limits of their wisdom.

They knew that the tale told by the stars needed to be supplemented by first a journey to Jerusalem and then by giving their attention to the Jewish Scriptures.

They responded with a faith founded on profound waiting.

Excite: They teach us a lesson by their patient, inquisitive waiting. They sought an answer to the mystery of Jesus.

For some it is still mysterious.

For some it is still cryptic.

For some it is still obscure.

For some it is still elusive.

There remain seekers among us.

There are many still looking for that answer.

It is not an easy truth.

It is a simple truth.

God With us.

Maybe they were the first who realized that the coming of Jesus was

bigger than they originally hoped or dreamed it would be. It was then that they left their homeland to seek Him. Like them…

Explore:

We accept the simple truth of Jesus’ birth and acknowledge its broader impact and deeper significance.

Expand: They first understood the basic realities embedded in their own story of seeking Jesus.

Body of Sermon: The first reality is that…

1 When Jesus was born the Word resonated.

Matthew 2:1–6 ESV

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 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.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

1.1 The Magi interpreted a “natural” sign that God was acting.

BUT!!!….

The Natural Sign...

Needed

A Word from God

The Star

Needed

A Statement

The Magi needed a Word from God to inform them, guide them, and ultimately bring them to Bethlehem.

Most seekers have

heard clues,

been

given hints,

receive nudges,

and maybe even

follow breadcrumbs.

The difference between someone who is interested in Christ and invested in Christ is responding to God’s Word.

In Scripture all the

clues,

hints,

nudges

and

breadcrumbs

are defined and made concrete.

Amid the resonating Word, and in that very royal complex where they wise men heard it there was another reaction to the revelation of this new King.

2 When Jesus was born the Wicked raged.

Matthew 2:7–8 ESV

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Like many in the ancient world the nickname “Great”, given to Herod, didn’t mean good, noble, just, or kind. When we read the story of Herod the Great’s reaction to Jesus, we should remember that it was said of Herod that it “was better to be his pig than his son!”

His rage was fueled by…

2.1 Ignorance.

He did not know, understand or care about any promised king. He only saw Jesus as a threat.

So, Herod’s rage was which began in ignorance was fueled by

2.2 Insecurity.

Is there any person more dangerous than a rich, able, tyrant whose place has been challenged by promises from scripture? Herod’s rage flowed from ignorance and insecurity and….

Herod’s rage was fueled by

2.3 Intrigue.

He was a born sneaker! Like the Grinch’s plan to foil Christmas in Whoville it began with a nefarious plan involving the earnest but naive Magi.

Herod’s rage may have missed Jesus, but it still resulted in

2.4 Injury.

Those Magi, sensitive to God’s leading escaped Herod’s intrigue, but that was not the end of it. The King summoned his soldiers and turned them into henchmen in his evil design.

Matthew 2:16–18 ESV

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

But Herod doesn’t get the last word!

Herod’s evil is a real part of Matthew’s story. But we are here to give glory, laud, and honor to God with Us! Let’s talk about Jesus!

Specifically, we, who are not Jewish, need to remember the light that dawned on people like us. Because…

3 When Jesus was born the World rejoiced.

Matthew 2:9–11 ESV

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 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.

Like the wisemen, the redeemed of our world react to Jesus with

3.1 Joy.

3.2 Celebration.

3.3 Participation.

Shut Down

When He comes.

The key movement of the nativity is not

angels,

wise men,

shepherds,

not even

Mary and Jospeh.

The key movement, the “coming” about which we sing and celebrate is the coming of Jesus to be Savior and Lord. No, the wicked and evil did not appreciate this fact. However, God’s Word had been announcing and anticipating it. Because of God’s steadfast attention to our needs, we now rejoice in Christ’s coming—and His continued presence with us.

HE has come to us.