The Awe of Christmas

Hidden Christmas Series | Matthew 2:1–12 Christmas Eve Message

INTRODUCTION — THE SEARCH WE’RE ALL ON

Good evening and welcome to all of you and your families this Christmas Eve. And when I say family, I mean everyone. Whether you’re here every week or twice a year. Whether you’re confident in your faith or carrying real questions. Whether Christmas feels sacred to you—or simply seasonal.

We just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

All month we’ve been walking through Hidden Christmas—uncovering truths about Jesus’ birth that often get buried beneath familiarity, tradition, and assumption.

Tonight, I want to tell you about some searchers who found what they were looking for. And whether you realize it or not, every person in this room is searching for something.

The real question is this: Will you recognize it when you find it?

THE STORY THAT DISRUPTS EVERYONE

Turn to Matthew chapter 2 or follow along on the screen,

The Magi fascinate me—because they are outsiders in this story. They were Persian or Babylonian astrologers. Pagans. Outsiders. Star-readers searching for meaning in the universe.

They didn’t have the Bible. They didn’t know Israel’s prophecies. Yet they saw something that caused them to pack up their lives and travel hundreds of miles.

Matthew 2:2 NLT

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Now notice verse 3:

Matthew 2:3 NLT

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.

Let that sink in.

The people who should have been celebrating were disturbed. The insiders were threatened. The outsiders were thrilled.

The religious leaders knew Micah 5:2 by heart—but couldn’t be bothered to walk six miles to Bethlehem. The Magi didn’t have Scripture—only a star and a question—yet they traveled hundreds of miles to find Jesus.

Here’s what’s hidden in plain sight: Sometimes those who seem far from God are actually closest to finding Him, and sometimes those who think they’re close are the ones missing Him entirely.

Jesus later said it this way to the leading priests of His day,

Matthew 21:31 NLT

“I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.”

Why?

Because knowing you’re lost is the first step toward being found. And knowing you don’t know is the beginning of wisdom.

WHAT THE MAGI TEACH US

1. God Reveals Himself in Unexpected Ways

The Magi followed a star. Not Scripture. Not tradition. Not religion.

A star.

If you’re skeptical, searching, or unsure about faith, that should encourage you. God is not limited to church buildings or Bible studies.

Acts says God positioned you exactly where you are:

Acts 17:27 NLT

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.”

That restlessness you feel? That question that won’t go away? That dissatisfaction with surface-level living?

That might be your star.

But here’s the warning for those of us who’ve been in church a long time: We can become so focused on how God has worked that we miss how He is working.

The religious leaders had the map—but missed the treasure. They knew the Scriptures—but missed the Savior.

The Prophet Isaiah asks us:

Isaiah 43:19 NLT

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Whether you’re following a star or following Scripture, the question is the same: Are you actually willing to follow where God leads—even if it’s not what you expected?

2. What You Find Won’t Look Like What You Expected

Verse 11:

Matthew 2:11 NLT

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

A house—not a palace. A child—not a king in royal robes. A peasant girl—not a queen.

Every one of us carries expectations about God:

Seekers expect Him to make sense

Skeptics expect Him to prove Himself

Cultural Christians expect Him to be convenient

Believers often expect Him to be predictable

But the incarnation shatters all of that.

Philippians 2 tells us:

“[Jesus], being in very nature God… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.”

The Creator became creation. The Infinite became an infant. The One who holds all things together needed to be held.

If that doesn’t disrupt your categories—whether you’re skeptical or devout—you may actually trying to put God in a box, when He is actaully blowing through your expectations.

3. True Encounter Always Demands Response

The Magi didn’t just observe. They didn’t just acknowledge.

They fell down and worshiped.

Here’s the reality: You can be near Jesus without worshiping Jesus.

The innkeeper was near Him—but had no room

Herod was near Him—but saw Him as a threat

The religious leaders were near Him—but stayed indifferent

Jerusalem was near Him—but remained disturbed

Some of you have been near Jesus your whole life—church attendance, Bible knowledge, familiar stories—but you’ve never actually bowed. You’ve never let Him be Lord.

Others of you walked in tonight unsure about faith—and you may be closer to worship than those who’ve been here for years.

Why?

James says:

James 4:6 NLT

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re a pagan astrologer or a someone who grew up in church. What matters is whether you’ll bow.

THE GIFTS THAT REVEAL OUR HEARTS

The Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh—and none of it was random.

Gold — recognizing His kingship. This is an invitation to step off the throne of your own life. Whether you’re skeptical or seasoned, surrender is still the call.

Frankincense — recognizing His deity. This is worship—not just songs, but surrender. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our lives as living sacrifices.

Some of us need to move from acknowledging God exists to actually worshiping Him.

Myrrh — recognizing His death. This points to the cross. The child they worshiped would grow up to die.

For seekers: this is why He came—not to condemn, but to save. For the comfortable: this is the cost—new life requires death to the old. For believers: this is our message—we proclaim His death until He returns.

THE JOURNEY HOME BY ANOTHER ROAD

Verse 12:

Matthew 2:12 NLT

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Here’s the truth of every real encounter with Jesus:

Nobody goes back the same way they came.

You may return to the same job, the same home, the same routines—but you don’t return the same.

As the Apostle Paul says:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Encountering Jesus doesn’t just change behavior—it changes how you see everything. It changes all of you!

THE INVITATION TO AWE

So where does this leave us tonight?

For those who are searching:

“Seek and you will find.” (Matthew 7)

For those who’ve grown familiar:

“Return to your first love.” (Revelation 2)

The hidden truth of Christmas is this:

It’s simpler than we make it—come as you are and bow to who He is. And it’s more scandalous than we expect—because who He is changes everything.

The star still shines tonight—not in the sky, but in this moment.

The only question is: Will you follow it all the way to worship? (Response Cards)

PRAYER

Jesus, Tonight we come like the Magi—searching, bringing our questions and our gifts.

For those beginning their search—be findable. For those who’ve stopped searching—restore wonder. For those who think they’ve found it all—surprise them.

We bring You our gold—be our King. We bring You our frankincense—receive our worship. We bring You our myrrh—teach us to die so we may live.

Send us home by another road. Not just changed in behavior—but transformed in sight.

Come, Lord Jesus. Be born in us tonight.

Amen.

CLOSING — THE AWE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

(Transition to Candle Lighting)

Isaiah 9:2 NLT

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

That light first dawned in Bethlehem—but it has never stopped shining. And tonight, it still shines. Not just in history, not just in memory—but right here, right now.

The Magi remind us:

You don’t have to understand everything to begin seeking

You don’t have to be religious to find God—God came looking for us.

And you don’t have to remain the same once you’ve truly seen Jesus

But they also gently warn us:

Knowledge without worship isn’t enough

Being close without being changed isn’t enough

Tradition without awe isn’t enough

And that’s why we end this night with light.

In just a moment, we’re going to light candles together—not as a ritual, but as a response. A simple, quiet way of saying: We’ve seen the Light—and we’re choosing to receive it.

As the flame passes from candle to candle, remember this: The light of Christ was never meant to be kept to Himself. It was given to be shared. One life lighting another. One heart awakening another.

So as you hold your candle tonight, let it be a prayer. For those still searching. For those who feel surrounded by darkness. For those longing for hope, peace, and awe again.

The Light has come. And the darkness has not overcome it.

(Stand to your feet as we worship King Jesus)

The God who drew outsiders with a star is still drawing hearts. The God who disrupted the world by becoming a baby is still disrupting lives today.

The only question is—will you let Him disrupt yours?

Merry Christmas, Turning Point.