What Child is This #4
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Introduction
Two Announcements:
#1. Christmas Eve Services will be at Bent Tree Loveland. There are two service times on Christmas Eve, 4 pm and 6 pm if you would like to attend a Christmas Eve Service.
#2. I met with Pastor Paul last week and he informed me that the church in Loveland is no longer going to be able to pay me a salary after January. What this means is that I have already begun looking for employment elsewhere. My goal is to find a job here locally so that I can continue to do ministry here in Greeley with you. Will you join Angelica and I in prayer as we seek to understand what God is doing in our lives and how to continue to do ministry.
In - it says that Paul stayed and made tents with them.
When Paul was planting churches in the book of Acts at one point he stopped and made tents. While I am not a tent maker I am a salesman and I have already begun applying for sales jobs in Northern Colorado so we can stay in Greeley and make money while we continue to do ministry.
Acts 18:3
and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade, he stayed with them and worked.
God’s timing is interesting as I continue to process my trip to Africa and the great need for ministry there as well as where does God want us to serve? Losing my pay does not mean that we are losing our church or that we are leaving. It just means that I will no longer be getting paid a salary.
I know that some of you are looking for new jobs and I join you in your search, will you pray for me as I pray for you.
Those are the announcements - let’s dig into our scripture this morning.
For the past three weeks we’ve been examining the question, “what Child is this?”
Today we are going to look at what happened shortly after the birth of Jesus.
Would you stand as we read - Matthew 2:1-15
Matthew 2:1-15
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born.
“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.
After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
Let’s Pray
When we think of the question, “what child is this?” in the context of this scripture.
#1 - This Child deserves our worship.
Matthew 2:2
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
The Magi saw the star leading them to Jesus and they wanted to find Him and worship him.
When you think about Jesus - when was the last time that you just wanted to worship Him.
When we think about worship, maybe we think about reading our Bibles, or singing a song, or coming to church.
But when was the last time you paused long enough to worship Jesus?
This is a child, born in Bethlehem that deserves to be worshipped because He is the Savior of the world.
Matthew 2:8
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
Like a text message or an email, it is hard to tell what Herod meant by wanting to worship Jesus.
Was he being sarcastic?
Was he lying?
Was he being ironic?
Either way - Herod tells the Magi - “when you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”
Skip down to Matthew 2:11
Matthew 2:11
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Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When that Magi saw the child Jesus, they fell to their knees and worshipped him.
When was the last time you fell to your knees in worship?
When was the last time that you were so in awe of Jesus that all you could do was fall down in worship?
#1 - Jesus deserves our worship.
#2 - Jesus deserves our tithes and offerings.
Matthew 2:11
Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Magi offered Jesus three gifts.
Gold
Frankincense
Myrrh
Gold
Gold is one of the most frequently mentioned metals in the Bible.
From the ornaments, and gold leaf metal work in the tabernacle and temple, to Solomon using gold on his throne.
The golden denarius was the most valuable Roman coin in production.
Frankincense
The best type of Frankincense is found in South Arabia, Eritrea, and East Africa!
Frankincense was used throughout the Old Testament as an offering to the Lord.
In - Frankincense was used in the Israelite sanctuary
tells us that Frankincense was used in cereal offering
It was also used with the Bread of Presense in
Now this is a really cool gold nugget of scripture - Frankincense was not to be used as a sin offering.
“But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring two quarts of fine flour as an offering for his sin. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
Isn’t that cool - Frankincense is not to be used as an offering for sin and Jesus was sinless, and what a cool offering, a great gift for the sinless Son of God.
Myrrh
Myrrh
Myrrh comes from a the bark of trees and shrubs. It was used as a valuable perfume and was a luxury item.
Myrrh was used in Jewish burial.
When Jesus was being crucified, records that they mixed wine with myrrh and offered it to Jesus.
Finally, myrrh was used in Jewish burial.
So when we look at the gifts given to Jesus we have a beautiful picture of who Jesus is through the gifts of the Magi.
Gold, the most precious of metals used even by Kings on their throne. Frankincense used as an offering, but forbidden to be used as a sin offering. And myrrh, a spice used in Jewish burial, almost foreshadowing the sinless death of Jesus.
To answer our question, “what child is this?” we will look at three descriptions of Jesus.
Jesus is described as three things in this scripture.
#1. Jesus is the King of the Jews
Matthew 2:2
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
#2. Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel
Matthew 2:6
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
#3. Jesus is the Son of God
Mathew 2:15
He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
Conclusion
As we conclude, and answer our questions, “What Child is This?”
Jesus deserves our worship, Jesus deserves our tithes and offerings and from our scripture this morning we see that Jesus is:
#1. Jesus is the King of the Jews
#2. Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel
#3. Jesus is the Son of God
The question is, do you believe this?
Who do you say Jesus is?
As we celebrate Christmas this week, think about this child, born to a virgin, worshipped by Magi’s, receiving gifts and offerings, and finally, think about the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?”