Come and Worship, Christ the King
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Dearly loved people of God,
I was ill the week between Christmas and New Years. So I got to watch hockey. Some Spengler Cup hockey and all Team Canada’s games in the World Junior Championship; the players were crushed to lose in OT against the Finns.
The players were enormously invested in the tournament. It’s an honour, but it’s a big commitment. Those guys make huge investments of time and effort to get to Team Canada.
But the church calendar doesn’t let us forget about Jesus’ arrival. After the 12 Days of Christmas comes the Feast of Epiphany. What’s Epiphany?
I was impressed by the commitment of the families. Parents and guardians support their kids to get to that level. Then going to BC: travel, hotels, food, attending games. It’s big.
An epiphany is the “aha” moment. Maybe you’ve been puzzling over something for a long time and the light-bulb goes on. You dance around yelling, “Eureka! I’ve got it.” That’s an epiphany.
On the church calendar, the Feast of Epiphany is a day to celebrate that not only Jewish people recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but Gentiles too. The usual preaching text for Epiphany comes from . These Magi coming to Bethlehem are the poster boys for Epiphany. The number of Magi was somewhere between 2 and lots, but they were the first Gentiles to bow before Jesus and worship him as Lord and King.
I was surprised by the fans. Some Canadians travel to Davos, Switzerland each Christmas for the Spengler Cup. It’s their Christmas tradition. That’s a big investment to watch hockey.
Even me, sitting in an easy-chair, paying for cable TV and investing 3 h to watch each game. Afterwards, you wonder, “was that worth the time and emotional investment?”
It’s interesting how they got to Bethlehem. The Magi followed the traditions and practices of astronomers, astrologers, and magicians of ancient Persia. Daniel along with the other exiles from Jerusalem would have dealt with them in the King Xerxes’ service.
In the days of the gospels, you could find Magi practicing their science and black arts all over the known world. When you read through the book of Acts you encounter 2 Magi: Simon the Magus in Antioch and Bar-Jesus the Magi in Cyprus.
Among their pursuits, Magi watched the skies. Neat things happen in the heavens that God created. Right now we have a new moon, but in 2 weeks , if you stay up to watch the moon, you’ll see the shadow of the earth creep across the full moon. The darkened moon will appear reddish during the total eclipse. It has an ominous name. It’s called a blood moon. Because the moon is closer to the earth than usual, on Jan 20, we’ll see a Super Blood Moon. Sometimes these natural phenomena create odd predictions.
Maybe sports aren’t important to you. What does grab your attention? Where do you invest time, emotions? Is there anything you’re willing to travel long distances for?
We just read a few verses from the Gospel told by Matthew. It was written for Jesus’ disciples in the decades after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. It was written for Jews and Gentiles who put everything on the line for their allegiance to Jesus as Messiah and King.
We know the scientific explanation for the eclipse and the red colour, but the astronomers and astrologers of the first century didn’t have the benefit of telescopes and satellites. They described and interpreted the things they saw in the sky according to what they knew, according to what they believed. Somehow God used their odd mixture of astronomy and astrology to bring the Magi to Bethlehem to worship Jesus as King of the Jews.
Some uprooted their families and fled from Jerusalem because of persecution
But King Herod didn’t come with them to find the newborn king of the Jews. Herod claimed he wanted to worship Jesus, but when you read further in Matthew’s account that he dealt with the news as he did with anyone else who threatened his throne. Herod sent soldiers to execute the baby boys in Bethlehem (Parallel to Moses and Pharaoh’s instructions to execute Israelite boys).
It’s even more odd to me that the Jewish chief priests and teachers of the law did accompany the Magi. They knew God’s promises of a Saviour and King. When all of Jerusalem was disturbed by the Magi’s search for “the one who has been born king of the Jews,” the chief priests and teachers of the law pointed them in the right direction. They knew God’s word through the prophet Micah:
Some lost power, prestige, and position in their community because they valued their citizenship in Jesus’ Kingdom more highly than anything else
“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Not Herod, not the religious leaders, only the Magi pursued their quest to the end. The sign in the heavens stopped over the place where Jesus was.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
They were beside themselves with excitement and joy. They had found their heart’s desire. They found the Christ Jesus the King. If faith they bowed down and worshipped, freely handing over their precious gifts.
Jesus comments on the on-going resistance of the Jewish leaders and citizens of Jerusalem. Their refusal to recognize Jesus as Messiah will result in their judgement.
Matthew describes these events in a way designed to make you sit up and take notice. Matthew believes that Jesus’ arrival is the most significant thing to happen since Adam & Eve disobeyed God. How better to emphasize the significance of Jesus’ birth?
How better to demonstrate God’s fulfillment of his promises that the offspring promised to Abraham & Sarah will be a blessing to all nations than to retell the account of the star that rose in the heavens, compelling these Magi to begin their quest for Christ Jesus the King, compelling them to bow down in worship and place their treasures at his disposal?
Even if Jesus Christ is ignored by his own people and the religious elite, with those who have faith to see, this child is the long-awaited Redeemer and King. Describing Gentiles who recognize Jesus is a theme you’ll find in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. The different responses of Gentiles and Jewish leaders is something that Matthew records among Jesus’ comments. In , you can read Jesus’ response:
Jesus comments on the on-going resistance of the Jewish leaders and citizens of Jerusalem. Their refusal to recognize Jesus as Messiah will result in their judgement.
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In Christ Jesus, humankind are given a new chance. All people are invited to respond to God’s grace and love.
Matthew’s first readers weren’t the first nor the last to stake so much on God’s covenant promises. Each generation, each family and individual is called to make choices about what is most important in their life. Will they bow to Jesus and put all their treasures at his disposal?
What about you?
you have heard the promises of the coming Messiah
As Matthew retells what happened after Jesus was born, he records events in nature that demonstrate the cosmic importance of Jesus’ coming. The coming of a ruler to shepherd God’s people Israel has significance for all of creation. If the stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy – as God said they did when talking to Job () – why wouldn’t there be a new star in the heavens when God humbles himself to become a man within his own creation?
You can read the rest of Matthew’s gospel
Matthew enjoys telling of these events in creation. He delights in describing how nature responded to the amazing, saving works of God through Jesus Christ. He describes this star in the sky when Jesus is born. He also describes amazing things in nature when Jesus is crucified and rises again.
In his gospel, Matthew likes to record natural phenomena happening in conjunction with God’s intervention in the world. We see something similar when Jesus was crucified and rose:
When Jesus had been nailed to the cross, when Christ endures the punishment that you and I deserve because of our sin, Matthew describes how the sky grew dark.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
(NIV)
(NIV)
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
The disappearance of light echoed God’s withdrawal from his dearly loved son. The darkness was part of Jesus’ suffering on our behalf.
At his death, once Jesus suffered the punishment for the sin of humankind, Jesus cried out and gave up his spirit. Again creation reacted:
(NIV)
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
(NIV)
(NIV)
Signs and wonders accompany God’s redeeming work.
By telling us of these natural events, Matthew is using all the available material to grab our attention and demonstrate the significance of the gospel he’s bringing.
It doesn’t end there. When Christ Jesus arose from the tomb, victorious over sin and death, the firstborn of the new creation, there were more signs in nature. Matthew tells us:
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
(NIV)
Matthew records how natural phenomena occurred in conjunction with God’s redemption of the world.
So, at Jesus’ birth, this star appeared. Far in the east, people are watching the sky. Magi see the star and respond.
These Magi are astronomers and astrologers in the tradition of the magicians and soothsayers of the Persian Empire. During the Babylonian Captivity, Daniel and his friends were acquainted with such men in the governments of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius. The Magi aren’t the type of people that High Priests and Teachers of the Law would invite to their synagogues. They were involved in practises that would disturb most Christians.
Yet God invited these Magi to come. With the star, God alerted them to the birth of the King of the Jews, the coming of the Saviour of the world. They read of God’s marvellous deeds in the book of nature, and these Magi accepted God’s invitation to come and marvel.
The Magi invested in a trip to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened that the Lord told them about. They saddled up for the journey and came looking for the King of the Jews so they could bow down and worship, so they could put their treasures at his feet. At journey’s end, seeing the star stop above the place where the child was filled them with great joy!
Matthew presents the Magi in contrast to King Herod. Herod lied about his desire to worship the newborn king of the Jews. When we read further in the chapter we find that Herod would kill all the boys in Bethlehem aged 2 and under to avoid bowing before the true King of the Jews.
Matthew presents these astronomers and astrologers from the east in contrast to the High Priests and Teachers of the Law. Although the religious leaders knew where the Messiah was to be born, although they knew about the Magi’s questions about the King of the Jews – Herod and all Jerusalem were upset by it – these leaders among God’s covenant people watched the Magi head south to Bethlehem, but didn’t investigate further.
Jesus announced God’s judgement on that kind of behaviour, later in his ministry:
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
(NIV)
There’s a line between those who bow to Jesus as Messiah, as King, and those who refuse.
Matthew describes these events in the heavens the response by Magi from the East because of the cosmic significance of God the Son coming into his creation. Jesus came to rescue those who have stopped trusting and worshipping God. Jesus came to reclaim the allegiance of those who worship the good things of God’s creation instead of worship God as Creator and Redeemer.
Sports are good. Entertainment is pleasurable and good. Money is a blessing from the Lord. Work was designed to be fulfilling and rewarding. Leadership opportunities are a sacred trust from God, ruler of all. But when any of these good things become MOST important, there’s a problem. When a ruler like Herod refuses to bow before Jesus as King of kings, there’s a problem.
Jesus came into the world to rescue us from worshipping things or idols – stuff that promises great rewards but leave us feeling empty and used.
In kneeling before Jesus, we’re lifted up as citizens of his Kingdom, as daughters and sons of the King of kings.
In worshiping Jesus as Saviour and Lord, we renounce anyone and anything else as most important in our lives.
In putting our treasures at Jesus’ feet – at Jesus’ disposal – we’re confessing that everything already belongs to God as Creator and Redeemer. He entrusts us with time and talents and treasure to invest in his Kingdom, to invest in loving our neighbours and worshipping God above all.
And if that weren’t enough, many of us have been blessed with enough provisions and resources to find pleasure, to host dinners, parties and celebrations over the holidays. Many of us have been blessed with leisure time to enjoy, to pursue hobbies, sports, and recreation. God allows us to enjoy the fruit of our labours. We’re richly blessed to use our freedom in Christ and find pleasure in the goodness and plenty we enjoy from him.
But: what’s top in your life? What do you invest time and effort in? What would you travel across the continent for?
It’s a question of priorities: Who or what is truly king in your life?