Sermon Tone Analysis

ILLUSTRATION

We are continuing our “Road to Christmas” sermon series.

Last week we looked at when the wise men came and were looking for “the king of the Jews” but it wasn’t Herod they were looking for Jesus.

They wanted to worship Him.

This week we are going to look at the gifts the wise men bring to Jesus.

There is something special about the gifts they bring, each gift means something special pertaining to Jesus.

Christmas is 2 days away.

Can you remember the greatest gift you ever recieved?

What is the best gift you’ve ever recieved for Christmas?

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.”

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.

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

PRAY!

I. Jesus is King

v. 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.....”

The first gift they give Jesus is gold

Last week we talked about the wise men seeking Jesus

They recognized Him as “the king of the Jews”

The gold they give him represents his Kingship

Matter of a fact

Every gift them give Him represents gifts or items a King would have been given or already had

Jesus is the King

That is what they recognized Him as

They finally get to worship Him for who He is

Php 2:8-11

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is the name above every name

The name that EVERY knee should bow

When the wise men went to Herod

They called Jesus “the King of the Jews”

He was more than that

If the wise men only saw Him as the “king of the Jews” then they wouldn’t have bowed

THE GREATEST GIFT

JESUS IS King

There is something truly special about knowing that God took matters into His own hands

For thousands of years man looked to man for help

Israel had the Judges that they looked to

They also had King David

King Solomon

Even prophets

They all failed them

So God did what only HE could do

He took our sin problem into His own hands

Came to be despised and envied by man

Now He sits at the right hand of God

Luke 22:69

69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Elvis Presley is known as the King of Rock and Roll

There was a lady who made a sign about him being the king, and he said, “I’m not the king.

Jesus Christ is the King.

I’m just an entertainer.

Elvis could have easily got caught up in that

He gave the Kingship to Jesus Christ

That was all God ever wanted

Remember last week I asked a question

Who did God want Israel to choose as their King?

God wanted Israel to WANT Him as the King

They wanted something different

Often times we reject Jesus as King in our lives

When we say Jesus is our Lord and Savior

We are confessing Him as King over our lives

If we don’t listen to Him then we are disobeying the King

Jesus is either our King or He isn’t

THE GREATEST GIFT

JESUS IS KING

II.

Jesus Intercedes

v. 11 “they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense...”

Frankincense was a spice that was used for aroma sacrifices and prayer

Frankincense came from Arabia and India

Frankincense also represents Jesus intercession

This was apart of the prophetic message that came from Isaiah

Isaiah 60:6

6  A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.

It may or may not have been known to the wise men what they were actually doing when they brought these gifts

That this gift of Frankincense represented Christ intercession

Romans 8:34

34 Who is to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

We talked about this a little bit last week but imagine that

We have Christ in our corner interceding for us

THE GREATEST GIFT

JESUS IS KING

JESUS INTERCEDES

ILLUSTRATION

President Lincoln was one day assured by a friend that he was prayed for as no man before had ever been remembered, and he replied: "I have been told so, and have been greatly helped by just that thought."

Then he slowly and solemnly added: "I should be the most presumptuous blockhead if I for a moment thought that I could discharge the duties which come upon me in this place without the help of One Who is stronger and wiser than all others."

If prayer was help for him, so is it for the lowliest Christian.

Thank God, "I have prayed for thee" of Jesus is always ours.

He ever lives to make intercession for us.

That should be what motivates us